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HLI vs RJF
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Houlihan Lokey (HLI) vs. Raymond James Financial (RJF) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- HLI has outperformed RJF year-to-date (YTD), with a return of 7.24% compared to 4.52%.
- HLI commands a higher price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 24.77 versus RJF's 14.88, reflecting a growth premium in investment banking.
- Recent market activity shows RJF gearing up for quarterly earnings with projected revenue growth of over 10% year-over-year.
- Both stocks operate in financial services but differ in focus: HLI on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and restructuring, RJF on wealth management.
- Analyst price targets suggest upside for both, averaging $174.50 for HLI and $170.83 for RJF.
- HLI's smaller market capitalization of $11.2 billion offers higher volatility compared to RJF's $30 billion scale.
Introduction
This stock comparison pits HLI, a leading investment bank focused on M&A and restructuring, against RJF, a diversified financial services firm emphasizing wealth management and brokerage. Both companies navigate the dynamic financial sector amid shifting interest rates and economic uncertainty. Traders seeking momentum plays may eye HLI's recent outperformance, while long-term investors might prefer RJF's stability and scale. This analysis highlights relative performance, business drivers, and market positioning to aid informed decision-making in today's environment.
HLI Overview and Recent Performance
Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI) is a global investment bank renowned for advisory services in M&A, capital markets, and financial restructuring. With a market capitalization of approximately $11.2 billion, it caters to middle-market clients. In recent market activity, HLI stock has traded within a 52-week range of $134.41 to $211.78, reflecting sensitivity to deal flow cycles. Year-to-date gains stand at 7.24%, supported by a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) beat of $1.94 versus estimates. Sentiment has been tempered by a slowdown in restructuring activity, yet strong revenue growth of 13% year-over-year and positive analyst updates, including Morgan Stanley's Overweight rating, have bolstered positioning. Broader private market trends continue to influence investor interest.
RJF Overview and Recent Performance
Raymond James Financial, Inc. (RJF) provides brokerage, wealth management, and investment banking services through its extensive advisor network. Boasting a market cap of $30 billion, it manages significant assets under management (AUM). Over the recent weeks, RJF shares have moved within a 52-week range of $131.85 to $177.66, with YTD returns at 4.52%. Anticipation builds for upcoming quarterly results, forecasting 14.1% EPS growth and 10.2% revenue increase, driven by robust trading and investment banking performance. Analyst sentiment remains mixed, with Morgan Stanley maintaining Equal-Weight but trimming its target slightly. Steady client assets and operational expansions have supported resilience amid sector volatility.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
HLI and RJF both thrive in financial services but diverge in business models: HLI specializes in high-margin advisory fees from M&A and restructuring, exposing it to cyclical deal volumes, while RJF generates recurring revenue from wealth management and brokerage commissions, bolstered by growing AUM. Growth drivers favor HLI's recent momentum, yet RJF offers scale advantages. Risk factors include HLI's sensitivity to economic downturns versus RJF's diversified exposure. Market sentiment leans positive for both, with HLI showing stronger relative performance in recent weeks.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI currently favors HLI over RJF based on superior YTD momentum, earnings beats, and higher analyst upside potential. HLI's trend consistency in investment banking amid recovering deal activity positions it probabilistically stronger for near-term gains, though RJF's stability remains compelling in volatile conditions.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is HLI is a Hold and RJF is a StrongBuy.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
HLI’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileRJF’s FA Score has 2 green FA rating(s).
- HLI’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- RJF’s FA Score: 2 green, 3 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
HLI’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while RJF’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- HLI’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- RJF’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 4 bearish.
Price Growth
HLI (@Investment Banks/Brokers) experienced а +0.79% price change this week, while RJF (@Investment Managers) price change was +1.25% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Investment Banks/Brokers industry was -1.65%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.24%, and the average quarterly price growth was -6.21%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Investment Managers industry was -2.08%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -2.27%, and the average quarterly price growth was -7.83%.
Reported Earning Dates
HLI is expected to report earnings on Aug 04, 2026.
RJF is expected to report earnings on Jul 22, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Investment Banks/Brokers (-1.65% weekly)These banks specialize in underwriting (helping companies with debt financing or equity issuances), IPOs, facilitating mergers and other corporate reorganizations and acting as a broker or financial advisor for institutions. They might also trade securities on their own accounts. Investment banks potentially thrive on expanding its network of clients, since that could help them increase profits. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and CME Group Inc are some of the largest investment banking companies.
@Investment Managers (-2.08% weekly)Investment Managers manage financial assets and other investments of clients. Management includes designing a short- or long-term strategy for buying/holding and selling of portfolio holdings. It can also include tax services and other aspects of financial planning as well. While it is perceived that the industry is faced with growing competition from robo-advisors/digital platforms and passive/ index-tracking funds, many investors still find value in actively managed in-person services that investment management companies often emphasize on. At the same time, many wealth managers are also incorporating digital initiatives/low cost options in addition to their in-person customized services. Their main sources of revenues are fees as a percentage of assets under management, in addition to a certain portion of clients’ gains from asset appreciation. BlackRock, Inc., Blackstone Group Inc and Brookfield Asset Management are some of the major investment management companies.
| HLI | RJF | HLI / RJF | |
| Capitalization | 9.73B | 30.5B | 32% |
| EBITDA | 661M | N/A | - |
| Gain YTD | -18.393 | -1.758 | 1,046% |
| P/E Ratio | 22.66 | 14.79 | 153% |
| Revenue | 2.62B | 14.5B | 18% |
| Total Cash | 1.32B | 2.61B | 50% |
| Total Debt | 492M | 4.22B | 12% |
HLI | RJF | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 7 | 23 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 14 Undervalued | 69 Overvalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 47 | 32 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 47 | 15 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 62 | 52 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 76 | 50 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 34 | 45 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
HLI's Valuation (14) in the Investment Banks Or Brokers industry is somewhat better than the same rating for RJF (69). This means that HLI’s stock grew somewhat faster than RJF’s over the last 12 months.
RJF's Profit vs Risk Rating (32) in the Investment Banks Or Brokers industry is in the same range as HLI (47). This means that RJF’s stock grew similarly to HLI’s over the last 12 months.
RJF's SMR Rating (15) in the Investment Banks Or Brokers industry is in the same range as HLI (47). This means that RJF’s stock grew similarly to HLI’s over the last 12 months.
RJF's Price Growth Rating (52) in the Investment Banks Or Brokers industry is in the same range as HLI (62). This means that RJF’s stock grew similarly to HLI’s over the last 12 months.
RJF's P/E Growth Rating (50) in the Investment Banks Or Brokers industry is in the same range as HLI (76). This means that RJF’s stock grew similarly to HLI’s over the last 12 months.
| HLI | RJF | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 45% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 52% | 2 days ago 60% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 64% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 71% | 2 days ago 64% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 64% | 2 days ago 63% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 60% | 2 days ago 59% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 8 days ago 60% | 8 days ago 59% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 57% | 13 days ago 58% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 76% | 2 days ago 61% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 58% | 2 days ago 59% |
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HLI and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, HLI has been closely correlated with RJF. These tickers have moved in lockstep 76% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if HLI jumps, then RJF could also see price increases.
RJF and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, RJF has been closely correlated with SF. These tickers have moved in lockstep 87% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if RJF jumps, then SF could also see price increases.