Jefferies Financial Group Inc. operates as an investment banking and capital markets firm in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Investment Banking and Capital Markets, and Asset Management. It provides investment banking, advisory services with respect to mergers or acquisitions, debt financing, restructurings or recapitalizations, and private capital advisory transactions; underwriting and placement services related to corporate debt, municipal bonds, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, equity and equity-linked securities, and loan syndication services; and corporate lending services. The company also offers financing, securities lending, and other prime brokerage services; equities research, sales, and trading services; wealth management services; and online foreign exchange trading services. In addition, it provides investment grade distressed debt securities, U.S. and European government and agency securities, municipal bonds, leveraged loans, emerging markets debt, and interest rate and credit index derivative products; and manages and offers services to a diverse group of alternative asset management platforms across a spectrum of investment strategies and asset classes. The company was formerly known as Leucadia National Corporation and changed its name to Jefferies Financial Group Inc. in May 2018. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. демонстрирует смешанные результаты по ключевым финансовым показателям. Хотя компания имеет высокий уровень наличных средств и выручки, что является положительным фактором, однако высокие мультипликаторы P/E и P/B указывают на возможную переоцененность относительно сектора. Долговая нагрузка, выраженная высоким коэффициентом долга к капиталу, также вызывает опасения, что может негативно сказаться на финансовой устойчивости компании. Тем не менее, компания показывает высокие абсолютные значения чистой прибыли и валовой прибыли, что является положительным моментом. Показатели рентабельности, такие как ROE и ROA, находятся ниже медианы сектора, что может указывать на недостаточную эффективность использования капитала. Дивидендная доходность также показывает стабильный рост, что может привлечь инвесторов, ориентированных на доход. В целом, несмотря на некоторые сильные стороны, такие как высокая выручка и чистая прибыль, существуют значительные риски, связанные с долговой нагрузкой и переоцененностью, что требует осторожности в оценке компании.

Jefferies Financial Group Inc.

Looking at options trading activity among components of the Russell 3000 index, there is noteworthy activity today in MongoDB Inc (Symbol: MDB), where a total volume of 21,094 contracts has been traded thus far today, a contract volume which is representative of approximately 2.1 million underlying shares (given that every 1 contract represents 100 underlying shares). That number works out to 133.7% of MDB's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 1.6 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $252.50 strike call option expiring April 24, 2026, with 1,070 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 107,000 underlying shares of MDB. Below is a chart showing MDB's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $252.50 strike highlighted in orange:
Ceva Inc (Symbol: CEVA) options are showing a volume of 4,390 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 439,000 underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 130.2% of CEVA's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 337,275 shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $35 strike call option expiring June 18, 2026, with 1,892 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 189,200 underlying shares of CEVA. Below is a chart showing CEVA's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $35 strike highlighted in orange:
And Jefferies Group Inc. (Symbol: JEF) options are showing a volume of 27,276 contracts thus far today. That number of contracts represents approximately 2.7 million underlying shares, working out to a sizeable 125.7% of JEF's average daily trading volume over the past month, of 2.2 million shares. Especially high volume was seen for the $50 strike call option expiring May 15, 2026, with 16,385 contracts trading so far today, representing approximately 1.6 million underlying shares of JEF. Below is a chart showing JEF's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $50 strike highlighted in orange:
For the various different available expirations for MDB options, CEVA options, or JEF options, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
Also see:
Ex-Dividend Calendar
GDAT Videos
Top Stocks Held By Paul Singer
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable Friday Option Activity: MDB, CEVA, JEF

Key Points
It's an entirely new era for Berkshire Hathaway, with longtime CEO Warren Buffett retiring on Dec. 31 and his understudy, Greg Abel, taking the reins.
The Oracle of Omaha and Abel share similar investment philosophies, right down to devoting an outsize share of capital to their best ideas.
Many of the billion-dollar wagers in Berkshire's portfolio are driven by sustainable competitive advantages.
This year marks a new era in Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRKA)(NYSE: BRKB) storied history. After leading Berkshire for well over half a century and seeing the company he built reach a $1 trillion market cap, billionaire Warren Buffett retired as CEO on Dec. 31.
The person responsible for filling some impossibly big shoes is the Oracle of Omaha's longtime understudy, Greg Abel. Abel has been with Berkshire for over a quarter-century, and he has a nose for value just like his predecessor.
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Although Buffett remains chairman of the board, Berkshire Hathaway's day-to-day operations, including the management and oversight of its $320 billion investment portfolio, fall to Abel. As of the closing bell on April 16, Berkshire's new boss has the final say over 48 positions.
Greg Abel's portfolio is highly concentrated in 10 core holdings
Warren Buffett's and Greg Abel's investment philosophies are very similar. In addition to value being of the utmost importance, both favor robust capital-return programs, strong management teams, and companies with sustainable competitive advantages.
Perhaps most importantly, Berkshire's former and current bosses believe in apportioning an outsize percentage of the company's capital into their best ideas. Just 10 positions account for nearly 79% of Berkshire Hathaway's invested assets:
Bank of America: $27,680,505,428
Chevron: $24,488,919,510
Occidental Petroleum: $15,067,219,181
Chubb: $11,248,116,681
Several of these "best idea" stocks share similarities. For instance, all 10 pay dividends to their shareholders, with some also actively repurchasing their shares. Apple has the largest share repurchase program on Wall Street, with the iPhone maker spending roughly $841 billion since 2013 to retire over 44% of its outstanding shares.
Buffett and Abel also view seven out of these 10 core positions as indefinite holdings. With the exception of Bank of America, Chevron, and Chubb, the remaining seven companies are expected to be fixtures in Berkshire's portfolio for decades to come. This includes Coca-Cola, American Express, and Moody's, the three longest-tenured holdings that are currently generating annual yields on cost of 63%, 45%, and 41%, respectively.
Investors can see Abel's influence among these 10 core holdings, as well. Abel is a huge fan of Japan's five trading houses, commonly known as the "sogo shosha," and was instrumental in building up sizable stakes in Mitsubishi and Mitsui.
Berkshire Hathaway has 20 additional billion-dollar wagers
On top of overseeing 10 positions that range from nearly $11 billion to $60 billion, Abel is responsible for 20 additional billion-dollar wagers in Berkshire Hathaway's $320 billion investment portfolio:
Itochu: $8,542,909,322
Kraft Heinz: $7,356,090,539
Alphabet: $5,996,660,635 (Class A shares, GOOGL)
Marubeni: $5,859,803,545
DaVita: $4,458,799,656
Sumitomo: $4,304,149,575
Kroger: $3,388,500,000
Constellation Brands: $2,135,250,000
Tokio Marine Holdings: $2,110,853,256
UnitedHealth Group: $1,594,518,050
Capital One Financial: $1,435,076,500
Nucor: $1,229,326,646
Ally Financial: $1,216,840,000
Aon: $1,208,228,343
Liberty Live Series C: $1,060,323,236
You'll note that the other three members of the sogo shosha are in this grouping (Itochu, Marubeni, and Sumitomo), and that they collectively make up five of Berkshire's 16 largest holdings by market value.
But what really stands out about these billion-dollar wagers is the emphasis on sustainable competitive advantages. For instance, Sirius XM and VeriSign operate as legal monopolies. Sirius XM is the only licensed satellite radio operator, while VeriSign is the registrar of ".com" and ".net" domains. Growth may not be off the charts for either company, but they possess unmatched competitive edges.
Abel is also overseeing close to $4.7 billion in combined investments in payment facilitators Visa and Mastercard. Whereas many of their peers double dip and act as lenders, Visa and Mastercard are solely focused on collecting merchant fees for facilitating payments. This means neither Visa nor Mastercard has to worry about setting aside capital for credit delinquencies or loan losses during periods of economic turbulence.
And we can't forget about Domino's Pizza, which is a stock the Oracle of Omaha added to for six consecutive quarters leading up to his retirement. Domino's ability to build consumers' trust and its track record of meeting or exceeding five-year growth initiatives made it a go-to investment for Berkshire's now-retired billionaire boss.
Abel's smaller holdings
Rounding things out are the 18 relatively smaller holdings that Greg Abel oversees, ranging from $5 million to approximately $692 million:
Pool Corp.: $692,463,211
Lennar: $626,124,360
Liberty Live Series A: $471,581,627
Louisiana-Pacific: $410,754,140
The New York Times Co.: $394,621,458
Heico Class A: $279,726,815
Liberty Formula One Series C: $271,488,837
Charter Communications: $250,336,326
Lamar Advertising: $162,505,712
Allegion: $110,404,422
NVR: $74,490,292
Liberty Latin America Series A: $20,227,853
Jefferies Financial Group: $20,186,460
Diageo: $18,229,110
Lennar Class B: $15,685,537
Liberty Latin America Series C: $11,055,412
Atlanta Braves Holdings Series C: $5,230,043
Many of these "smaller" positions fall into two categories: companies that have been reduced or are being removed from Berkshire's investment portfolio, or investments made by Ted Weschler or Todd Combs, the latter of whom left Berkshire to join JPMorgan Chase in December 2025.
For example, Berkshire's stake in e-commerce and cloud infrastructure services titan Amazon was slashed by 77% during the December-ended quarter. Historically, a 77% reduction in a mid-tier position in Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio has been a strong signal that a company would soon be getting the heave-ho. Though Amazon is historically inexpensive relative to its future cash flow, it's not a value stock in the traditional sense of the term -- and that may be a problem for Greg Abel.
While it's possible that some of these smaller positions can eventually become billion-dollar wagers, these investments are better viewed as trading opportunities for Weschler and his team.
Should you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway right now?
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The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Berkshire Hathaway wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
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Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Ally is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Sean Williams has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Bank of America, Mastercard, Sirius XM, and Visa. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Atlanta Braves Holdings, Berkshire Hathaway, Chevron, Domino's Pizza, Heico, JPMorgan Chase, Jefferies Financial Group, Lennar, Mastercard, Moody's, NVR, The New York Times Co., VeriSign, and Visa and is short shares of Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Capital One Financial, Constellation Brands, Diageo Plc, Kraft Heinz, Kroger, Occidental Petroleum, Pool, and UnitedHealth Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Here Are All 48 Stocks Warren Buffett's Successor, Greg Abel, Is Overseeing in Berkshire Hathaway's $320 Billion Portfolio

Key Points
FDA approval of long-acting schizophrenia drug olanzapine could be Teva's biggest near-term catalyst.
Teva's specialty drugs continue to gain momentum.
The drugmaker should also experience a biosimilar boom over the next couple of years.
After a multi-year slump, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (NYSE: TEVA) is on a roll. Shares of the Israel-based drugmaker have soared more than 130% over the last 12 months. Could Teva's momentum continue? Wall Street thinks so.
Twelve of the 15 analysts surveyed by S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) in April rated the pharmaceutical stock as a "buy" or "strong buy." There are three specific catalysts that could send Teva stock to $40 -- and perhaps beyond.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
1. Olanzapine approval
Roughly three months ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted Teva's New Drug Application (NDA) for olanzapine extended-release injectable suspension (TEV-'749) for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. An approval decision is expected later this year.
Evercore ISI (NYSE: EVR) analyst Umer Raffat views the potential approval of olanzapine as Teva's "most meaningful catalyst." I think that Raffat is right.
Although olanzapine is already one of the most commonly prescribed antipsychotics for treating schizophrenia, there are no long-acting formulations of the drug for which the FDA doesn't require a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). Under a REMS, the drug must be administered in a certified facility. Patients must also be monitored for three hours after the injection.
Teva's long-acting olanzapine formulation, which the company doesn't expect to require a REMS, should significantly increase treatment adherence. Olanzapine and Uzedy, another long-acting drug marketed by Teva for treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, could together achieve peak annual sales of more than $2 billion.
2. Specialty drug momentum
Another potential catalyst for Teva is the acceleration of commercial momentum for its specialty drugs. Austedo ranks as the most important member of this group. The drug is approved as a treatment for tardive dyskinesia (TD) and Huntington's disease chorea (involuntary, jerky muscle movements).
Austedo generated sales of $2.26 billion in 2025, a 34% year-over-year increase from 2024. Teva expects the drug to rake in between $2.4 billion and $2.55 billion this year.
Migraine therapy Ajovy and Uzedy are also key parts of Teva's specialty drug success. Ajovy's sales jumped 30% year over year in 2025 to $673 million. Uzedy's sales soared 63% to $191 million.
3. Biosimilar boom
We can't overlook Teva's biosimilar boom. The company expects to launch six new biosimilars in 2026 and 2027.
Teva could soon battle Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) with new biosimilars to bone disease drugs Prolia and Xgeva. It could threaten Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) in the autoimmune disease market with Simponi and Simponi Aria biosimilars. Teva could also soon secure approval for a biosimilar to Regeneron's (NASDAQ: REGN) eye disease drug Eylea.
Jefferies (NYSE: JEF) thinks 2026 will be a pivotal year for Teva to convince investors that its research and development pipeline can deliver. However, Teva has more biosimilars on the way in 2028 and later. The company now boasts the biopharmaceutical industry's second-largest biosimilar portfolio.
What could derail Teva's rise?
These three catalysts might just propel Teva to $40 or higher in the near future. But what could detail the stock's rise?
A stock market crash would likely drag Tesla down in its wake. Major pipeline or regulatory setbacks could bring the stock's momentum to a screeching halt. Slowing Austedo sales would probably do the trick as well.
The good news is that Teva's pipeline is de-risked to some extent, with several late-stage programs. And thanks to a forward earnings multiple of only 11.7, Teva is practically a value stock.
I wouldn't bet the farm on Teva's share price reaching $40 within the next 12 months. However, I wouldn't bet against it happening, either.
Should you buy stock in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries right now?
Before you buy stock in Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $581,304!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,215,992!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of April 18, 2026.
Keith Speights has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amgen, Evercore, Jefferies Financial Group, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and S&P Global. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

3 Catalysts That Could Send Teva Stock to $40 and Beyond

Key Points
Soaring oil prices helped boost alternative energy stocks.
Short interest indicates valuation may now be too high for some investors.
Bloom Energy brought in a new CFO who knows data centers.
Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) shares have soared over 700% in the past year, with investors predicting that artificial intelligence (AI) data center growth will continue to accelerate its fuel cell business. The stock may have jumped too far, too fast, though.
Some investors have begun questioning the high level of optimism, and Bloom shares sank 13% in March, according to data provided by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
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Business strength and valuation
The most obvious reason for Bloom Energy's poor March performance is its valuation. After a parabolic move higher, the stock has disconnected from the underlying business fundamentals. The excitement for its growth potential is understandable. After posting $2 billion in 2025 revenue, management expects sales to soar by at least 55% this year.
Yet even at $3.3 billion, the high end of the company's revenue guidance, the stock would trade at a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of about 11.5. That's not sustainable, and I would expect the stock price to correct before sales are expected to spike. That's because capacity constraints will limit sales in the short-term. To its credit, the company says it can expand capacity quickly and with relatively low up-front costs.
In its fourth-quarter conference call, CEO K.R. Sridhar spoke to potential capacity concerns, stating, "You can count on us to deliver timely power. We will deliver our power platform faster than you can build your greenfield facilities, be it an AI factory or a C&I (commercial and industrial) facility."
Growing short interest
Orders justifying capacity expansions may come pouring in to Bloom as tech companies continue to invest in data center construction. But some investors see a near-term stock price correction for Bloom. As of mid-March, short interest in the stock had jumped from the previous month and represented about 10% of the public float.
Wall Street analysts have also begun to sense that the stock is overvalued. Late last month, Jefferies analysts maintained the equivalent of a sell rating on Bloom shares and even lowered their target price from $102 to $97 per share.
Stock price swings
Increasingly high expectations partially drove that view. Bloom will likely have to announce both large new orders and expansion plans to fulfill those orders to avoid a stock correction. New large deals may be announced. The company brought in a new CFO with a background in computing. Simon Edwards came from AI-inference company Groq, so he knows the world of high-compute-capacity data centers.
Bloom Energy's on-site power solutions are undoubtedly in demand. Whether powered by natural gas, hydrogen, or biogas, the company offers customers a range of options. For investors, though, it might be best to purchase Bloom shares in increments as the stock is likely to pull back again as it did in March.
Should you buy stock in Bloom Energy right now?
Before you buy stock in Bloom Energy, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Bloom Energy wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $532,066!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,087,496!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 926% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 7, 2026.
Howard Smith has positions in Bloom Energy and has the following options: short May 2026 $60 calls on Bloom Energy. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bloom Energy and Jefferies Financial Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Did Bloom Energy Stock Crash in March?

Specialty shoe and apparel retailer Boot Barn Holdings (NYSE: BOOT) sure was alive and kicking on Monday, as far as its stock was concerned. It was the subject of an analyst upgrade that day, and as a result, its equity rose by more than 10% across the trading session.
Western gear for the win
This hit the headlines early that morning, with Jefferies analyst Corey Tarlow upgrading his recommendation on Boot Barn. He now believes the company rates a buy, one peg higher than his former hold designation. He left his $195 per share price target intact, however.
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According to reports, Tarlow considers Boot Barn to be something of a victim of negative investor sentiment. This stands to reason, as its share price has eroded by almost 16% so far this year.
In the analyst's view, this is unwarranted, as its sales figures have demonstrated resilience while the company continues to build out its store network. Tarlow also wrote admiringly of the company's stable fundamentals, supported by encouraging levels of consumer demand.
An outlier in a good way
Life in the retail industry is never easy, with profit margins typically modest and most companies in the sector beholden to trends. Considering that Boot Barn is doing rather well, especially as it operates in a niche, with decent top-line growth and healthy margins of late. As such, it's a standout in the industry, and its stock is well worth consideration as a buy.
Should you buy stock in Boot Barn right now?
Before you buy stock in Boot Barn, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Boot Barn wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $532,066!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,087,496!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 926% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 6, 2026.
Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Jefferies Financial Group. The Motley Fool recommends Boot Barn. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Boot Barn Stock Soared on Monday

Key Points
The events of this past week suggest that the end of the conflict in Iran isn't in the immediate future.
An analyst has a more optimistic outlook for Kratos Defense stock.
Starting the first full week of trading on a positive note, shares of Kratos Defense and Security Solutions (NASDAQ: KTOS) raced higher this morning, outpacing the rise in the S&P 500. With the conflict in Iran continuing without an end in sight, and an analyst presenting a more auspicious outlook for Kratos Defense stock, investors have been motivated to click the buy button on the defense contractor's shares.
As of 1:05 p.m. ET, shares of Kratos Defense are up 7.8%, retreating slightly from an earlier 8.7% rise.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
As the conflict in Iran persists, investors recognize a buying opportunity
Despite some indications last week that the fighting in Iran could be winding down, the ongoing military action and aggressive rhetoric from President Trump this past weekend suggest that the end is, in fact, not on the horizon. As a result, the United States will continue to need the missiles and drones Kratos Defense produces.
The second, and more direct, catalyst for the stock's rise today is an upgrade from Jefferies analyst Sheila Kahyaoglu, who now rates the stock a buy with an $85 price target. According to Thefly.com, Kahyaoglu estimates that the company has a $14 billion opportunity in solid rocket motors and hypersonics in its government solutions business.
With Kratos Defense stock last closing at $67.31, Kahyaoglu's price target implies upside of more than 26%.
Value investors will want to think twice before picking up shares
While there's a clear allure to Kratos Defense stock right now, prospective investors need to recognize that shares are trading at a premium. Whereas the stock's five-year average cash flow multiple is 39.9, Kratos Defense stock is currently changing hands at about 88.3 times operating cash flow.
For those eager to gain exposure to the defense industry and who desire a more conservative opportunity, a defense ETF may be a better option.
Should you buy stock in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions right now?
Before you buy stock in Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $532,066!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,087,496!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 926% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 6, 2026.
Scott Levine has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Jefferies Financial Group and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Is Soaring Today

Key Points
This was aided greatly by a positive analyst note.
The pundit who wrote it upgraded his recommendation on the car rental giant.
Avis Budget Group (NASDAQ: CAR) stock didn't exactly begin this trading week in the fast lane, but it soon shifted into favor with investors. Following a notable drop on Monday, sentiment on the car rental mainstay improved dramatically. Ultimately, the stock ended the week 28% higher, according to data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
Safe from disruption?
On Monday, Avis was out of favor with Mr. Market. After market hours on the previous trading day, it announced a secondary share issue and, as usual with such flotations, investors traded out of the stock on fears of dilution.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
On Tuesday, however, its fortunes suddenly improved with an analyst recommendation upgrade. Jefferies prognosticator John Colantuoni upgraded three stocks in his coverage universe, one of which was Avis. He now feels that the company's shares warrant a buy.
Colantuoni's new take was a general analysis of recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI). According to reports, the analyst believes that Open AI, ChatGPT's owner, is shifting toward a more advertising-based revenue model, in favor of earning a cut of business transactions effected with AI assistance.
Pain at the pump
In the pundit's view, this clears a path for companies like Avis and the grocery delivery service Instacart to benefit directly from AI, rather than compete with it (Instacart and Expedia Group were the other stocks Colantuoni upgraded to buy).
I think Avis, which has benefited from recent chaos at U.S. airports, might be in for a slump -- no matter how effectively it harnesses AI. Surging oil prices are driving up gas prices, making consumers hesitant to rent cars. Inconveniently, the vast majority of Avis cars are traditional, gas-powered models.
Should you buy stock in Avis Budget Group right now?
Before you buy stock in Avis Budget Group, consider this:
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Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Jefferies Financial Group. The Motley Fool recommends Instacart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Avis Budget Group Stock did a U-Turn This Week

Key Points
Bloom Energy has appointed a new CFO.
One analyst sees risk in the hydrogen stock after its recent run-up.
Shares of Bloom Energy (NYSE: BE) took a big hit on Monday, tanking 12% as of 2:30 p.m. ET.
There's no company-specific news, but with investors pulling out of high-valuation growth stocks to seek safety from geopolitical turmoil, the sell-off in the hydrogen stock has intensified. One analyst sees further in Bloom Energy shares, especially after the stock's massive rally in one year -- it's still up nearly 480% in one year, as of this writing.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Analyst cuts price target on Bloom Energy stock
Last Friday, analysts at Jefferies reduced their price target on Bloom Energy from $102 per share to $97 per share, citing rising competition and expectations as potential risks, particularly given limited visibility beyond 2026. That price target represents over 25% downside from the stock's Friday closing price of $133.24 per share.
On March 26, Bloom Energy also announced the appointment of Simon Edwards as the new Chief Financial Officer, effective April 13. Edwards previously served as Groq's CEO for a few months. In December 2025, Groq bagged a $20 billion licensing deal with chip giant, Nvidia. Edwards is a software veteran, so investors are perhaps wondering if he is a good fit for Bloom Energy.
The effects of these two developments spilled over to this week, sending Bloom Energy shares lower on Monday.
What should you do with Bloom Energy stock now?
Bloom Energy stock's dizzying rally has given investors a chance to book some profits off the table, but that doesn't necessarily alter the long-term investing thesis for the company.
Bloom Energy's solid-oxide fuel cell energy servers provide reliable, uninterrupted onsite power that data centers desperately need. The company has a solid customer base, has bagged some massive multi-billion deals, and ended 2025 with a backlog of $20 billion.
Should you buy stock in Bloom Energy right now?
Before you buy stock in Bloom Energy, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Bloom Energy wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $503,861!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,026,987!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 884% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 179% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 30, 2026.
Neha Chamaria has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bloom Energy, Jefferies Financial Group, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Bloom Energy Stock Sank on Monday

Jefferies Financial Group’s JEF first-quarter fiscal 2026 (ended Feb. 28) adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations of 89 cents were in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The bottom line jumped 45.9% year over year.
Results were aided by record Investment Banking revenues, strength in Equities and improved Asset Management investment returns. However, lower Fixed Income results, a goodwill write-down associated with Tessellis and losses tied to Market Financial Solutions and First Brands acted as headwinds.
Results included certain non-recurring charges. After considering these, net earnings attributable to common shareholders (GAAP) increased 21.8% to $155.7 million.
Jefferies’ Revenues Rise, Expenses Increase
Quarterly net revenues were $2.02 billion, up from $1.59 billion in the prior-year quarter. The top line marginally beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.01 billion.
Total quarterly non-interest expenses were $1.80 billion, up from $1.44 billion in the year-ago quarter. Higher compensation and benefits expenses, brokerage and clearing fees, technology and communications expenses, and a write-down associated with Tessellis were the main reasons behind the increase.
As of Feb. 28, 2026, book value per common share was $51.91, up from $49.48 as of Feb. 28, 2025. Furthermore, adjusted tangible book value per fully diluted share increased from $32.57 to $34.24.
JEF’s Balance Sheet Solid
As of Feb. 28, 2026, total assets were $74.38 billion, down from $76.01 billion as of Nov. 30, 2025, while total shareholders’ equity was $10.61 billion, up modestly from $10.58 billion.
The leverage ratio was 7.0 compared with 6.8 in the prior-year quarter, and the tangible gross leverage ratio was 8.4 compared with 8.3.
Return on adjusted tangible shareholders’ equity was 10.9%, up from 8.0% in the prior-year quarter.
JEF’s Quarterly Segment Performance
Investment Banking and Capital Markets: Net revenues were $1.80 billion, rising 28.4% from the prior-year quarter. Investment Banking net revenues were $1.02 billion, up from $700.7 million, driven by higher advisory and equity underwriting revenues, while debt underwriting remained solid but was lower year over year. Capital Markets net revenues were $778.8 million, up from $698.3 million, as Equities net revenues rose 36.5%, partially offset by a decline in Fixed Income net revenues.
Asset Management: Net revenues were $220.3 million, up from $191.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Asset management fees and revenues declined year over year, but investment return soared significantly, driven by improved performance across several fund strategies, particularly those with a long equity bias. Results also included a final $10 million pre-tax loss that fully wrote off Jefferies’ direct exposure to First Brands.
JEF’s Share Repurchase Update
In the reported quarter, Jefferies repurchased 3.0 million common shares for $174 million, at an average price of $58.18 per share.
Its board also increased the share buyback authorization to a total of $250 million.
Our Take on Jefferies
Private credit concerns, a lawsuit for breach of contract related to loans tied to the collapse of First Brands and geopolitical upheaval are some of the near-term headwinds faced by JEF. While expense pressure was evident, management highlighted ongoing technology investments, market share gains and initiatives aimed at supporting long-term growth.
Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
At present, Jefferies carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Earnings Dates of JEF’s Peers
JPMorgan JPM is scheduled to report first-quarter 2026 results on April 14.
Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for JPMorgan’s quarterly earnings has been revised upward to $5.42. The estimated figure indicates 6.9% growth from the prior-year quarter.
Bank of America BAC is slated to announce first-quarter 2026 results on April 15.
Over the past 30 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for BAC’s quarterly earnings has been revised north to 99 cents. This implies a 10% rise from the prior-year quarter.
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With strong earnings growth and an expanding customer base, it's positioned to feed the rampant demand for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Internet of Things. Global semiconductor manufacturing is projected to explode from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

JEF's Q1 Earnings Meet Estimates, Revenues Up on Solid IB Performance

Key Points
Jefferies analyst Brent Thill recommends buying Amazon and selling Palantir.
Amazon is combining strengths in AI and robotics to make its retail business more efficient.
Palantir is a leader in AI platforms, and its sales growth has accelerated in 10 straight quarters.
Most Wall Street analysts think Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) shares are undervalued. Amazon's median target price of $285 per share implies 37% upside from its current share price of $208. And Palantir's median target price of $200 per share implies 28% upside from its current share price of $156.
However, Brent Thill at Jefferies recommends buying Amazon and selling Palantir.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
His Amazon target of $300 per share implies 44% upside.
His Palantir target of $70 per share implies 55% downside.
Here's what investors should know about these artificial intelligence stocks.
Amazon: The stock Brent Thill recommends buying
Amazon stands to benefit greatly from artificial intelligence (AI). It has developed hundreds of generative AI tools that make its retail operations more efficient, including applications that optimize demand forecasting, fulfillment center workflows, and last-mile delivery. The company is also developing models that will let human workers engage robots in natural language.
"By combining our strengths in robotics and AI, we're developing systems that go beyond traditional automation to ease our everyday problem-solving, decision-making, and the myriad of tasks we tackle each day," says Joseph Quinlivan, vice president of fulfillment technology and robotics. Morgan Stanley analysts argue Amazon is one of the companies best positioned to benefit from the convergence of AI and robotics.
Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the largest public cloud by infrastructure and platform services spending. Here, the company is monetizing AI at every layer of the technology stack: custom chips at the infrastructure layer, application development tools at the platform layer, and AI agents at the application layer. AWS reported 24% revenue growth in the fourth quarter, its fastest growth in four years.
Wall Street expects Amazon's earnings to increase at 15% annually through 2027. I think that leaves room for upside depending on how much the company's investments in AI and robotics boost margins, but the current valuation of 29 times earnings is reasonable even if the consensus estimate is accurate.
Palantir Technologies: The stock Brent Thill recommends selling
Palantir designs data integration, analytics, and AI software for customers in the public and private sectors. Rather than focusing on visualization and reporting, its platforms revolve around a decision-making framework called an ontology. Management says its differentiated software means Palantir is uniquely positioned to help businesses integrate AI into operations .
Several independent research organizations have lauded Palantir. Forrester Research has ranked the company as a leader in artificial intelligence and machine learning platforms, and AI decisioning platforms. And International Data Corp. has recognized its leadership in decision intelligence platforms and AI-enabled source-to-pay tools.
The Pentagon recently designated Palantir's Maven Smart System as an official program of record. Maven, which leans on AI to identify potential battlefield strike targets, is already the official AI operating system for the U.S. military, but designation as a program of record will streamline adoption across different branches of the military, according to the Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg.
Morgan Stanley analyst Sanjit Singh recently said Palantir was delivering the best growth and profitability metrics across all public software companies. Indeed, Palantir's revenue growth has now accelerated in 10 straight quarters, and the company is well positioned to maintain that momentum. Grand View Research estimates AI platform sales will increase at 38% annually through 2033.
However, whether Palantir is a smart investment is a different question entirely. Wall Street estimates adjusted earnings will grow at 57% annually through 2027. While impressive, that still makes the current valuation of 208 adjusted times earnings look absurdly expensive. I don't know if Palantir will lose half its value (as Brent Thill's target price implies), but the stock is certainly vulnerable to sharp corrections.
Where to invest $1,000 right now
When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor’s total average return is 900%* — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 184% for the S&P 500.
They just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now, available when you join Stock Advisor.
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Trevor Jennewine has positions in Amazon and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Jefferies Financial Group, and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Jefferies Financial Group Inc.

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