Stifel Highlights Growth in Client Assets and Investment Banking

The latest announcement is out from Stifel Financial ( (SF) ).

On March 26, 2026, Stifel Financial Corp. reported selected operating data for Feb. 28, 2026, highlighting growth in core client assets following the Feb. 2, 2026 sale of Stifel Independent Advisors, LLC. Excluding assets tied to the divested unit, total client assets and fee-based client assets rose 12% and 19% year over year, respectively, driven by equity market gains and strong advisor recruiting.

Reported total client assets were $557.7 billion, up 10% from a year earlier, while fee-based assets reached $228.0 billion, a 16% annual increase, with Private Client Group fee-based assets also up 16% to $199.2 billion. Client money market and insured products stood at $26.0 billion, down 6% year over year but 1% higher than in January, and venture banking expansion lifted treasury deposits 73% year over year to $9.6 billion, contributing over $400 million of growth in February.

Bank loans, net, including loans held for sale, totaled $22.3 billion, up 5% from February 2025 and flat versus January 2026, suggesting stable credit volumes within the banking arm. Despite recent market volatility, the firm noted that first-quarter 2026 investment banking activity was significantly above prior-year levels, reflecting a more robust deal environment across capital markets and advisory.

With investment banking revenues expected to increase sharply versus the first quarter of 2025, Stifel appears to be capitalizing on improved market conditions, particularly in equity markets and corporate finance. The combination of higher fee-based assets, strong treasury deposit growth, and elevated investment banking activity indicates a favorable shift in the firm’s revenue mix and reinforces its competitive position in wealth management and banking.

The most recent analyst rating on (SF) stock is a Hold with a $92.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Stifel Financial stock, see the SF Stock Forecast page.

Spark’s Take on SF Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, SF is a Neutral.

The score is driven primarily by solid financial quality (notably improved leverage and healthy returns) and a strong, upbeat earnings outlook with clear operating-leverage targets. The main drag is weak technical positioning (below key moving averages with negative MACD), while valuation is reasonable but not compelling enough to offset near-term momentum risk.

To see Spark’s full report on SF stock, click here.

More about Stifel Financial

Stifel Financial Corp., headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., is a diversified financial services firm offering wealth management, commercial and investment banking, trading, and research to individuals, institutions, and municipalities. Founded in 1890, the company operates more than 400 offices across the U.S. and in key global financial centers, positioning it as a significant player in retail and institutional finance.

The firm’s broad platform spans private client services, institutional brokerage, and banking activities, allowing it to capture flows across capital markets and advisory businesses. This diversified model underpins its growth strategy, supported by ongoing financial advisor recruiting and expansion in areas such as venture banking and treasury deposits.

Average Trading Volume: 1,515,653

Technical Sentiment Signal: Hold

Current Market Cap: $11.23B

For an in-depth examination of SF stock, go to TipRanks’ Overview page.