Houlihan Lokey (HLI) vs StepStone Group (STEP)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
StepStone Group (STEP) has outperformed Houlihan Lokey (HLI) over the past year, losing 30.3% versus a loss of 34.4%. Over five years, HLI leads with a +23.9% price change compared with +2.0% for STEP. Houlihan Lokey is the larger company by market cap ($9.09 billion vs $5.73 billion), about 1.6 times the size, while StepStone Group is growing revenue faster (+69.7% vs +9.5%).
On valuation, StepStone Group trades at a lower forward P/E (13.0x vs 15.1x for Houlihan Lokey). StepStone Group offers the higher dividend yield (2.52% vs 1.92%). Houlihan Lokey converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 16.3% versus -26.9%.
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 | STEP |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $130.10 | $44.42 |
| Market cap | $9.09B | $5.73B |
| 1-day change | +3.64% | +1.16% |
| YTD return | -27.94% | -31.57% |
| 1-year return | -34.38% | -30.27% |
| 5-year return | +23.92% | +2.00% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 21.83 | — |
| Forward P/E | 15.07 | 13.03 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.96 | $-7.68 |
| Dividend yield | 1.92% | 2.52% |
| Annual dividend | $2.50 | $1.12 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $2.62B | $1.99B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +9.55% | +69.69% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $425.70M | $-535.81M |
| Operating margin | 20.13% | — |
| Net margin | 16.26% | -26.88% |
| 52-week high | $204.18 | $77.80 |
| 52-week low | $112.83 | $38.85 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -36.28% | -42.90% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +18.76% | +52.18% |
| Average volume | 873.23K | 1.19M |
| Shares outstanding | 54.20M | 82.29M |
| Employees | 2,800 | 1,355 |
| 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
- Houlihan Lokey is more profitable, keeping 16.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -26.9 cents for StepStone Group.
- StepStone Group grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+69.69% vs +9.55%).
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 StepStone Group
STEP stock →StepStone Group Inc. is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in primary, direct, fund of funds, secondary direct, and secondary indirect investments.
Finance · Investment Managers · 1,355 employees
HLI vs STEP FAQ
Which is bigger, Houlihan Lokey or StepStone Group?
Houlihan Lokey (HLI) is larger, with a market capitalization of $9.09B compared with $5.73B for StepStone Group (STEP).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HLI or STEP?
STEP returned -30.27% over the past 12 months, compared with -34.38% for HLI (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which pays a higher dividend, Houlihan Lokey or StepStone Group?
StepStone Group has the higher yield at 2.52%, compared with 1.92% for Houlihan Lokey.
Are Houlihan Lokey and StepStone Group in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Investment Managers industry within the Finance sector.