JEF vs SJM Comparison

Jefferies is a full-service investment banking and capital markets firm that was founded in 1962. After nearly 30 years of focusing on institutional trading services, it entered the investment banking industry in the early 1990s, which ultimately grew into the core business. In 2013, Jefferies merged with Leucadia, a manufacturing-focused holding company. Since merging, Jefferies became the bedrock of the business as the bulk of the legacy portfolio was sold off and the parent company was renamed to match the subsidiary. Within the investment banking landscape, Jefferies predominately serves the North American middle market and has captured considerable market share over the past decade.

J.M. Smucker is a packaged food company that primarily sells through the US retail channel (73% of fiscal 2025 revenue came through its retail pet foods, coffee, and frozen handheld/spreads segments), with the remaining share consisting of sweet baked snacks (through the Hostess acquisition) and international (primarily Canada). Retail coffee is its largest category (32% of sales) with brands Folgers and Dunkin'. Pet foods (19% of sales) holds leading brands like Milk-Bone and Meow Mix. Of its remaining, approximately 22% comes from frozen handhelds and spreads, through brands Jif, Smucker's, and Uncrustables. The company acquired Hostess Brands in fiscal 2024 to boost its snack and convenience store presence.