8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 14, 2025

STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-09305	43-1273600
(State of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

501 N. Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri 63102-2188

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(314) 342-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, $0.15 par value per share	SF	New York Stock Exchange
Depository Shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 6.25% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B	SF-PB	New York Stock Exchange
Depository Shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 6.125% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C	SF-PC	New York Stock Exchange
Depository Shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D	SF-PD	New York Stock Exchange
5.20% Senior Notes due 2047	SFB	New York Stock Exchange

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

On March 14, 2025, upon the completion of a comprehensive selection process, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Stifel Financial Corp. (the “Company”) approved (1) the dismissal of Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, effective immediately, and (2) the appointment of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, and related interim periods. The Company informed EY of their dismissal on March 14, 2025.

The reports of EY on the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles.

In connection with the audits of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for each of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, and in the subsequent interim period through March 14, 2025, there were no disagreements between the Company and EY on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or procedures which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of EY would have caused EY to make reference to the matter in their report.

The Company has requested EY to furnish it with a letter addressed to the Securities and Exchange Commission stating whether it agrees with the statements made herein. A copy of such letter dated March 20, 2025, is filed as Exhibit 16.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and during the subsequent interim period through March 14, 2025, neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf consulted with KPMG regarding either (i) the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and neither a written report nor oral advice was provided to the Company that KPMG concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing, or financial reporting issue, or (ii) any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions) or a “reportable event” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions).

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number	Description
16.1	Letter from Ernst & Young LLP dated March 20, 2025.
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

2

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

		STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP. (Registrant)
Date: March 20, 2025	By:	/s/ James M. Marischen
	Name:	James M. Marischen
	Title:	Chief Financial Officer

3

EX-16.1

Exhibit 16.1

March 20, 2025

Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, DC 20549

Commissioners:

We have read Item 4.01 of Form 8-K dated March 20, 2025, of Stifel Financial Corp. and are in agreement with the statements contained in the paragraphs 2 through 4 therein. We have no basis to agree or disagree with other statements of the registrant contained therein.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

St. Louis, Missouri

XML

Document and Entity Information	Mar. 14, 2025
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000720672
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Mar. 14, 2025
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	001-09305
Entity Tax Identification Number	43-1273600
Entity Address, Address Line One	501 N. Broadway
Entity Address, City or Town	St. Louis
Entity Address, State or Province	MO
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	63102-2188
City Area Code	(314)
Local Phone Number	342-2000
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Common Stock [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	Common Stock, $0.15 par value per share
Trading Symbol	SF
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	Depository Shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 6.25% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B
Trading Symbol	SF-PB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	Depository Shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 6.125% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C
Trading Symbol	SF-PC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series D Preferred Stock [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	Depository Shares, each representing 1/1,000th interest in a share of 4.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D
Trading Symbol	SF-PD
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
M 5.20 Senior Notes Due 2047 [Member]
Document And Entity Information [Line Items]
Security 12b Title	5.20% Senior Notes due 2047
Trading Symbol	SFB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE