Houlihan Lokey to Report Q4 Earnings Amid Mixed Expectations
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 07 2025
0mins
Source: SeekingAlpha
Houlihan Lokey Inc (HLI) saw its stock rise by 5.01% as it crossed above the 5-day SMA, despite the broader market decline with the Nasdaq-100 down 0.14% and the S&P 500 down 0.31%.
The company is set to announce its Q4 earnings on May 6, with a consensus EPS estimate of $1.79, reflecting an 8.7% year-over-year decline. This may impact investor confidence, although HLI has a strong track record of beating estimates, which could attract investors looking for stability. However, recent downward revisions in EPS and revenue estimates suggest a weakening outlook for growth potential.
Investors will be closely watching the earnings report for any signs of resilience or further challenges, as the mixed expectations could lead to volatility in the stock price.
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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: 150.800
Low
193.00
Averages
215.50
High
235.00
Current: 150.800
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.
Palomar Holdings Appoints New Board Member
- New Board Member: Palomar Holdings appointed Scott Beiser to its Board of Directors effective May 21, 2026, bringing extensive leadership and public company governance experience from his tenure as CEO of Houlihan Lokey, which is expected to provide strategic guidance and growth momentum for the company.
- Rich Leadership Experience: Having joined Houlihan Lokey in 1984 and serving in various senior roles, Beiser notably led the firm’s IPO as CEO, enhancing its market position, which is anticipated to support Palomar's long-term shareholder value creation efforts.
- Support for Strategic Goals: Beiser expressed excitement about supporting Palomar's continued growth and strategic objectives, emphasizing that collaboration with the management team and Board will help drive profitable growth and strengthen the company's competitive edge in the insurance market.
- Company Background: Palomar Holdings is an innovative specialty insurer offering a range of insurance products, with its subsidiaries receiving excellent financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, reflecting its robustness and trust within the industry.
See More
Palomar Appoints Scott Beiser to Board of Directors
- New Board Member: Palomar Holdings appointed Scott Beiser to its Board of Directors effective May 21, 2026, bringing extensive leadership experience and public company governance expertise, which is expected to provide strategic guidance and growth momentum for the company.
- Rich Leadership Experience: Having joined Houlihan Lokey in 1984, Beiser held several senior roles, notably leading the firm's IPO in 2015, showcasing his deep expertise in capital allocation and shareholder value creation.
- Support for Strategic Goals: Palomar's CEO Mac Armstrong noted that Beiser's addition will enhance the board's leadership, aiding the company in achieving sustained growth and increasing shareholder value through the execution of the Palomar 2X strategy.
- Industry Influence: Beiser's tenure on Houlihan Lokey's board and extensive experience on various public and private company boards are expected to provide significant support for Palomar's innovation and competitive positioning in the insurance sector.
See More
Houlihan Lokey Reports Q1 Revenue Decline Amid Market Optimism
- 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.
See More
Eric Crowley Joins Houlihan Lokey as Managing Director
- New Managing Director: Eric Crowley has joined Houlihan Lokey as a Managing Director in the Global Technology Group, focusing on consumer subscription software, consumer technology, and ad-tech sectors, which is expected to enhance the firm's market competitiveness.
- Extensive Industry Experience: With over a decade of investment banking and operational experience, Crowley previously led the Consumer Technology practice at GP Bullhound, advising on high-profile M&A transactions, thereby strengthening the firm's industry influence.
- Global Technology Team Strength: Houlihan Lokey's Technology Group is ranked No. 1 globally in M&A advisory, with nearly 150 finance professionals and over 25 managing directors, showcasing strong industry coverage and resource integration capabilities.
- Achieving Strategic Goals: Crowley expressed excitement about collaborating with the global team to help clients achieve their strategic objectives in a rapidly evolving market, further solidifying Houlihan Lokey's leadership position in technology consulting.
See More
Barclays Leads Q1 2026 M&A Advisory by Value
- Value Leadership: According to GlobalData's latest rankings, Barclays led the financial services M&A advisory in Q1 2026 with $31.4 billion in deal value, showcasing its strong market influence.
- Volume Performance: Houlihan Lokey ranked first by deal count with 15 transactions, maintaining its position from the previous year, reflecting its sustained trust among clients despite no increase in deal volume.
- Competitor Analysis: Morgan Stanley secured the second position with $27.9 billion in advised deals, indicating robust performance in the advisory sector, while Goldman Sachs and Lazard followed closely with $26.8 billion and $25.6 billion respectively, highlighting intense competition.
- Barclays' Significant Growth: Compared to Q1 2025, Barclays experienced a more than seven-fold increase in total deal value, successfully rising from eighth to first place, demonstrating effective strategies in securing large transactions, particularly two mega deals exceeding $10 billion.
See More
Houlihan Lokey (HLI) Q4 2026 Earnings Transcript
See More
Palomar Holdings Appoints New Board Member
- New Board Member: Palomar Holdings appointed Scott Beiser to its Board of Directors effective May 21, 2026, bringing extensive leadership and public company governance experience from his tenure as CEO of Houlihan Lokey, which is expected to provide strategic guidance and growth momentum for the company.
- Rich Leadership Experience: Having joined Houlihan Lokey in 1984 and serving in various senior roles, Beiser notably led the firm’s IPO as CEO, enhancing its market position, which is anticipated to support Palomar's long-term shareholder value creation efforts.
- Support for Strategic Goals: Beiser expressed excitement about supporting Palomar's continued growth and strategic objectives, emphasizing that collaboration with the management team and Board will help drive profitable growth and strengthen the company's competitive edge in the insurance market.
- Company Background: Palomar Holdings is an innovative specialty insurer offering a range of insurance products, with its subsidiaries receiving excellent financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, reflecting its robustness and trust within the industry.
See More
Palomar Appoints Scott Beiser to Board of Directors
- New Board Member: Palomar Holdings appointed Scott Beiser to its Board of Directors effective May 21, 2026, bringing extensive leadership experience and public company governance expertise, which is expected to provide strategic guidance and growth momentum for the company.
- Rich Leadership Experience: Having joined Houlihan Lokey in 1984, Beiser held several senior roles, notably leading the firm's IPO in 2015, showcasing his deep expertise in capital allocation and shareholder value creation.
- Support for Strategic Goals: Palomar's CEO Mac Armstrong noted that Beiser's addition will enhance the board's leadership, aiding the company in achieving sustained growth and increasing shareholder value through the execution of the Palomar 2X strategy.
- Industry Influence: Beiser's tenure on Houlihan Lokey's board and extensive experience on various public and private company boards are expected to provide significant support for Palomar's innovation and competitive positioning in the insurance sector.
See More
Houlihan Lokey Reports Q1 Revenue Decline Amid Market Optimism
- 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.
See More
Eric Crowley Joins Houlihan Lokey as Managing Director
- New Managing Director: Eric Crowley has joined Houlihan Lokey as a Managing Director in the Global Technology Group, focusing on consumer subscription software, consumer technology, and ad-tech sectors, which is expected to enhance the firm's market competitiveness.
- Extensive Industry Experience: With over a decade of investment banking and operational experience, Crowley previously led the Consumer Technology practice at GP Bullhound, advising on high-profile M&A transactions, thereby strengthening the firm's industry influence.
- Global Technology Team Strength: Houlihan Lokey's Technology Group is ranked No. 1 globally in M&A advisory, with nearly 150 finance professionals and over 25 managing directors, showcasing strong industry coverage and resource integration capabilities.
- Achieving Strategic Goals: Crowley expressed excitement about collaborating with the global team to help clients achieve their strategic objectives in a rapidly evolving market, further solidifying Houlihan Lokey's leadership position in technology consulting.
See More
Barclays Leads Q1 2026 M&A Advisory by Value
- Value Leadership: According to GlobalData's latest rankings, Barclays led the financial services M&A advisory in Q1 2026 with $31.4 billion in deal value, showcasing its strong market influence.
- Volume Performance: Houlihan Lokey ranked first by deal count with 15 transactions, maintaining its position from the previous year, reflecting its sustained trust among clients despite no increase in deal volume.
- Competitor Analysis: Morgan Stanley secured the second position with $27.9 billion in advised deals, indicating robust performance in the advisory sector, while Goldman Sachs and Lazard followed closely with $26.8 billion and $25.6 billion respectively, highlighting intense competition.
- Barclays' Significant Growth: Compared to Q1 2025, Barclays experienced a more than seven-fold increase in total deal value, successfully rising from eighth to first place, demonstrating effective strategies in securing large transactions, particularly two mega deals exceeding $10 billion.
See More
Houlihan Lokey (HLI) Q4 2026 Earnings Transcript
See More
