FDS vs. HLI: FactSet Research Systems vs. Houlihan Lokey Stock Comparison
How do FactSet Research Systems (FDS) 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
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) both belong to the Capital Markets industry, though FDS is classified under Financial Exchanges & Data while HLI falls under Investment Banking & Brokerage.
| Profile Item | FDS | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | FactSet Research Systems Inc. | Houlihan Lokey, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Financial Exchanges & Data | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Market Capitalization | 11.56 billion USD | 10.13 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | June 28, 1996 | August 13, 2015 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | FDS | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 27.49% | -16.23% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | -8.71% | 15.13% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | -4.88% | 6.74% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | FDS | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 48.03% | 31.00% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.69 | 0.87 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -61.13% | -40.30% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 803.71K | 816.85K |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | FDS | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.48 | -0.66 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.71 | -0.91 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 25.48% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 17.29% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for FDS.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
25.48%
- Max
- 44.78%
- FDS
- 25.48%
- 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 21.54% 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.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
21.54%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- FDS
- 21.54%
- 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 22.22% and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 24.42% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
22.22%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- FDS
- 22.22%
- 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 | FDS | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 25.48% | 17.29% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.65% | 10.38% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 21.54% | 15.80% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 22.22% | 24.42% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 6.65% 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at -6.30% 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 | FDS | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 6.65% | 9.55% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 5.89% | 13.10% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -6.30% | 6.87% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 6.59% | 16.05% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: FactSet Research Systems (FDS) 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: FactSet Research Systems (FDS) 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 | FDS | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 1.33% and Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 1.77% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
1.33%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- FDS
- 1.33%
- 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 31.02% 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.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
31.02%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- FDS
- 31.02%
- Median
- 25.77%
- 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 | FDS | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.33% | 1.77% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 31.02% | 43.62% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 22.50 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.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
22.50
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- FDS
- 22.50
- 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)
Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 3.96 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 4.67 sits in the pricier quartile — FDS costs more per dollar of sales.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
4.67
- Max
- 9.23
- FDS
- 4.67
- Q3
- 4.57
- 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 FactSet Research Systems (FDS) at 5.77 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.
FDS
Financial Services industry group
5.77
- Max
- 7.79
- FDS
- 5.77
- 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 | FDS | HLI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 22.50 | 24.47 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.67 | 3.96 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 5.77 | 4.39 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |