HLI vs. NTRS: Houlihan Lokey vs. Northern Trust Stock Comparison
How do Houlihan Lokey (HLI) and Northern Trust (NTRS) 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 Northern Trust (NTRS) both belong to the Capital Markets industry, though HLI is classified under Investment Banking & Brokerage while NTRS falls under Asset Management & Custody Banks.
| Profile Item | HLI | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Houlihan Lokey, Inc. | Northern Trust Corporation |
| 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 | Asset Management & Custody Banks |
| Market Capitalization | 10.13 billion USD | 31.29 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | August 13, 2015 | March 17, 1980 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HLI | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -16.23% | 39.45% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 15.13% | 40.68% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 6.74% | 11.05% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HLI | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.00% | 24.90% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.87 | 1.18 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -40.30% | -50.03% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 816.85K | 1.11M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HLI | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.66 | 1.41 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.91 | 2.17 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 17.29% and Northern Trust (NTRS) at 18.44% 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%
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
18.44%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- NTRS
- 18.44%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 15.80% and Northern Trust (NTRS) at 26.00% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.
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%
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
26.00%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- NTRS
- 26.00%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 24.42% and Northern Trust (NTRS) at 34.80% 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%
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
34.80%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- NTRS
- 34.80%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | HLI | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 17.29% | 18.44% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.38% | 1.44% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 15.80% | 26.00% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 24.42% | 34.80% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 9.55% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Northern Trust (NTRS) at -2.46% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 6.87% and Northern Trust (NTRS) at -10.54% 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 | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.55% | -2.46% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.10% | 6.15% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 6.87% | -10.54% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.05% | 12.49% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Houlihan Lokey (HLI) in Financial Services and Northern Trust (NTRS) 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 Northern Trust (NTRS) 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 | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 1.77% and Northern Trust (NTRS) at 1.91% 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%
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
1.91%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- NTRS
- 1.91%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 43.62% and Northern Trust (NTRS) at 25.73% 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%
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
25.73%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- NTRS
- 25.73%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | HLI | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.77% | 1.91% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 43.62% | 25.73% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 24.47 and Northern Trust (NTRS) at 13.55 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
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
13.55
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- NTRS
- 13.55
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 3.96 and Northern Trust (NTRS) at 3.35 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
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
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
3.35
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- NTRS
- 3.35
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Northern Trust (NTRS) at 2.51 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
NTRS
Financial Services industry group
2.51
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- NTRS
- 2.51
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HLI | NTRS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 24.47 | 13.55 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.96 | 3.35 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.39 | 2.51 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |