HLI vs. ICE: Houlihan Lokey vs. Intercontinental Exchange Stock Comparison
How do Houlihan Lokey (HLI) and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) 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
Houlihan Lokey (HLI) and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) both belong to the Capital Markets industry, though HLI is classified under Investment Banking & Brokerage while ICE falls under Financial Exchanges & Data.
| Profile Item | HLI | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Houlihan Lokey, Inc. | Intercontinental Exchange, 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 | Investment Banking & Brokerage | Financial Exchanges & Data |
| Market Capitalization | 10.13 billion USD | 96.27 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | August 13, 2015 | November 16, 2005 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HLI | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -16.23% | 18.71% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 15.13% | 18.62% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 6.74% | 6.59% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HLI | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.00% | 25.87% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.87 | 0.82 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -40.30% | -33.97% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 816.85K | 3.09M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HLI | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.66 | 0.56 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.91 | 0.80 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 17.29% and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 14.40% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
14.40%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- ICE
- 14.40%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 38.14% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 15.80%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
38.14%
- Max
- 62.84%
- ICE
- 38.14%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 24.42% and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 52.77% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
52.77%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- ICE
- 52.77%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | HLI | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 17.29% | 14.40% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.38% | 2.28% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 15.80% | 38.14% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 24.42% | 52.77% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 9.55% and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 7.47% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 6.87% and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 20.71% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | HLI | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.55% | 7.47% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.10% | 9.47% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 6.87% | 20.71% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.05% | 30.77% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Houlihan Lokey (HLI) in Financial Services and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) 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: Houlihan Lokey (HLI) in Financial Services and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) 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 | HLI | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 1.77% and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 1.17% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
1.17%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- ICE
- 1.17%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 43.62% and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 27.79% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
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%
ICE
Financial Services industry group
27.79%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- ICE
- 27.79%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | HLI | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.77% | 1.17% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 43.62% | 27.79% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 24.47 and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 23.47 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
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
ICE
Financial Services industry group
23.47
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- ICE
- 23.47
- 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 Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 8.82 sits in the pricier quartile — ICE costs more per dollar of sales.
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
ICE
Financial Services industry group
8.82
- Max
- 9.23
- ICE
- 8.82
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 3.22 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 4.39 carries an above-peer premium to book — HLI is pricier on assets.
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
ICE
Financial Services industry group
3.22
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- ICE
- 3.22
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HLI | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 24.47 | 23.47 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.96 | 8.82 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.39 | 3.22 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |