Houlihan Lokey (HLI) Stock Analysis

November 11, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Houlihan Lokey (HLI): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Financial Services peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Houlihan Lokey (HLI)
Profile Item	HLI
Name	Houlihan Lokey, Inc.
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Financials
GICS Industry Group	Financial Services
GICS Industry	Capital Markets
GICS Sub-Industry	Investment Banking & Brokerage
Market Capitalization	10.13 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	August 13, 2015
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HLI

GSPC

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Houlihan Lokey (HLI) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Houlihan Lokey (HLI) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HLI	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	-16.23%	1.90%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	15.13%	12.71%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	6.74%	2.81%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HLI

GSPC

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Houlihan Lokey (HLI) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HLI	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	31.00%	36.24%
Beta (5Y)	0.87	1.04
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-40.30%	-48.56%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. HLI is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HLI	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	-0.66	-0.09
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	-0.91	-0.13

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) posts ROE of 17.29%, roughly around the peer group’s normal range. Shareholders’ equity is producing a return that looks broadly typical for the industry.

HLI

Financial Services industry group

17.29%

Group distribution

Max: 44.78%
Q3: 21.85%
HLI: 17.29%
Median: 12.91%
Q1: 4.48%
Min: -18.71%

Largest peers

MA: 231.37%
V: 63.51%
MS: 18.04%
GS: 17.71%
HLI: 17.29%
BRK.A: 12.12%
BRK.B: 12.12%

Where Houlihan Lokey (HLI) stands on ROE within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) keeps 15.80% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

HLI

Financial Services industry group

15.80%

Group distribution

Max: 62.84%
Q3: 28.05%
HLI: 15.80%
Median: 15.36%
Q1: 4.82%
Min: -28.52%

Largest peers

V: 51.20%
MA: 46.73%
GS: 31.21%
MS: 25.63%
BRK.A: 22.30%
BRK.B: 22.30%
HLI: 15.80%

Where Houlihan Lokey (HLI) stands on net margin within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) turns 24.42% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

HLI

Financial Services industry group

24.42%

Group distribution

Max: 107.33%
Q3: 55.90%
Median: 30.09%
HLI: 24.42%
Q1: 14.60%
Min: -44.34%

Largest peers

V: 63.73%
MA: 60.53%
MS: 39.00%
GS: 38.37%
BRK.A: 32.56%
BRK.B: 32.56%
HLI: 24.42%

Where Houlihan Lokey (HLI) stands on operating margin within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HLI	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	17.29%	12.91%
ROA (TTM)	10.38%	3.60%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.80%	15.36%
Operating Margin (TTM)	24.42%	30.09%
Gross Margin (TTM)	--	--

Growth

Revenue Growth

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) grew revenue 9.55%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Houlihan Lokey (HLI): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Financial Services industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) grew earnings per share 6.87%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Houlihan Lokey (HLI): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Financial Services industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HLI	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	9.55%	9.46%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	13.10%	10.90%
EPS Growth (YoY)	6.87%	7.46%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	16.05%	13.04%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio is set aside for Houlihan Lokey (HLI) in Financial Services: these balance sheets are not best read through a current/non-current split, so regulatory, funding, or liquidity-coverage measures usually matter more.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for Houlihan Lokey (HLI) in Financial Services: leverage is part of the business model itself, so capital adequacy, funding mix, and regulatory measures are usually better risk gauges.

Financial Strength Metrics

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HLI	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	--	--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	--	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	--	--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) has dividend yield of 1.77%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

HLI

Financial Services industry group

1.77%

Group distribution

Max: 9.77%
Q3: 3.92%
HLI: 1.77%
Median: 1.09%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

MS: 2.40%
GS: 2.07%
HLI: 1.77%
V: 0.66%
MA: 0.53%
BRK.A: 0.00%
BRK.B: 0.00%

Where Houlihan Lokey (HLI) stands on dividend yield within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) has payout ratio of 43.62%, within the industry’s typical payout band. The dividend shares profits with investors while leaving earnings coverage that looks normal for the peer group.

HLI

Financial Services industry group

43.62%

Group distribution

Max: 241.07%
Q3: 97.36%
HLI: 43.62%
Median: 25.77%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

HLI: 43.62%
MS: 32.91%
GS: 25.88%
V: 21.75%
MA: 17.63%
BRK.A: 0.00%
BRK.B: 0.00%

Where Houlihan Lokey (HLI) stands on payout ratio within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HLI	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.77%	1.09%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	43.62%	25.77%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) trades at P/E ratio of 24.47, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

HLI

Financial Services industry group

24.47

Group distribution

Max: 45.85
Q3: 24.64
HLI: 24.47
Median: 15.37
Q1: 9.68
Min: 0.16

Largest peers

V: 34.31
MA: 34.15
HLI: 24.47
MS: 14.39
BRK.A: 14.36
BRK.B: 14.36
GS: 12.45

Where Houlihan Lokey (HLI) stands on P/E ratio within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) trades at 3.96 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.

HLI

Financial Services industry group

3.96

Group distribution

Max: 9.23
Q3: 4.57
HLI: 3.96
Median: 2.72
Q1: 1.28
Min: -0.55

Largest peers

V: 17.18
MA: 15.67
HLI: 3.96
MS: 3.55
GS: 3.52
BRK.A: 3.18
BRK.B: 3.18

Where Houlihan Lokey (HLI) stands on P/S ratio within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) trades at 4.39 on P/B ratio, in the higher book-value quartile. The market is paying a premium to book, so stronger ROE, cleaner assets, or a better growth profile need to justify it.

HLI

Financial Services industry group

4.39

Group distribution

Max: 7.79
HLI: 4.39
Q3: 3.63
Median: 1.57
Q1: 0.81
Min: -0.39

Largest peers

MA: 84.30
V: 22.05
HLI: 4.39
MS: 2.65
GS: 2.36
BRK.A: 1.72
BRK.B: 0.00

Where Houlihan Lokey (HLI) stands on P/B ratio within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: HLI	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	24.47	15.37
P/S Ratio (TTM)	3.96	2.72
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	4.39	1.57
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	--	--