Houlihan Lokey (HLI) vs Morningstar (MORN)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Morningstar (MORN) has outperformed Houlihan Lokey (HLI) over the past year, losing 11.2% versus a loss of 34.4%. Over five years, HLI leads with a +23.9% price change compared with -26.1% for MORN. Houlihan Lokey is the larger company by market cap ($9.10 billion vs $7.67 billion), about 1.2 times the size.
On valuation, Morningstar trades at a lower forward P/E (14.6x vs 15.1x for Houlihan Lokey). Houlihan Lokey offers the higher dividend yield (1.92% vs 0.96%). Houlihan Lokey converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 16.3% versus 15.3%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | HLI | MORN |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $130.16 | $204.45 |
| Market cap | $9.10B | $7.67B |
| 1-day change | +3.69% | +0.84% |
| YTD return | -27.94% | -6.70% |
| 1-year return | -34.38% | -11.17% |
| 5-year return | +23.92% | -26.12% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 21.84 | 19.45 |
| Forward P/E | 15.07 | 14.60 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.96 | $10.51 |
| Dividend yield | 1.92% | 0.96% |
| Annual dividend | $2.50 | $1.96 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.62B | $2.45B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +9.55% | +7.49% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $425.70M | $374.20M |
| Gross margin | — | 61.03% |
| Operating margin | 20.13% | 21.53% |
| Net margin | 16.26% | 15.30% |
| 52-week high | $204.18 | $228.95 |
| 52-week low | $112.83 | $141.49 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -36.25% | -10.70% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +18.70% | +15.76% |
| Average volume | 873.23K | 336.48K |
| Shares outstanding | 54.20M | 37.51M |
| Employees | 2,800 | 10,973 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Investment Managers | Investment Managers |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- MORN has outperformed HLI by 23.2 percentage points over the past year.
About Houlihan Lokey
HLI stock →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).
Finance · Investment Managers · 2,800 employees
About Morningstar
MORN stock →Morningstar, Inc. provides independent investment insights for investors in the United States, Asia, Australia, Canada, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, and internationally.
Finance · Investment Managers · 10,973 employees
HLI vs MORN FAQ
Which is bigger, Houlihan Lokey or Morningstar?
Houlihan Lokey (HLI) is larger, with a market capitalization of $9.10B compared with $7.67B for Morningstar (MORN).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HLI or MORN?
MORN returned -11.17% over the past 12 months, compared with -34.38% for HLI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, HLI or MORN?
MORN has the lower trailing P/E at 19.5, versus 21.8 for HLI. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Houlihan Lokey or Morningstar?
Houlihan Lokey has the higher yield at 1.92%, compared with 0.96% for Morningstar.
Are Houlihan Lokey and Morningstar in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Investment Managers industry within the Finance sector.