Hercules Capital (HTGC) vs Lazard (LAZ)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Hercules Capital (HTGC) has outperformed Lazard (LAZ) over the past year, losing 8.7% versus a loss of 28.2%. Over five years, HTGC leads with a -6.0% price change compared with -28.5% for LAZ. Lazard is the larger company by market cap ($3.47 billion vs $3.09 billion), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Hercules Capital trades at a lower forward P/E (8.4x vs 9.7x for Lazard). Hercules Capital offers the higher dividend yield (9.68% vs 5.61%).
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 | HTGC | LAZ |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $16.53 | $35.62 |
| Market cap | $3.09B | $3.47B |
| 1-day change | +1.04% | -0.56% |
| YTD return | -13.07% | -26.24% |
| 1-year return | -8.71% | -28.20% |
| 5-year return | -5.98% | -28.55% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 8.22 | 17.46 |
| Forward P/E | 8.40 | 9.72 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.01 | $2.04 |
| Dividend yield | 9.68% | 5.61% |
| Annual dividend | $1.60 | $2.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | — | $3.19B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | — | +1.48% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $339.74M | $236.83M |
| Operating margin | — | 10.28% |
| Net margin | — | 7.43% |
| 52-week high | $19.13 | $58.75 |
| 52-week low | $13.70 | $34.76 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.59% | -39.37% |
| Analyst consensus | none | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +17.97% | +27.04% |
| Average volume | 1.49M | 1.67M |
| Shares outstanding | 187.16M | 97.45M |
| Employees | 100 | 3,279 |
| 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
- HTGC has outperformed LAZ by 19.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Lazard trades at a higher earnings multiple (17.5x vs 8.2x trailing P/E).
- Hercules Capital offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (9.68% vs 5.61%).
About Hercules Capital
HTGC stock →Hercules Capital, Inc. is a business development company.
Finance · Investment Managers · 100 employees
About Lazard
LAZ stock →Lazard, Inc. operates as a financial advisory and asset management firm in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific.
Finance · Investment Managers · 3,279 employees
HTGC vs LAZ FAQ
Which is bigger, Hercules Capital or Lazard?
Lazard (LAZ) is larger, with a market capitalization of $3.47B compared with $3.09B for Hercules Capital (HTGC).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, HTGC or LAZ?
HTGC returned -8.71% over the past 12 months, compared with -28.20% for LAZ (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, HTGC or LAZ?
HTGC has the lower trailing P/E at 8.2, versus 17.5 for LAZ. 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, Hercules Capital or Lazard?
Hercules Capital has the higher yield at 9.68%, compared with 5.61% for Lazard.
Are Hercules Capital and Lazard in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Investment Managers industry within the Finance sector.