Houlihan Lokey (HLI) vs Stifel Financial (SF)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Stifel Financial (SF) has outperformed Houlihan Lokey (HLI) over the past year, losing 5.8% versus a loss of 35.6%. Over five years, SF leads with a +40.5% price change compared with +23.6% for HLI. Stifel Financial is the larger company by market cap ($10.59 billion vs $8.77 billion), about 1.2 times the size, while Houlihan Lokey is growing revenue faster (+9.5% vs +6.7%).
On valuation, Stifel Financial trades at a lower forward P/E (9.7x vs 14.5x for Houlihan Lokey). Houlihan Lokey offers the higher dividend yield (1.99% vs 1.84%). Houlihan Lokey converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 16.3% versus 10.8%.
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 | SF |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $125.53 | $70.11 |
| Market cap | $8.77B | $10.59B |
| 1-day change | +0.25% | +0.57% |
| YTD return | -28.11% | -16.49% |
| 1-year return | -35.56% | -5.79% |
| 5-year return | +23.61% | +40.53% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 21.06 | 12.52 |
| Forward P/E | 14.54 | 9.68 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.96 | $5.60 |
| Dividend yield | 1.99% | 1.84% |
| Annual dividend | $2.50 | $1.29 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.62B | $6.35B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +9.55% | +6.65% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $425.70M | $683.78M |
| Operating margin | 20.13% | — |
| Net margin | 16.26% | 10.77% |
| 52-week high | $204.18 | $89.83 |
| 52-week low | $112.83 | $67.81 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -38.52% | -21.95% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +23.08% | +21.59% |
| Average volume | 907.89K | 1.21M |
| Shares outstanding | 54.20M | 151.00M |
| Employees | 2,800 | 8,900 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Investment Managers | Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service |
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
- SF has outperformed HLI by 29.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Houlihan Lokey trades at a higher earnings multiple (21.1x vs 12.5x trailing P/E).
- Houlihan Lokey is more profitable, keeping 16.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 10.8 cents for Stifel Financial.
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 Stifel Financial
SF stock →Stifel Financial Corp. operates as the bank holding company for Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated that provides retail and institutional wealth management, and investment banking services to individual, corporations, municipalities, and institutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally.
Finance · Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service · 8,900 employees
HLI vs SF FAQ
Which is bigger, Houlihan Lokey or Stifel Financial?
Stifel Financial (SF) is larger, with a market capitalization of $10.59B compared with $8.77B for Houlihan Lokey (HLI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HLI or SF?
SF returned -5.79% over the past 12 months, compared with -35.56% for HLI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, HLI or SF?
SF has the lower trailing P/E at 12.5, versus 21.1 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 Stifel Financial?
Houlihan Lokey has the higher yield at 1.99%, compared with 1.84% for Stifel Financial.
Are Houlihan Lokey and Stifel Financial in the same industry?
Both are in the Finance sector, but in different industries: Investment Managers for Houlihan Lokey and Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service for Stifel Financial.