HOULIHAN LOKEY, INC.
HLIAbout the company
Houlihan Lokey, Inc., an investment banking company, provides merger and acquisition (M&A), capital market, financial restructurings and liability management, and financial and valuation advisory services worldwide. The company operates in three segments: Corporate Finance (CF), Financial Restructuring (FR), and Financial and Valuation Advisory (FVA).
Investment snapshot
Positive
6
BUY / PASS
Neutral / negative
3 / 7
NEUTRAL / FAIL
Median fair value
$80.75
-43.5% vs price
Models with upside
4 / 17
Positive margin of safety
Strongest signal
6 of 8 pass — Lynch and Neff object
Key risk
11 of 12 flag HLI's debt & leverage — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +8 more
Framework analysis
| Verdict | Meaning |
|---|---|
| BUY | Positive purchase signal: the framework's buy requirements are met. |
| PASS | The company clears the framework's checklist or screen, but the framework does not produce a buy signal. For valuation frameworks this often means margin of safety is missing, insufficient, or unavailable; some screen-only frameworks have no intrinsic-value BUY state. |
| NEUTRAL | Neither a positive nor negative conclusion. It does not mean to hold an existing position. |
| FAIL | The company does not clear the framework's requirements. |
| Ranked | Ranked strategies do not use PASS: selected cohort is BUY, outside the cohort is FAIL, and unranked is NEUTRAL. |
Current investor scores use trailing 12-month flows and the latest balance sheet where supported. Multi-year and EPS tests retain annual history; each framework shows its financial basis below. Intrinsic values use annual financials.
| Metric | Graham Defensive Value | Buffett Quality Compounder | Lynch GARP | Greenblatt Magic Formula | Piotroski F-Score | Dreman Contrarian Value | Munger Quality Focus | Pabrai Dhandho Framework | Akre Three-Legged Stool | Marks Risk-Aware Value | Ackman Activist Value | Templeton Global Bargain Hunter | Sleep Scale Economies Shared | Asness Systematic Factors | Neff Low-P/E Total Return | Schloss Asset-Value Discipline | O'Shaughnessy Systematic Factor Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | FAIL | PASS | FAIL | Not ranked | PASS | PASS | PASS | FAIL | FAIL | FAIL | BUY | NEUTRAL | BUY | NEUTRAL | FAIL | FAIL | NEUTRAL |
| Score | |||||||||||||||||
| Analysis | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… | Checking access… |
| Intrinsic Value (annual) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||
| Margin of Safety | -106.4% | +11.3% | -255.9% | -164.6% | N/A | -76.9% | +6.4% | -48.0% | +16.2% | -136.2% | +40.0% | -80.9% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Financial Basis | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-05-22 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 vs 2025-09-30 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-05-22 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-05-22 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-05-22 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Qualitative assessment · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-05-22 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2026-05-22 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Market data at 2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-05-22 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · Qualitative assessment Latest source filing: 2026-05-22 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Balance sheet at 2026-09-30 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 · Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 · TTM ended 2026-09-30 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | Annual history · FY 2025 Latest source filing: 2026-05-22 Score computed: 2026-11-14 | TTM ended 2026-09-30 · Annual history · FY 2025 · Price history 2025-01-01–2026-11-01 Latest source filing: 2026-10-30 Score computed: 2026-11-14 |
Where It Passes
- Growth75% pass✓ 11✗ 2▾
6 of 8 pass — Lynch and Neff object
EPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)352.4%✓Graham>= 33% growthBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)3.56✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR6.5%✓Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passInventory Growth vs Revenue GrowthN/A (no inventory)✓LynchInventory growth < Revenue growthEPS Growth Direction$1.05 (2013) -> $6.22 (2025)✓DremanPositive over recent yearsEPS CAGR16.0% CAGR over 12 years✓Dreman> 5% annualizedPositive Net Income Frequency13/13 years positive✓MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 years3yr Median Revenue Growth9.5%✓Ackman>= 5%Positive EPS Growth Frequency4/5 years with positive EPS growth✓AckmanPositive EPS growth in >= 3 of last 5 years5-Year EPS CAGR6.5% CAGR over 5 years✓Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Revenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendrevenue up, operating margin 19.5% -> 20.1%✓SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holding5-year Revenue CAGR11.4%✓SleepCAGR > 7%3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR6.5% over 5 years✗Neff7%-20% annualized - Cash Flow60% pass✓ 8✗ 4▾
6 of 10 pass — Lynch, Dreman, Pabrai +1 more object
Free Cash Flow Proxy$446.0M✓BuffettPositive and growingFCF Positive and Growing$401.8M✗LynchPositive and growingOperating Cash Flow$704.1M✓PiotroskiCFO > 0(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=16.34%, ROA=9.88%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAPrice / (CFO / Shares)13.9x✗Dreman< 8xP/E or FCF YieldP/E=23.0x, FCF Yield=6.9%✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%FCF Positive13/13 years FCF positive✓MarksPositive FCF in majority of recent years(OCF - CapEx) / Market Cap4.1%✓Ackman>= 4%Price / FCF per Share14.3x✓Ackman<= 25Positive Operating Cash Flow frequency13/13 years positive✓SleepPositive OCF in >= 70% of available yearsOperating Cash Flow - Capital Expenditures$401.8M✓Neff> $0 (app proxy for a strong fundamental case)(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization+4.05%; #1780/4519 (top 39.4%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section
Where It Falls Short
- Debt & Leverage8% pass✓ 1✗ 14▾
11 of 12 flag HLI's debt & leverage — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +8 more
LT Debt vs Net Current Assets✗GrahamLT Debt <= Net Current AssetsDebt/Equity & Interest Coverage✗BuffettD/E < 0.5 AND Interest Coverage > 5xTotal Debt / Equity✗Lynch< 0.33Cash - Long-term Debt✗LynchPositive preferredLT Debt / Total Assets Change0.00% -> 0.00%✓PiotroskiDecreased YoYCurrent Assets / Current Liabilities✗Dreman> 1.5✗SchlossCurrent ratio >= 1.50x (app cutoff)Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity✗Dreman< 0.8✗Templeton< 1.0 (fixed cap; proxy for below-sector-median leverage)✗SchlossD/E < 1.00xDebt Levels✗MungerDebt/Equity < 0.5✗AkreDebt/Equity < 0.3Interest Coverage & Debt/EBITDA✗MarksInterest Coverage > 3x; Debt/EBITDA < 4xTotal Debt / Shareholders Equity✗Ackman<= 1.0Negative debt-to-equity (higher means less debt)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section - Valuation15% pass✓ 4✗ 24▾
11 of 13 flag HLI's valuation — Graham, Lynch, Greenblatt +8 more
Price / 3-yr avg EPS26.5x✗Graham<= 15xPrice-to-Book Ratio4.2x✗Graham<= 1.5xP/E x P/B110.70✗Graham<= 22.5Basic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)3.56✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)EBIT / Enterprise Value6.0%✗Greenblatt> 10%Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=6.0%, ROC=None✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%Price / EPS23.0x✗Dreman< 12x✗Templeton< 12x (fixed ceiling; proxy for the market's cheapest 40%)Price / (CFO / Shares)13.9x✗Dreman< 8xPrice / Book Value per Share4.2x✗Dreman< 1.2x✗Templeton< 1.5x✗SchlossP/B <= 0.80x (app cutoff)Valuation ReasonablenessP/E=23.0x, OE Yield=4.6%✓MungerP/E < 25 or Owner Earnings Yield > 5%P/E or FCF YieldP/E=23.0x, FCF Yield=6.9%✗PabraiP/E < 15 or FCF Yield > 10%P/B or P/E vs. Historical AverageP/E=23.0x, P/B=4.2x✗MarksP/E < 15 or P/B < 2.0Discount to Intrinsic Value-76.9% (IV=$80.75 vs Price=$142.84)✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePrice / FCF per Share14.3x✓Ackman<= 25Price vs. Trailing Low112% of trailing low ($127.46)✓Templeton<= 120% of trailing low (certified split-adjusted live window)Net income / market capitalization+4.07%; #1994/6340 (top 31.5%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionPositive book equity / market capitalization+0.2327; #4022/6449 (top 62.4%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionPrice / Diluted EPS23.0x✗NeffP/E <= 15x (app proxy for a P/E 40%-60% below the market)(EPS CAGR % + Dividend Yield %) / P/E0.36✗Neff> 0.7 (Neff's published traditional edge)Price / Tangible Book Value per Share10.33x✗SchlossP/TBV <= 1.00x (app cutoff)Book Value per Share Change+69.9%✓SchlossLatest BVPS >= earliest BVPS over >= 3 years (app rule)Revenue / market capitalization+0.2578; #3516/5247 (top 67.0%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section(Operating cash flow - capex) / market capitalization+4.05%; #1780/4519 (top 39.4%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionTrailing six-month price return through the evaluation date-5.73%; #3174/6202 (top 51.2%)✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-section - Efficiency25% pass✓ 3✗ 8▾
6 of 8 flag HLI's efficiency — Graham, Greenblatt, Piotroski +3 more
Current Ratio✗Graham>= 2.0ROIC (3-5 yr avg)43.8%✓Buffett> 10%ROIC - WACC+33.8%✓BuffettPositive (WACC = 10%)EBIT / (NWC + Net Fixed Assets)✗Greenblatt> 25%Current Ratio Change YoY✗PiotroskiIncreased YoYRevenue / Total Assets Change YoY0.63x -> 0.61x✗PiotroskiImproved YoYCurrent Assets / Current Liabilities✗Dreman> 1.5Return on Invested Capital✗Munger> 15%ROIC (high and growing)FY2023: ROIC=unavailable; FY2024: ROIC=unavailable; FY2025: ROIC=unavailable✗AkreLatest 3 consecutive FYs: ROIC > 15% in eachReinvestment Rate x ROIC✗AkreReinvestment Rate * ROIC > 10%ROIC (5-year)2/2 years above 12% (latest 16.7%)✓SleepROIC > 12% in a majority of years - Profitability31% pass✓ 18✗ 17▾
11 of 16 flag HLI's profitability — Graham, Buffett, Lynch +8 more
Positive EPS (10 years)13/14 years positive✗GrahamPositive EPS every year for 10 yearsEPS Growth (3-yr avg, 10-yr window)352.4%✓Graham>= 33% growthNet Income Positive (10+ years)13/14 years positive✗BuffettPositive every year for 10+ yearsROE (up to 5-year arithmetic mean)19.6%✓Buffett> 15% arithmetic mean (app rule)Operating Margin (10-yr trend)20.1% (latest)✗BuffettStable or rising over 10 yearsFree Cash Flow Proxy$446.0M✓BuffettPositive and growingEarnings Variance (10-yr CoV)0.55✗BuffettCoV < 0.3Retained Earnings Effectiveness✗Buffett$1 retained -> > $1 market value createdBasic earnings-growth PEG (dividends excluded)3.56✗Lynch< 1.0 (ideally < 0.5)3-5 Year EPS CAGR6.5%✓Lynch15-30% (Fast Grower); > 0% to passROE17.5%✓Lynch> 15%EBIT / Enterprise Value6.0%✗Greenblatt> 10%Earnings Yield + ROC AssessmentEY=6.0%, ROC=None✗GreenblattBoth EY > 10% and ROC > 25%Net Income / Total Assets9.88%✓PiotroskiROA > 0ROA Change YoY10.46% -> 9.88% (delta: -0.59%)✗PiotroskiCurrent ROA > Prior ROA(CFO / Total Assets) vs ROACFO/Assets=16.34%, ROA=9.88%✓PiotroskiCFO/Assets > ROAGross Margin Change YoY✗PiotroskiImproved YoYPre-Tax Income / Revenue21.5%✓Dreman>= 8%Net Income / Shareholders' Equity17.5%✓Dreman> 12%Margin of SafetyP/E=23.0x, P/B=4.2x✗PabraiP/B < 1.5 or P/E < 15Return on Equity17.3% (3-yr avg)✗AkreROE > 20% (3-year avg)Discount to Intrinsic Value-76.9% (IV=$80.75 vs Price=$142.84)✗Marks>= 20% below intrinsic valuePositive Net Income Frequency13/13 years positive✓MarksPositive net income in >= 7 of last 10 yearsOperating Income / Revenue20.3%✓Ackman>= 15%Net Income / Shareholders Equity17.5%✓Ackman>= 15%5-Year EPS CAGR6.5% CAGR over 5 years✓Templeton> 0% (5-year EPS CAGR)Operating Margin Trend19.5% (2023) -> 20.1% (2025)✓TempletonNon-negative operating-margin trend over 3 yearsRevenue growth vs. gross and operating margin trendrevenue up, operating margin 19.5% -> 20.1%✓SleepRevenue rising; gross margin flat or falling; operating margin holdingNet income / market capitalization+4.07%; #1994/6340 (top 31.5%)✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section✗OshaughnessyTop 10% of eligible cross-sectionGross profit / total assets✗AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNet income / positive book equity+17.49%; #954/5226 (top 18.3%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-sectionNegative 5-year standard deviation of ROA-0.0239; #1645/5884 (top 28.0%)✓AsnessTop 30% of eligible cross-section3-5 Year Diluted EPS CAGR6.5% over 5 years✗Neff7%-20% annualizedPositive Diluted-EPS Years10/10 years positive✓Schloss>= 70% positive over 5-10 observed years (app rule) - Valuation models36% pass✓ 4✗ 7▾
Models split on HLI at $142.84 — fair values range $40.13–$238.06
Graham fair value$69.21✗Graham-106.4% margin vs $142.84Buffett fair value$161.07✓Buffett+11.3% margin vs $142.84Lynch fair value$40.13✗Lynch-255.9% margin vs $142.84Greenblatt fair value$53.98✗Greenblatt-164.6% margin vs $142.84Dreman fair value$80.75✗Dreman-76.9% margin vs $142.84Munger fair value$152.58✓Munger+6.4% margin vs $142.84Pabrai fair value$96.54✗Pabrai-48.0% margin vs $142.84Akre fair value$170.49✓Akre+16.2% margin vs $142.84Marks fair value$60.48✗Marks-136.2% margin vs $142.84Ackman fair value$238.06✓Ackman+40.0% margin vs $142.84Templeton fair value$78.96✗Templeton-80.9% margin vs $142.84 - Verdicts46% pass✓ 6✗ 7▾
Split decision: 7 FAIL · 4 PASS · 3 NEUTRAL · 2 BUY
Overall verdict✗GrahamFAIL (2/9)✓BuffettPASS (4/9)✗LynchFAIL (3/7)•GreenblattNot ranked✓PiotroskiPASS (F-Score 5)✓DremanPASS (5/11)✓MungerPASS (2/4)✗PabraiFAIL (0/3)✗AkreFAIL (1/6)✗MarksFAIL (2/5)✓AckmanBUY (8/9)•TempletonNEUTRAL (5/8)✓SleepBUY (6/6)•AsnessNEUTRAL (Not ranked)✗NeffFAIL (3/6)✗SchlossFAIL (3/7)•OshaughnessyNEUTRAL (Not ranked)
Business & financials
Financial snapshot: annual FY 2025. Current investor scores may use newer quarterly data.
Company Profile
Financial Snapshot
Shareholder Return
Fiscal 2025
Retired 0.3% of shares last year, 0.4% issued over two.
- Buybacks
- $175.4M
- Dividends
- $174.0M
What drove EPS
A buyback raises earnings per share without the company earning more. This splits each year's change into the two.
Share count is the denominator the filer used for diluted EPS, recovered as net income ÷ EPS — not the balance-sheet count, which is a point-in-time figure and would put the timing difference into this split. Years with a loss are omitted: a smaller share count makes a loss per share larger, so the decomposition inverts.
Company Financials
Latest TTM and quarters alongside annual years
TTM sums four consecutive quarters and uses the latest quarter-end balances. Quarter columns show three-month results; annual columns show full-year totals. Growth compares the same period a year earlier. EPS is not added for TTM; full-year ratios are blank for quarters.
The latest annual period end is unavailable. Showing the latest fiscal cycle’s quarters; quarter and annual columns may overlap. Quarterly shows the full quarter history.
| Metric | TTM · 2026-09-30 2025-10-01 – 2026-09-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: operating cash flow, depreciation amortization, capex, dividends paid, buybacks, revenue, net income, operating income, ebit, pre tax income. | Q2 FY 2027 2026-07-01 – 2026-09-30 Sources · derived quarter valuesDerived from cumulative filings: operating cash flow, depreciation amortization, capex, dividends paid, buybacks. | Q1 FY 2027 2026-04-01 – 2026-06-30 Sources | FY 2025Sources
| FY 2024Sources
| FY 2023Sources
| FY 2022Sources
| FY 2021Sources
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Cap | $9.9Bcurrent | -- | -- | $11.5Best. | $12.3Best. | $7.9Best. | $6.3Best. | $6.7Best. |
| Revenue | $2.6B | $692.0M↑5% | $511.0M↓16% | $2.6B↑10% | $2.4B↑25% | $1.9B↑6% | $1.8B↓20% | $2.3B |
| Operating Income | $517.9M | $154.0M↑2% | $78.0M↓13% | $527.0M↑5% | $502.6M↑35% | $373.2M↑9% | $341.7M↓44% | $612.9M |
| Net Income | $403.4M↓5% | $109.0M↓2% | $78.0M↓20% | $425.7M↑7% | $399.7M↑43% | $280.3M↑10% | $254.2M↓42% | $437.8M |
| EPS (Diluted) | -- | $1.64↑1% | $1.15↓19% | $6.22↑7% | $5.82↑42% | $4.11↑9% | $3.76↓41% | $6.41 |
| Gross Margin | — | 34.5%↑2% | 30.1%↓3% | — | 32.3%↑8% | 29.8%↓3% | 30.8%↓12% | 35.0% |
| Operating Margin | 20.3%↑1% | 22.3%↓3% | 15.3%↑3% | 20.1%↓4% | 21.0%↑8% | 19.5%↑3% | 18.9%↓30% | 27.0% |
| ROE | 17.5%↓8% | — | — | 18.2%↓1% | 18.4%↑20% | 15.3%↓3% | 15.8%↓48% | 30.3% |
| Total Debt | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | $0↓100% | $539.0K |
| Shareholders' Equity | $2.3B↑3% | $2.3B↑3% | $2.3B↑4% | $2.3B↑8% | $2.2B↑18% | $1.8B↑14% | $1.6B↑12% | $1.4B |
| Current Ratio | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Debt / Equity | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0.00↓100% | 0.00 |
| Operating Cash Flow | $426.7M↓48% | $252.0M↓22% | -$336.0M↓155% | $704.1M↓17% | $848.6M↑158% | $328.5M↑141% | $136.3M↓81% | $736.6M |
| Free Cash Flow | $401.8M↓49% | $240.0M↓26% | -$342.0M↓136% | $681.8M↓16% | $808.9M↑209% | $261.7M↑206% | $85.5M↓88% | $727.9M |
Score history
Historical Score Timeline
Industry peers
Industry Peers
Similar companies in Trading
HLI vs Peers — Financial Grading
| Company | Market Cap | Price | Revenue | Net Income | ROE | D/E | Op. Margin | Curr. Ratio | Graham | Buffett | Lynch | Greenblatt | Piotroski | Dreman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REALTY INCOME CORPO | $56.1B | $58.82 | $5.7B | $1.1B | 2.7% | 0.63 | 16.8% | — | 2/7 | 1/9 | 3/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 6 | 4/10 |
| Ventas, Inc.VTR | $47.0B | $88.92 | $5.8B | $261.5M | 2.1% | 1.04 | 3.5% | — | 2/7 | 1/9 | 2/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 6 | 2/10 |
| RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL INCRJF | $32.4B | $168.64 | $15.9B | $2.1B | 17.1% | 0.28 | — | — | 3/9 | 3/9 | 3/7 | 1/3 | F-Score 6 | 4/11 |
| ROYAL GOLD INCRGLD | $21.7B | $256.89 | $1.0B | $466.3M | 6.5% | 0.13 | 61.9% | 3.12 | 4/9 | 2/9 | 4/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 4 | 4/11 |
| iShares Ethereum Trust ETFETHA | $19.4B | $44.02 | — | $2.3B | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| KIMCO REALTY CORPKIM | $17.0B | $25.55 | $2.1B | $584.7M | 5.6% | 0.74 | 36.0% | — | 3/7 | 2/9 | 4/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 7 | 5/10 |
| LandBridge Co LLCLB | $5.6B | $73.15 | $199.1M | $30.1M | 8.9% | 1.65 | 59.5% | 4.87 | 2/9 | 3/9 | 2/7 | 0/3 | F-Score 6 | 3/11 |
| Digital Turbine, Inc.APPS | $927.6M | $7.61 | $565.3M | $37.7M | -19.6% | 1.88 | 6.0% | 1.16 | 1/9 | 2/9 | 2/7 | 1/3 | F-Score 7 | 0/11 |