Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

NOTE 5 – Fair Value Measurements

We measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis, including financial instruments owned, available-for-sale securities, investments, financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased, and derivatives.

We generally utilize third-party pricing services to value Level 1 and Level 2 available-for-sale investment securities, as well as certain derivatives designated as cash flow hedges. We review the methodologies and assumptions used by the third-party pricing services and evaluate the values provided, principally by comparison with other available market quotes for similar instruments and/or analysis based on internal models using available third-party market data. We may occasionally adjust certain values provided by the third-party pricing service when we believe, as the result of our review, that the adjusted price most appropriately reflects the fair value of the particular security.

Following are descriptions of the valuation methodologies and key inputs used to measure financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value. The descriptions include an indication of the level of the fair value hierarchy in which the assets or liabilities are classified.

Financial Instruments Owned and Available-For-Sale Securities

When available, the fair value of financial instruments is based on quoted prices in active markets and reported in Level 1. Level 1 financial instruments include highly liquid instruments with quoted prices, such as U.S. government securities, corporate fixed income securities, and equity securities listed in active markets.

If quoted prices are not available for identical instruments, fair values are obtained from pricing services, broker quotes, or other model-based valuation techniques with observable inputs, such as the present value of estimated cash flows, and reported as Level 2. The nature of these financial instruments include instruments for which quoted prices are available but traded less frequently, instruments whose fair value has been derived using a model where inputs to the model are directly observable in the market, or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data, and instruments that are fair valued using other financial instruments, the parameters of which can be directly observed. Level 2 financial instruments include U.S. government agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, fixed income and equity securities infrequently traded, state and municipal securities, and asset-backed securities.

We have identified Level 3 financial instruments to include certain asset-backed securities and syndicated loans, included in other in the table below, and equity securities with unobservable pricing inputs. Level 3 financial instruments have little to no pricing observability as of the report date. These financial instruments do not have active two-way markets and are measured using management’s best estimate of fair value, where the inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation.

Investments

Investments carried at fair value primarily include corporate equity securities, auction-rate securities (“ARS”), and private company investments.

Corporate equity securities are primarily valued based on quoted prices in active markets and reported in Level 1.

ARS are primarily valued based upon our expectations of issuer redemptions and using internal discounted cash flow models that utilize unobservable inputs. ARS are reported as Level 3 assets. Private company investments are primarily valued based upon internally developed models. These valuations require significant management judgment due to the absence of quoted market prices, the inherent lack of liquidity, and their long-term nature. Typically, the initial costs of these investments are considered to represent fair market value, as such amounts are negotiated between willing market participants. Private company investments are primarily reported as Level 3 assets.

Investments at fair value include investments in funds, including certain money market funds that are measured at net asset value (“NAV”). The Company uses NAV to measure the fair value of its fund investments when (i) the fund investment does not have a readily determinable fair value and (ii) the NAV of the investment fund is calculated in a manner consistent with the measurement principles of investment company accounting, including measurement of the underlying investments at fair value.

The Company’s investments in funds measured at NAV include partnership interests, mutual funds, money market funds, and private equity funds. Private equity funds primarily invest in a broad range of industries worldwide in a variety of situations, including leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, growth investments, and distressed investments. The private equity funds are primarily closed-end funds in which the Company’s investments are generally not eligible for redemption. Distributions will be received from these funds as the underlying assets are liquidated or distributed.

The general and limited partnership interests in investment partnerships were primarily valued based upon NAVs received from third-party fund managers. The various partnerships are investment companies, which record their underlying investments at fair value based on fair value policies established by management of the underlying fund. Fair value policies at the underlying fund generally require the funds to utilize pricing/valuation information, including independent appraisals, from third-party sources. However, in some instances, current valuation information for illiquid securities or securities in markets that are not active may not be available from any third-party source or fund management may conclude that the valuations that are available from third-party sources are not reliable. In these instances, fund management may perform model-based analytical valuations that may be used as an input to value these investments.

The table below presents the fair value of our investments in, and unfunded commitments to, funds that are measured at NAV (in thousands):


	December 31, 2022				December 31, 2021
	Fair value of investments		Unfunded commitments		Fair value of investments		Unfunded commitments
Partnership interests	$	18,817	$	9,853	$	13,372	$	12,721
Mutual funds		4,728		—		7,310		—
Money market funds		1,650		—		3,004		—
Private equity funds		417		1,181		2,376		1,203
Total	$	25,612	$	11,034	$	26,062	$	13,924

Financial Instruments Sold, But Not Yet Purchased

Financial instruments sold, but not purchased, recorded at fair value based on quoted prices in active markets and other observable market data include highly liquid instruments with quoted prices, such as U.S. government securities, and equity securities listed in active markets, which are reported as Level 1.

If quoted prices are not available, fair values are obtained from pricing services, broker quotes, or other model-based valuation techniques with observable inputs, such as the present value of estimated cash flows, and reported as Level 2. The nature of these financial instruments include instruments for which quoted prices are available but traded less frequently, instruments whose fair value has been derived using a model where inputs to the model are directly observable in the market, or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data, and instruments that are fair valued using other financial instruments, the parameters of which can be directly observed. Level 2 financial instruments include U.S. government agency securities, agency mortgage-backed securities not actively traded, fixed income securities, state and municipal securities, and sovereign debt securities.

Derivatives

Derivatives are valued using quoted market prices for identical instruments when available or observable inputs from forward and futures yield curves. The valuation models used require market observable inputs, including contractual terms, market prices, yield curves, credit curves, and measures of volatility. We have classified our derivatives as Level 2. The counterparties to most of our company’s derivative transactions represent regulated banks, bank holding companies, and derivative clearing houses. Management has determined that the counterparty credit risk associated with its derivative transactions is not significant. Accordingly, the recorded fair values for these transactions have not been adjusted to reflect counterparty credit risk.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2022, are presented below (in thousands):


	December 31, 2022
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Financial instruments owned:
U.S. government securities	$	38,956	$	38,956	$	—	$	—
U.S. government agency securities		73,608		—		73,608		—
Agency mortgage-backed securities		172,642		—		172,642		—
Asset-backed securities		8,270		—		6,091		2,179
Corporate securities:
Fixed income securities		202,169		689		201,480		—
Equity securities		38,129		37,383		746		—
State and municipal securities		126,237		—		126,237		—
Other (1)		71,741		—		1,853		69,888
Total financial instruments owned		731,752		77,028		582,657		72,067
Available-for-sale securities:
U.S. government agency securities		2,148		—		2,148		—
State and municipal securities		2,351		—		2,351		—
Mortgage-backed securities:
Agency		791,022		—		791,022		—
Commercial		66,113		—		66,113		—
Non-agency		388		—		388		—
Corporate fixed income securities		566,294		—		566,294		—
Asset-backed securities		207,725		—		207,725		—
Total available-for-sale securities		1,636,041		—		1,636,041		—
Investments:
Corporate equity securities		23,597		9,928		1,791		11,878
Auction rate securities		14,681		—		—		14,681
Other		37,136		117		45		36,974
Investments in funds and partnerships measured at NAV		23,962
Total investments		99,376		10,045		1,836		63,533
Cash equivalents measured at NAV		1,650
Derivative contracts (2)		142,042		—		142,042		—
	$	2,610,861	$	87,073	$	2,362,576	$	135,600

(1)

Includes syndicated loans, non-agency mortgage-backed securities, and sovereign debt.

(2)

Included in other assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition.


	December 31, 2022
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Liabilities:
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased:
U.S. government securities	$	254,265	$	254,265	$	—	$	—
U.S. government agency securities		3,971		—		3,971		—
Agency mortgage-backed securities		44,793		—		44,793		—
Corporate securities:
Fixed income securities		134,381		88		134,293		—
Equity securities		11,590		11,590		—		—
Other (3)		5,817		—		36		5,781
Total financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased		454,817		265,943		183,093		5,781
Derivative contracts (4)		142,028		—		142,028		—
	$	596,845	$	265,943	$	325,121	$	5,781

(3)

Includes syndicated loans and state and municipal securities.

(4)

Included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2021, are presented below (in thousands):


	December 31, 2021
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Financial instruments owned:
U.S. government securities	$	10,774	$	10,774	$	—	$	—
U.S. government agency securities		143,793		—		143,793		—
Agency mortgage-backed securities		335,050		—		335,050		—
Asset-backed securities		132,087		—		67,381		64,706
Corporate securities:
Fixed income securities		255,999		183		255,816		—
Equity securities		75,056		73,493		1,338		225
State and municipal securities		162,335		—		162,335		—
Other (1)		41,910		—		15,053		26,857
Total financial instruments owned		1,157,004		84,450		980,766		91,788
Available-for-sale securities:
U.S. government agency securities		1,808		—		1,808		—
State and municipal securities		2,399		—		2,399		—
Mortgage-backed securities:
Agency		952,186		—		952,186		—
Commercial		73,985		—		73,985		—
Non-agency		568		—		568		—
Corporate fixed income securities		791,893		—		791,893		—
Asset-backed securities		291,054		—		291,054		—
Total available-for-sale securities		2,113,893		—		2,113,893		—
Investments:
Corporate equity securities		21,308		13,893		1,661		5,754
Auction rate securities		13,032		—		—		13,032
Other		60,406		10,217		14,352		35,837
Investments in funds and partnerships measured at NAV		23,058
Total investments		117,804		24,110		16,013		54,623
Cash equivalents measured at NAV		3,004
Derivative contracts (2)		52,129		—		52,129		—
	$	3,443,834	$	108,560	$	3,162,801	$	146,411

(1)

Includes syndicated loans, non-agency mortgage-backed securities, and sovereign debt.

(2)

Included in other assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition.


	December 31, 2021
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Liabilities:
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased:
U.S. government securities	$	377,023	$	377,023	$	—	$	—
U.S. government agency securities		37,395		—		37,395		—
Agency mortgage-backed securities		156,628		—		156,628		—
Corporate securities:
Fixed income securities		153,852		—		153,852		—
Equity securities		28,482		28,482		—		—
Sovereign debt		2,770		—		2,770		—
Total financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased		756,150		405,505		350,645		—
Derivative contracts (3)		52,147		—		52,147		—
	$	808,297	$	405,505	$	402,792	$	—

(3)

Included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

The following table summarizes the changes in fair value associated with Level 3 financial instruments during the year ended December 31, 2022 (in thousands):


	Year Ended December 31, 2022
	Financial instruments owned									Investments
	Asset-Backed Securities			Corporate Equity Securities			Syndicated Loans			Corporate Equity Securities		Auction Rate Securities		Other
Balance at December 31, 2021	$	64,706		$	225		$	26,857		$	5,754	$	13,032	$	35,837
Unrealized gains		4,789			—			550			6,124		1,649		1,183
Realized gains		4,287			1,621			2,653			—		—		992
Purchases		4,820			—			227,548			—		—		—
Sales		—			(1,846	)		(177,895	)		—		—		(999	)
Redemptions		(76,423	)		—			(9,825	)		—		—		(39	)
Net change		(62,527	)		(225	)		43,031			6,124		1,649		1,137
Balance at December 31, 2022	$	2,179		$	—		$	69,888		$	11,878	$	14,681	$	36,974

The following table summarizes the changes in fair value associated with Level 3 financial instruments during the year ended December 31, 2021 (in thousands):


	Year Ended December 31, 2021
	Financial instruments owned								Investments
	Asset-Backed Securities			Corporate Equity Securities		Syndicated Loans			Corporate Equity Securities			Auction Rate Securities			Other
Balance at December 31, 2020	$	9		$	—	$	11,275		$	—		$	12,933		$	42,113
Unrealized gains/(losses)		(3,002	)		—		(68	)		(1,000	)		124			654
Realized gains		9,485			—		—			—			—			—
Purchases		68,104			—		23,600			3,000			—			—
Sales		—			—		(7,725	)		(2,000	)		—			—
Redemptions		(16,750	)		—		—			—			(25	)		—
Transfers into Level 3		6,930			225		—			5,754			—			—
Transfers out of Level 3		(70	)		—		(225	)		—			—			(6,930	)
Net change		64,697			225		15,582			5,754			99			(6,276	)
Balance at December 31, 2021	$	64,706		$	225	$	26,857		$	5,754		$	13,032		$	35,837

The results included in the tables above are only a component of the overall investment strategies of our company. The tables above do not present Level 1 or Level 2 valued assets or liabilities. The changes in unrealized gains/(losses) recorded in earnings for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, relating to Level 3 assets still held at December 31, 2022, were immaterial.

The fair value of certain Level 3 assets was determined using various methodologies, as appropriate, including third-party pricing vendors and broker quotes. These inputs are evaluated for reasonableness through various procedures, including due diligence reviews of third-party pricing vendors, variance analyses, consideration of current market environment, and other analytical procedures.

The fair value for our auction rate securities was determined using an income approach based on an internally developed discounted cash flow model. The discounted cash flow model utilizes two significant unobservable inputs: discount rate and workout period. Significant increases in any of these inputs in isolation would result in a significantly lower fair value. On an ongoing basis, management verifies the fair value by reviewing the appropriateness of the discounted cash flow model and its significant inputs.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following reflects the fair value of financial instruments as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, whether or not recognized in the consolidated statements of financial condition at fair value (in thousands).


	December 31, 2022				December 31, 2021
	Carrying Value		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Value		Estimated Fair Value
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,199,985	$	2,199,985	$	1,963,326	$	1,963,326
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		29,017		29,017		186,331		186,331
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		348,162		348,162		579,866		579,866
Financial instruments owned		731,752		731,752		1,157,004		1,157,004
Available-for-sale securities		1,636,041		1,636,041		2,113,893		2,113,893
Held-to-maturity securities		5,990,451		5,738,418		5,348,558		5,343,481
Bank loans		20,465,092		19,752,043		16,627,847		16,704,912
Loans held for sale		156,912		156,912		207,715		207,715
Investments		99,376		99,376		117,804		117,804
Derivative contracts (1)		142,042		142,042		52,129		52,129
Financial liabilities:
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	$	212,011	$	212,011	$	385,528	$	385,528
Bank deposits		27,117,111		24,274,224		23,280,348		22,998,842
Financial instruments sold, but not yet purchased		454,817		454,817		756,150		756,150
Senior notes		1,114,554		1,016,755		1,113,478		1,218,344
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		60,000		53,385		60,000		46,340
Derivative contracts (2)		142,028		142,028		52,147		52,147

(1)

Included in other assets in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

(2)

Included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

The following tables present the estimated fair values of financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (in thousands):


	December 31, 2022
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Financial assets:
Cash	$	2,198,335	$	2,198,335	$	—	$	—
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		29,017		29,017		—		—
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		348,162		218,515		129,647		—
Held-to-maturity securities		5,738,418		—		5,624,042		114,376
Bank loans		19,752,043		—		19,752,043		—
Loans held for sale		156,912		—		156,912		—
Financial liabilities:
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	$	212,011	$	—	$	212,011	$	—
Bank deposits		24,274,224		—		24,274,224		—
Senior notes		1,016,755		1,016,755		—		—
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		53,385		—		—		53,385


	December 31, 2021
	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Financial assets:
Cash	$	1,960,322	$	1,960,322	$	—	$	—
Cash segregated for regulatory purposes		186,331		186,331		—		—
Securities purchased under agreements to resell		579,866		371,797		208,069		—
Held-to-maturity securities		5,343,481		—		5,205,085		138,396
Bank loans		16,704,912		—		16,704,912		—
Loans held for sale		207,715		—		207,715		—
Financial liabilities:
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	$	385,528	$	10,000	$	375,528	$	—
Bank deposits		22,998,842		—		22,998,842		—
Senior notes		1,218,344		1,218,344		—		—
Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts		46,340		—		—		46,340

The following, as supplemented by the discussion above, describes the valuation techniques used in estimating the fair value of our financial instruments as of December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Financial Assets

Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell

Securities purchased under agreements to resell are collateralized financing transactions that are recorded at their contractual amounts plus accrued interest. The carrying values at December 31, 2022 and 2021 approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

Held-to-Maturity Securities

Securities held to maturity are recorded at amortized cost based on our company’s positive intent and ability to hold these securities to maturity. Securities held to maturity include asset-backed securities, consisting of collateralized loan obligation securities and student loan ARS. The estimated fair value, included in the above table, is determined using several factors; however, primary weight is given to discounted cash flow modeling techniques that incorporated an estimated discount rate based upon recent observable debt security issuances with similar characteristics.

Bank Loans

The fair values of mortgage loans and commercial loans were estimated using a discounted cash flow method, a form of the income approach. Discount rates were determined considering rates at which similar portfolios of loans, with similar remaining maturities, would be made and considering liquidity spreads applicable to each loan portfolio based on the secondary market.

Loans Held for Sale

Loans held for sale consist of fixed-rate and adjustable-rate residential real estate mortgage loans intended for sale. Loans held for sale are stated at lower of cost or market value. Market value is determined based on prevailing market prices for loans with similar characteristics or on sale contract prices.

Financial Liabilities

Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase are collateralized financing transactions that are recorded at their contractual amounts plus accrued interest. The carrying values at December 31, 2022 and 2021 approximate fair value due to the short-term nature.

Bank Deposits

The fair value of interest-bearing deposits, including certificates of deposits, demand deposits, savings, and checking accounts, was calculated by discounting the future cash flows using discount rates based on the replacement cost of funding of similar structures and terms.

Senior Notes

The fair value of our senior notes is estimated based upon quoted market prices.

Debentures to Stifel Financial Capital Trusts

The fair value of our trust preferred securities is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows. We have assumed a discount rate based on similar type debt instruments.

These fair value disclosures represent our best estimates based on relevant market information and information about the financial instruments. Fair value estimates are based on judgments regarding future expected losses, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of the various instruments, and other factors. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment and, therefore, cannot be determined with precision. Changes in the above methodologies and assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details