AXP vs. HLI: American Express vs. Houlihan Lokey Stock Comparison
How do American Express (AXP) and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
American Express (AXP) and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but AXP is classified in Consumer Finance while HLI is classified in Capital Markets.
| Profile Item | AXP | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | American Express Company | Houlihan Lokey, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Consumer Finance | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Consumer Finance | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Market Capitalization | 215.24 billion USD | 10.13 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 1, 1972 | August 13, 2015 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | AXP | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -10.80% | -16.23% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 30.19% | 15.13% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 13.96% | 6.74% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | AXP | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 26.18% | 31.00% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.06 | 0.87 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -31.55% | -40.30% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.91M | 816.85K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | AXP | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.58 | -0.66 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.74 | -0.91 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
American Express (AXP) at 35.93% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 17.29% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for AXP.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
35.93%
- Max
- 44.78%
- AXP
- 35.93%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
HLI
Financial Services industry group
17.29%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- HLI
- 17.29%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 16.82% and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 15.80% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
16.82%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- AXP
- 16.82%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
HLI
Financial Services industry group
15.80%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- HLI
- 15.80%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.43% and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 24.42% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
18.43%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- AXP
- 18.43%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
HLI
Financial Services industry group
24.42%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- HLI
- 24.42%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | AXP | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 35.93% | 17.29% |
| ROA (TTM) | 4.03% | 10.38% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 16.82% | 15.80% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 18.43% | 24.42% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both American Express (AXP) at 9.52% and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 9.55% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both American Express (AXP) at 9.78% and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 6.87% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | AXP | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.52% | 9.55% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 10.97% | 13.10% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 9.78% | 6.87% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.01% | 16.05% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) in Financial Services both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: American Express (AXP) in Financial Services and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) in Financial Services run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | AXP | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 1.13% and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 1.77% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
1.13%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- AXP
- 1.13%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
HLI
Financial Services industry group
1.77%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- HLI
- 1.77%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 15.32% and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 43.62% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
15.32%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- AXP
- 15.32%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
HLI
Financial Services industry group
43.62%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- HLI
- 43.62%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | AXP | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.13% | 1.77% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 15.32% | 43.62% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both American Express (AXP) at 18.08 and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 24.47 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
18.08
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- AXP
- 18.08
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
HLI
Financial Services industry group
24.47
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- HLI
- 24.47
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both American Express (AXP) at 2.95 and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 3.96 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
2.95
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- AXP
- 2.95
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
HLI
Financial Services industry group
3.96
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- HLI
- 3.96
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Both American Express (AXP) at 6.02 and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 4.39 carry a premium to book value versus peers, sitting in the upper P/B ratio quartile of their industries.
AXP
Financial Services industry group
6.02
- Max
- 7.79
- AXP
- 6.02
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
HLI
Financial Services industry group
4.39
- Max
- 7.79
- HLI
- 4.39
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | AXP | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 18.08 | 24.47 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 2.95 | 3.96 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 6.02 | 4.39 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |