HLI vs. SYF: Houlihan Lokey vs. Synchrony Financial Stock Comparison
How do Houlihan Lokey (HLI) and Synchrony Financial (SYF) 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 Synchrony Financial (SYF) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but HLI is classified in Capital Markets while SYF is classified in Consumer Finance.
| Profile Item | HLI | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Houlihan Lokey, Inc. | Synchrony Financial |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Consumer Finance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage | Consumer Finance |
| Market Capitalization | 10.13 billion USD | 23.99 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | August 13, 2015 | July 31, 2014 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | HLI | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | -16.23% | 2.84% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 15.13% | 39.02% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 6.74% | 10.89% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | HLI | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 31.00% | 31.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.87 | 1.40 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -40.30% | -44.60% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 816.85K | 3.37M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | HLI | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | -0.66 | -0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | -0.91 | -0.06 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 17.29% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 19.83% 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%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
19.83%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- SYF
- 19.83%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 34.07% 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%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
34.07%
- Max
- 62.84%
- SYF
- 34.07%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 24.42% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 49.84% 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%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
49.84%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- SYF
- 49.84%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | HLI | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 17.29% | 19.83% |
| ROA (TTM) | 10.38% | 2.78% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 15.80% | 34.07% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 24.42% | 49.84% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 9.55% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Synchrony Financial (SYF) at -0.50% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 6.87% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 8.54% 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 | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.55% | -0.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.10% | 8.67% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 6.87% | 8.54% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 16.05% | 14.70% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Houlihan Lokey (HLI) in Financial Services and Synchrony Financial (SYF) 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 Synchrony Financial (SYF) 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 | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 1.77% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.67% 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%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
1.67%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- SYF
- 1.67%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 43.62% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 12.94% 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%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
12.94%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- SYF
- 12.94%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | HLI | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.77% | 1.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 43.62% | 12.94% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 7.70 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 24.47 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SYF, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
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
SYF
Financial Services industry group
7.70
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- SYF
- 7.70
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Houlihan Lokey (HLI) at 3.96 and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 2.45 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
SYF
Financial Services industry group
2.45
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- SYF
- 2.45
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.55 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
SYF
Financial Services industry group
1.55
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- SYF
- 1.55
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HLI | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 24.47 | 7.70 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.96 | 2.45 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 4.39 | 1.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |