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Houlihan Lokey (HLI) AI Stock Analysis

MX:HLI

Houlihan Lokey

(BMV:HLI)

Rating:―N/A
Action:N/A
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Positive Factors
High profitability and conservative leverageHoulihan Lokey combines strong profitability with low leverage, giving it financial resilience through uneven advisory markets. This profile supports continued investment in talent and acquisitions while reducing balance-sheet pressure and preserving flexibility for shareholder returns or strategic opportunities.
Negative Factors
Advisory revenue and cash-flow cyclicalityHoulihan Lokey’s success-fee model makes revenue and cash generation sensitive to transaction volumes, financing conditions, and market disruptions. The history of a weaker year and recent free-cash-flow decline indicates that strong profitability may still translate into uneven results across the next several quarters.

Houlihan Lokey Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. is a prominent global investment banking firm offering a comprehensive suite of financial advisory services. These include expertise in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), capital markets, financial restructuring, and valuation. The...

Houlihan Lokey Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 27, 2026(Q2-2027)|Next Earnings Date:Feb 01, 2027
Earnings Call SentimentPositive

The call was broadly constructive. Revenue grew 5%, Corporate Finance and FVA produced year-over-year growth, deal activity is improving, and management raised confidence in the second-half and restructuring outlook. The company also reported strong liquidity, acquisition activity, and share repurchases. Offsetting factors included flat adjusted EPS, lower restructuring transaction volume and revenue, higher non-compensation expenses, weaker software activity, and continued macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty. Highlights significantly outweighed the lowlights.

Positive Updates

Quarterly Revenue Growth
Second-quarter revenues were $692 million, up 5% from the same period last year. Adjusted earnings per share were $1.85, flat year over year.

Negative Updates

Adjusted EPS Flat Despite Revenue Growth
Adjusted earnings per share were $1.85, flat compared with the same period last year, while revenues increased 5%.

Company Guidance

Management expects Corporate Finance backlog and activity levels to suggest growth for the balance of the year, with capital solutions and non-M&A businesses performing similarly by the end of the year, no divergence between M&A and non-M&A businesses through fiscal '27, and Europe and the U.S. looking about the same by the end of the year; it expects an unseasonably higher seasonality in our second half and a good solid second half that's better than normal for us. Financial Restructuring is expected to have a stronger second half of the year, elevated restructuring revenues through fiscal 2028, and record backlog and strong activity levels approaching calendar 2027, while software engagements are expected to begin contributing to revenues in calendar '27, with revenues from software activity expected in calendar '27 and calendar '28. Management expects to maintain its long-term target of 61.5% for its adjusted compensation expense ratio for fiscal 2027, a fiscal 2027 full year adjusted effective tax rate of between 26% and 28%, and non-compensation expenses to grow similarly to last year by the time we reach the end of the fiscal year.

Houlihan Lokey Risk Analysis

Houlihan Lokey disclosed 28 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Houlihan Lokey reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.

Higher RiskSector Avg.Lower RiskFinance & CorporateTech & InnovationLegal & RegulatoryProductionAbility to SellMacro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

Latest Risks Added

0 New Risks

Houlihan Lokey Peers Comparison

Overall Rating

UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)

Financial Indicators

MX:HLI against its peers
NameOverall RatingMarket CapP/E RatioROEDividend YieldRevenue GrowthEPS Growth
SFSF76Outperform$10.01B8.5316.46%1.99%8.19%51.30%
PJTPJT71Outperform$3.83B16.6771.16%0.67%22.91%21.48%
Sector *68Neutral$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
PIPRPIPR66Neutral$4.51B14.2822.54%3.13%20.40%24.50%
BRBIBRBI65Neutral$764.07M7.8419.97%14.30%――
AMTDAMTD43Neutral$1.50B0.001.40%―14.26%-66.36%

* Financial Sector Average

Performance Comparison

-60%-40%-20%0%PIPRSFPJTAMTDBRBIDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
MX:HLI and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
PIPRPiper Sandler Companies63.81-15.05-19.09%
SFStifel Financial66.69-11.36-14.55%
PJTPjt Partners Inc.149.71-11.71-7.25%
AMTDAmtd Idea Group19.64-43.96-69.12%
BRBIBRBI BR Partners S.A. Sponsored ADR7.05-6.50-47.98%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.