Houlihan Lokey Inc (HLI)vsLPL Financial Holdings Inc (LPLA)
HLI
Houlihan Lokey Inc
$129.00
+1.11%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $8.77B
LPLA
LPL Financial Holdings Inc
$362.63
+1.00%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $28.29B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
LPL Financial Holdings Inc generates 661% more annual revenue ($19.20B vs $2.52B). HLI leads profitability with a 16.1% profit margin vs 5.2%. LPLA appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.53. LPLA earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 74/100 (B).
HLI
Hold48
out of 100
Grade: D+
LPLA
Strong Buy74
out of 100
Grade: B
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Revenue surging 36.4% year-over-year
Growing faster than its price suggests
Earnings expanding 39.4% YoY
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Revenue declined 15.6%
Earnings declined 19.0%
Moderate valuation
5.2% margin — thin
Elevated debt levels
Weak financial health signals
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : HLI
The strongest argument for HLI centers on Debt/Equity. Profitability is solid with margins at 16.1% and operating margin at 18.0%.
Bull Case : LPLA
The strongest argument for LPLA centers on Revenue Growth, PEG Ratio, EPS Growth. Revenue growth of 36.4% demonstrates continued momentum. PEG of 0.53 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bear Case : HLI
The primary concerns for HLI are PEG Ratio, Revenue Growth, EPS Growth.
Bear Case : LPLA
The primary concerns for LPLA are P/E Ratio, Profit Margin, Debt/Equity.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
HLI profiles as a declining stock while LPLA is a hypergrowth play — different risk/reward profiles.
HLI carries more volatility with a beta of 0.96 — expect wider price swings.
LPLA is growing revenue faster at 36.4% — sustainability is the question.
HLI generates stronger free cash flow (287M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
LPLA scores higher overall (74/100 vs 48/100) and 36.4% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Hold" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Houlihan Lokey Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · CAPITAL MARKETS · USA
Houlihan Lokey, Inc., an investment banking firm, provides valuation and financial advisory services, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) globally. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.
LPL Financial Holdings Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · CAPITAL MARKETS · USA
LPL Financial Holdings Inc., provides an integrated platform of brokerage and investment advisory services to independent financial advisers and financial advisers at financial institutions in the United States. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California.
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