Houlihan Lokey Reports Q1 Revenue Decline Amid Market Optimism
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 16 2026
0mins
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Revenue Shortfall: Houlihan Lokey reported Q1 revenue of $635.6 million, missing analyst expectations of $679.4 million by 6.4% and reflecting a 4.6% year-on-year decline, indicating vulnerability amid market volatility.
- Adjusted EPS Miss: The adjusted EPS was $1.63, falling short of the $1.79 expected by analysts, representing an 8.9% miss and highlighting challenges in the financial restructuring segment.
- Declining Operating Margin: The operating margin decreased to 19.7% from 21.2% in the same quarter last year, suggesting pressures on cost control and profitability amid external disruptions.
- Positive Market Reaction: Despite the revenue miss, the market responded positively, with stock prices rising, reflecting investor confidence in the company's long-term prospects and underlying business activity.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy HLI?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on HLI
Wall Street analysts forecast HLI stock price to rise
4 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 137.960
Low
193.00
Averages
215.50
High
235.00
Current: 137.960
Low
193.00
Averages
215.50
High
235.00
About HLI
Houlihan Lokey, Inc. is a global investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Its segments include Corporate Finance (CF), Financial Restructuring (FR), and Financial and Valuation Advisory (FVA). CF segment provides general financial advisory services and advice on mergers and acquisitions and capital solutions offerings. FR segment offers a range of advisory services to its clients, including: the structuring, negotiation, and confirmation of plans of reorganization; liability management transactions; corporate viability assessment, and procuring debtor-in-possession financing. FVA segment provides financial advisory and valuation services with respect to companies, debt and equity interests (including complex illiquid investments), and other types of assets and liabilities, and others. It also provides investment banking advice to clients in the insurance and wealth management sectors.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Financial Stocks Slightly Decline
- Market Movement: Financial stocks edged down on Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Financial Index declining by 0.1%, indicating a cautious investor sentiment that may impact short-term performance in the financial sector.
- Investor Sentiment: Despite overall market stability, the slight dip in financial stocks suggests that investors are wary of economic data and interest rate policies, potentially affecting confidence in the financial industry.
- Sector Impact: The decline in financial stocks could trigger a ripple effect on the stock prices of related companies, especially in the current economic climate where investors might reassess their portfolios, leading to capital outflows from the financial sector.
- Future Outlook: As expectations for economic recovery shift, the performance of financial stocks may face greater scrutiny, prompting investors to closely monitor upcoming economic data releases and Federal Reserve policy directions.
See More
Houlihan Lokey to Acquire Intrepid Financial Partners, Enhancing Energy Sector Advisory
- Acquisition Announcement: Houlihan Lokey has announced its plan to acquire independent investment bank Intrepid Financial Partners, with financial terms undisclosed; this move is seen as a significant addition to its Oil & Gas Group and overall business.
- Strategic Alignment: Intrepid's comprehensive coverage of the energy sector perfectly aligns with Houlihan's long-term strategy to deliver the deepest sector expertise to its global client base, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Management Changes: Upon closing, Intrepid's CEO Hugh E. "Skip" McGee III will join as Managing Director and Global Chairman of Houlihan's Oil & Gas Group, along with 34 financial professionals, increasing the global team to over 70 financial experts.
- Market Reaction: HLI shares are trading at $134.00, up 0.80% in pre-market hours on the New York Stock Exchange, indicating a positive market response to the acquisition news.
See More
Houlihan Lokey Acquires Intrepid Financial Partners to Boost Energy Sector Capabilities
- Acquisition Overview: Houlihan Lokey has agreed to acquire Intrepid Financial Partners, aiming to expand its investment banking capabilities in the energy sector, with the transaction expected to close before September 30, 2026, reflecting the company's commitment to the energy market.
- Team Expansion: This acquisition will add 34 financial professionals, increasing Houlihan Lokey's global Oil & Gas team to over 70 professionals, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the sector.
- Independent Operations: It is important to note that Intrepid Investment Management is not included in this transaction and will continue to operate independently, indicating Houlihan Lokey's focus on its core investment banking business.
- Transaction Background: Since its founding in 2015, Intrepid has advised on over 120 energy transactions worth more than $215 billion, showcasing its deep expertise and influence in the energy industry.
See More
Morningstar Partners with Houlihan Lokey to Launch CLO Indexes
- Growing Market Demand: Morningstar's strategic collaboration with Houlihan Lokey aims to launch a new suite of CLO indexes to meet the urgent need for transparency and consistent benchmarks in the global CLO market, which exceeds $1.5 trillion and is projected to surpass $3 trillion by 2030, thereby providing investors with more reliable investment tools.
- Index Design and Governance: The new indexes will combine Morningstar's design and governance capabilities with Houlihan Lokey's valuation framework and credit market expertise, addressing the current lack of consistent benchmarks in the market, thus enabling investors to more effectively assess performance and risk.
- Investor Tool Gap: As the CLO market rapidly expands, the demand for high-quality investor tools is increasing, and Morningstar's head of innovation stated that this collaboration will fill the market gap and enhance investor competitiveness in this complex asset class.
- Enhanced Transparency: The introduction of the new indexes will not only establish a new benchmark standard for the CLO market but also help investors better manage risk by providing frequent transparent pricing, thereby promoting further development in the private credit sector.
See More
Houlihan Lokey Stock Oversold Analysis
- Oversold Condition: Houlihan Lokey Inc's stock fell to $137.505 per share on Tuesday, with an RSI reading of 27.9, indicating it is in oversold territory below the 30 threshold, suggesting that recent selling pressure may be nearing exhaustion and providing potential buying opportunities for investors.
- Dividend Yield: HLI's recent annualized dividend of $2.8 per share translates to an annual yield of 1.99% based on the current share price of $140.36, allowing dividend investors to capture higher yields in the context of falling stock prices.
- Technical Analysis Indicator: HLI's RSI of 27.9, compared to an average RSI of 51.6 for covered dividend stocks, indicates relative weakness, which may attract investors looking for undervalued stocks, particularly among dividend investors.
- Importance of Dividend History: While dividends are not always predictable, analyzing HLI's dividend history can help investors assess the likelihood of the recent dividend's sustainability, thereby influencing their investment decisions.
See More
Dave Buscaglia Joins Houlihan Lokey as Managing Director
- Executive Appointment: Dave Buscaglia has officially joined Houlihan Lokey as a Managing Director in the New York Business Services Group, focusing on specialty consulting and risk services, which is expected to enhance the firm's competitive position in the market.
- Extensive Experience: Prior to joining Houlihan Lokey, Buscaglia spent five years as a Managing Director at Stifel, covering professional and essential services, showcasing his deep background and leadership capabilities within the industry.
- Strategic Impact: Houlihan Lokey's Business Services Group was ranked as the No. 1 global business services M&A advisor in 2025, completing 92 transactions, and Buscaglia's addition is anticipated to further strengthen the group's specialty consulting and risk services coverage.
- Collaborative Approach: Buscaglia expressed that his values align closely with those of Houlihan Lokey, and he looks forward to working collaboratively with the team to drive impactful outcomes for clients, reinforcing the firm's commitment to client service.
See More
Financial Stocks Slightly Decline
- Market Movement: Financial stocks edged down on Tuesday afternoon, with the NYSE Financial Index declining by 0.1%, indicating a cautious investor sentiment that may impact short-term performance in the financial sector.
- Investor Sentiment: Despite overall market stability, the slight dip in financial stocks suggests that investors are wary of economic data and interest rate policies, potentially affecting confidence in the financial industry.
- Sector Impact: The decline in financial stocks could trigger a ripple effect on the stock prices of related companies, especially in the current economic climate where investors might reassess their portfolios, leading to capital outflows from the financial sector.
- Future Outlook: As expectations for economic recovery shift, the performance of financial stocks may face greater scrutiny, prompting investors to closely monitor upcoming economic data releases and Federal Reserve policy directions.
See More
Houlihan Lokey to Acquire Intrepid Financial Partners, Enhancing Energy Sector Advisory
- Acquisition Announcement: Houlihan Lokey has announced its plan to acquire independent investment bank Intrepid Financial Partners, with financial terms undisclosed; this move is seen as a significant addition to its Oil & Gas Group and overall business.
- Strategic Alignment: Intrepid's comprehensive coverage of the energy sector perfectly aligns with Houlihan's long-term strategy to deliver the deepest sector expertise to its global client base, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Management Changes: Upon closing, Intrepid's CEO Hugh E. "Skip" McGee III will join as Managing Director and Global Chairman of Houlihan's Oil & Gas Group, along with 34 financial professionals, increasing the global team to over 70 financial experts.
- Market Reaction: HLI shares are trading at $134.00, up 0.80% in pre-market hours on the New York Stock Exchange, indicating a positive market response to the acquisition news.
See More
Houlihan Lokey Acquires Intrepid Financial Partners to Boost Energy Sector Capabilities
- Acquisition Overview: Houlihan Lokey has agreed to acquire Intrepid Financial Partners, aiming to expand its investment banking capabilities in the energy sector, with the transaction expected to close before September 30, 2026, reflecting the company's commitment to the energy market.
- Team Expansion: This acquisition will add 34 financial professionals, increasing Houlihan Lokey's global Oil & Gas team to over 70 professionals, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the sector.
- Independent Operations: It is important to note that Intrepid Investment Management is not included in this transaction and will continue to operate independently, indicating Houlihan Lokey's focus on its core investment banking business.
- Transaction Background: Since its founding in 2015, Intrepid has advised on over 120 energy transactions worth more than $215 billion, showcasing its deep expertise and influence in the energy industry.
See More
Morningstar Partners with Houlihan Lokey to Launch CLO Indexes
- Growing Market Demand: Morningstar's strategic collaboration with Houlihan Lokey aims to launch a new suite of CLO indexes to meet the urgent need for transparency and consistent benchmarks in the global CLO market, which exceeds $1.5 trillion and is projected to surpass $3 trillion by 2030, thereby providing investors with more reliable investment tools.
- Index Design and Governance: The new indexes will combine Morningstar's design and governance capabilities with Houlihan Lokey's valuation framework and credit market expertise, addressing the current lack of consistent benchmarks in the market, thus enabling investors to more effectively assess performance and risk.
- Investor Tool Gap: As the CLO market rapidly expands, the demand for high-quality investor tools is increasing, and Morningstar's head of innovation stated that this collaboration will fill the market gap and enhance investor competitiveness in this complex asset class.
- Enhanced Transparency: The introduction of the new indexes will not only establish a new benchmark standard for the CLO market but also help investors better manage risk by providing frequent transparent pricing, thereby promoting further development in the private credit sector.
See More
Houlihan Lokey Stock Oversold Analysis
- Oversold Condition: Houlihan Lokey Inc's stock fell to $137.505 per share on Tuesday, with an RSI reading of 27.9, indicating it is in oversold territory below the 30 threshold, suggesting that recent selling pressure may be nearing exhaustion and providing potential buying opportunities for investors.
- Dividend Yield: HLI's recent annualized dividend of $2.8 per share translates to an annual yield of 1.99% based on the current share price of $140.36, allowing dividend investors to capture higher yields in the context of falling stock prices.
- Technical Analysis Indicator: HLI's RSI of 27.9, compared to an average RSI of 51.6 for covered dividend stocks, indicates relative weakness, which may attract investors looking for undervalued stocks, particularly among dividend investors.
- Importance of Dividend History: While dividends are not always predictable, analyzing HLI's dividend history can help investors assess the likelihood of the recent dividend's sustainability, thereby influencing their investment decisions.
See More
Dave Buscaglia Joins Houlihan Lokey as Managing Director
- Executive Appointment: Dave Buscaglia has officially joined Houlihan Lokey as a Managing Director in the New York Business Services Group, focusing on specialty consulting and risk services, which is expected to enhance the firm's competitive position in the market.
- Extensive Experience: Prior to joining Houlihan Lokey, Buscaglia spent five years as a Managing Director at Stifel, covering professional and essential services, showcasing his deep background and leadership capabilities within the industry.
- Strategic Impact: Houlihan Lokey's Business Services Group was ranked as the No. 1 global business services M&A advisor in 2025, completing 92 transactions, and Buscaglia's addition is anticipated to further strengthen the group's specialty consulting and risk services coverage.
- Collaborative Approach: Buscaglia expressed that his values align closely with those of Houlihan Lokey, and he looks forward to working collaboratively with the team to drive impactful outcomes for clients, reinforcing the firm's commitment to client service.
See More
