Morgan Stanley and Houlihan Lokey Lead 2025 M&A Advisory Rankings
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 21 2026
0mins
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Value Leadership: Morgan Stanley advised on transactions totaling $872.7 billion in 2025, making it the top advisor by deal value, showcasing its significant influence in high-value transactions.
- Volume Advantage: Houlihan Lokey managed 318 deals in 2025, maintaining its leadership position by volume, indicating its broad market influence and client trust.
- Billion-Dollar Deal Proportion: More than one-third of Morgan Stanley's advised deals were billion-dollar transactions, with 18 mega deals exceeding $10 billion, further solidifying its market leadership.
- Competitor Performance: While Morgan Stanley led in deal value, JPMorgan ranked second with $840.7 billion in advised transactions, highlighting the competitive intensity and activity in the market.
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Analyst Views on HLI
Wall Street analysts forecast HLI stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for HLI is 215.50 USD with a low forecast of 193.00 USD and a high forecast of 235.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
4 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 172.960
Low
193.00
Averages
215.50
High
235.00
Current: 172.960
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.
Houlihan Lokey Appoints New Executives to Strengthen European Operations
- Executive Appointments: Houlihan Lokey announced the appointments of Philipp Widmann as Managing Director and Henning Stoltze as Director, aimed at enhancing its coverage in the European specialty distribution sector, reflecting the firm's confidence in the ongoing growth of this market.
- Team Expansion: Widmann will lead the new team, leveraging over a decade of M&A and capital markets experience from Baird to deliver bespoke cross-border solutions, which is expected to enhance the firm's competitive position in the European market.
- Market Leadership: This appointment complements the recent addition of Géraud Estrangin in Paris, further strengthening Houlihan Lokey's expertise in aerospace and defense, indicating the firm's deep sector knowledge across multiple subsectors.
- Strategic Vision: Bill Peluchiwski, Global Head of Industrials, stated that this appointment represents an important milestone in the expansion of the global Industrials Group, emphasizing the continued growth potential in the European specialty distribution market.
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- Increased Market Attention: As analysts focus more on META, investors may reassess their portfolios, particularly against the backdrop of volatility in tech stocks.
- Rating Page Update: Comprehensive information on analyst rating changes can be found on our analyst ratings page, offering a complete view of META and other stocks to aid investors in making informed decisions.
- Lack of Investment Advice: While rating changes are provided, Benzinga does not offer specific investment advice, leaving investors to evaluate risks and rewards independently.
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Houlihan Lokey Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.60
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: Houlihan Lokey declares a quarterly dividend of $0.60 per share with a forward yield of 1.33%, indicating the company's ongoing commitment to stable cash flow and shareholder returns.
- Dividend Payment Timeline: The dividend is payable on March 15, with a record date of March 2 and an ex-dividend date also on March 2, ensuring shareholders receive timely returns and bolstering investor confidence.
- Financial Performance Beats Expectations: In its Q3 2026 earnings report, Houlihan Lokey reported a non-GAAP EPS of $1.94, exceeding expectations by $0.07, with revenue of $717M surpassing forecasts by $13.08M, reflecting strong profitability and market demand.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: With the company's valuation becoming more attractive, Houlihan Lokey's performance and future growth potential in the financial services sector receive positive evaluations from analysts, potentially attracting more investor interest.
See More
Houlihan Lokey Q3 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Release Date: Houlihan Lokey (HLI) is set to announce its Q3 earnings on January 28th after market close, with a consensus EPS estimate of $1.87, reflecting a 14% year-over-year increase, which could further solidify its market position in financial services.
- Revenue Expectations: The anticipated revenue for Q3 is $703.92 million, representing an 11% year-over-year growth, indicating the company's strong performance in a growing market environment, potentially attracting more investor interest.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, HLI has beaten both EPS and revenue estimates 100% of the time, showcasing its robust profitability and market adaptability, which enhances investor confidence.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: Despite experiencing four upward and five downward revisions in EPS estimates over the last three months, along with one upward and four downward revisions in revenue estimates, this reflects varying market perceptions of the company's future performance, which may impact short-term stock price volatility.
See More
Morgan Stanley and Houlihan Lokey Lead 2025 M&A Advisory Rankings
- Value Leadership: Morgan Stanley advised on transactions totaling $872.7 billion in 2025, making it the top advisor by deal value, showcasing its significant influence in high-value transactions.
- Volume Advantage: Houlihan Lokey managed 318 deals in 2025, maintaining its leadership position by volume, indicating its broad market influence and client trust.
- Billion-Dollar Deal Proportion: More than one-third of Morgan Stanley's advised deals were billion-dollar transactions, with 18 mega deals exceeding $10 billion, further solidifying its market leadership.
- Competitor Performance: While Morgan Stanley led in deal value, JPMorgan ranked second with $840.7 billion in advised transactions, highlighting the competitive intensity and activity in the market.
See More
Houlihan Lokey (HLI) Acquires Audere Partners and Mellum Capital to Enhance European Operations
- Acquisition of Audere Partners: Houlihan Lokey will acquire a controlling interest in Audere Partners, enhancing its position as a leading mid-cap advisory platform in France, with plans to expand its French team to approximately 80 members, thereby increasing market competitiveness.
- Integration of Mellum Capital: The acquisition of Mellum Capital's real estate capital advisory business will further expand Houlihan Lokey's infrastructure debt advisory capabilities and enhance client support across the capital structure, improving overall service offerings.
- Leadership Team Addition: The entire senior leadership team from Audere Partners, including Patrick Maurel and others, will join Houlihan Lokey, bringing extensive industry experience that will aid the firm's expansion in the European market.
- Transaction Timeline: The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, after which Audere Partners will be integrated under the Houlihan Lokey brand, marking a significant step in the company's strategic positioning in Europe.
See More
Houlihan Lokey Appoints New Executives to Strengthen European Operations
- Executive Appointments: Houlihan Lokey announced the appointments of Philipp Widmann as Managing Director and Henning Stoltze as Director, aimed at enhancing its coverage in the European specialty distribution sector, reflecting the firm's confidence in the ongoing growth of this market.
- Team Expansion: Widmann will lead the new team, leveraging over a decade of M&A and capital markets experience from Baird to deliver bespoke cross-border solutions, which is expected to enhance the firm's competitive position in the European market.
- Market Leadership: This appointment complements the recent addition of Géraud Estrangin in Paris, further strengthening Houlihan Lokey's expertise in aerospace and defense, indicating the firm's deep sector knowledge across multiple subsectors.
- Strategic Vision: Bill Peluchiwski, Global Head of Industrials, stated that this appointment represents an important milestone in the expansion of the global Industrials Group, emphasizing the continued growth potential in the European specialty distribution market.
See More
Wall Street Analysts Adjust META Stock Outlook
- Analyst Rating Changes: Top Wall Street analysts have adjusted their ratings on META stock, reflecting varying market perspectives on the company's future performance, which could influence investor decisions.
- Increased Market Attention: As analysts focus more on META, investors may reassess their portfolios, particularly against the backdrop of volatility in tech stocks.
- Rating Page Update: Comprehensive information on analyst rating changes can be found on our analyst ratings page, offering a complete view of META and other stocks to aid investors in making informed decisions.
- Lack of Investment Advice: While rating changes are provided, Benzinga does not offer specific investment advice, leaving investors to evaluate risks and rewards independently.
See More
Houlihan Lokey Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.60
- Quarterly Dividend Announcement: Houlihan Lokey declares a quarterly dividend of $0.60 per share with a forward yield of 1.33%, indicating the company's ongoing commitment to stable cash flow and shareholder returns.
- Dividend Payment Timeline: The dividend is payable on March 15, with a record date of March 2 and an ex-dividend date also on March 2, ensuring shareholders receive timely returns and bolstering investor confidence.
- Financial Performance Beats Expectations: In its Q3 2026 earnings report, Houlihan Lokey reported a non-GAAP EPS of $1.94, exceeding expectations by $0.07, with revenue of $717M surpassing forecasts by $13.08M, reflecting strong profitability and market demand.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: With the company's valuation becoming more attractive, Houlihan Lokey's performance and future growth potential in the financial services sector receive positive evaluations from analysts, potentially attracting more investor interest.
See More
Houlihan Lokey Q3 Earnings Announcement Scheduled
- Earnings Release Date: Houlihan Lokey (HLI) is set to announce its Q3 earnings on January 28th after market close, with a consensus EPS estimate of $1.87, reflecting a 14% year-over-year increase, which could further solidify its market position in financial services.
- Revenue Expectations: The anticipated revenue for Q3 is $703.92 million, representing an 11% year-over-year growth, indicating the company's strong performance in a growing market environment, potentially attracting more investor interest.
- Historical Performance: Over the past two years, HLI has beaten both EPS and revenue estimates 100% of the time, showcasing its robust profitability and market adaptability, which enhances investor confidence.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: Despite experiencing four upward and five downward revisions in EPS estimates over the last three months, along with one upward and four downward revisions in revenue estimates, this reflects varying market perceptions of the company's future performance, which may impact short-term stock price volatility.
See More
Morgan Stanley and Houlihan Lokey Lead 2025 M&A Advisory Rankings
- Value Leadership: Morgan Stanley advised on transactions totaling $872.7 billion in 2025, making it the top advisor by deal value, showcasing its significant influence in high-value transactions.
- Volume Advantage: Houlihan Lokey managed 318 deals in 2025, maintaining its leadership position by volume, indicating its broad market influence and client trust.
- Billion-Dollar Deal Proportion: More than one-third of Morgan Stanley's advised deals were billion-dollar transactions, with 18 mega deals exceeding $10 billion, further solidifying its market leadership.
- Competitor Performance: While Morgan Stanley led in deal value, JPMorgan ranked second with $840.7 billion in advised transactions, highlighting the competitive intensity and activity in the market.
See More
Houlihan Lokey (HLI) Acquires Audere Partners and Mellum Capital to Enhance European Operations
- Acquisition of Audere Partners: Houlihan Lokey will acquire a controlling interest in Audere Partners, enhancing its position as a leading mid-cap advisory platform in France, with plans to expand its French team to approximately 80 members, thereby increasing market competitiveness.
- Integration of Mellum Capital: The acquisition of Mellum Capital's real estate capital advisory business will further expand Houlihan Lokey's infrastructure debt advisory capabilities and enhance client support across the capital structure, improving overall service offerings.
- Leadership Team Addition: The entire senior leadership team from Audere Partners, including Patrick Maurel and others, will join Houlihan Lokey, bringing extensive industry experience that will aid the firm's expansion in the European market.
- Transaction Timeline: The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, after which Audere Partners will be integrated under the Houlihan Lokey brand, marking a significant step in the company's strategic positioning in Europe.
See More
