Equity Profile

HLI

Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

FinancialsInvestment Banking & Brokerage$9.6B

Jul28Tue

Pre-Earnings Brief

UpcomingQ1-2027After Close5:00 PM EDT

Company Snapshot

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI) is a global investment banking firm that provides financial advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and financial restructuring....

Key Metrics to Watch

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

EPS is a key indicator of profitability and will show how well the company is managing its costs and generating income.

N/A

Revenue Growth

Revenue growth reflects the company's ability to attract new clients and retain existing ones, which is crucial in the competitive investment banking industry.

N/A

1 more metrics, Wall Street expectations, options signals, track record, and call prep available with Pro.

HLI Q1-2027 Earnings Preview

Context

Company Snapshot

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI) is a global investment banking firm that provides financial advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and financial restructuring. With a market cap of $10 billion, the company plays a significant role in the financial sector, especially in helping businesses navigate complex transactions and financial challenges.

Earnings Scorecard·Last 8Q

EPS Beat Streak

EPS Beat Rate

75%

Avg EPS Surprise

+8.53%

Avg Stock Reaction

+0.06%

Last Quarter Recap

In Q4-2026, Houlihan Lokey reported an EPS of $1.63, which was lower than the expected $1.84, leading to a stock decline of 1.96% the following day. This miss raised concerns about the company's performance amidst a challenging market.

Management Promises & Guidance

Expectations

Wall Street Expectations

Investors are cautiously optimistic about Houlihan Lokey's upcoming earnings, especially after a mixed performance in the last quarter. The focus will be on whether the company can recover and meet or exceed expectations this time.

Bull Case

If Houlihan Lokey can report strong EPS and revenue growth, it could signal a rebound in deal activity and investor confidence, leading to a positive stock reaction.

Bear Case

Conversely, if the company fails to show improvement in key metrics or reports another earnings miss, it could lead to further declines in stock price and investor sentiment.

Expectations

Two Questions That Matter

The print will turn on these two things.

What will the EPS be for Q1-2027, and how does it compare to analyst expectations?

Given the recent earnings miss, the market will closely watch EPS to gauge the company's recovery and operational efficiency.

How has deal volume changed compared to the previous quarter?

Deal volume is critical for Houlihan Lokey's revenue generation, and any significant changes could indicate the company's market position and future growth potential.

Edge

What the Street Is Missing

Why consensus could be wrong

The Street may underestimate the potential for a rebound in deal activity, as recent market trends indicate increased M&A activity that could benefit Houlihan Lokey.

Supporting Evidence

Options pricing suggests a significant move, indicating that traders expect volatility and potential surprises.

The company's historical performance shows a 75% EPS beat rate, suggesting a higher likelihood of exceeding expectations.

Recent insider buying activity may indicate confidence in the company's future prospects.

Key Risk

If deal volume significantly exceeds expectations, it could lead to a positive reassessment of the company's growth potential.

Edge

Thesis-Break Levels

Pre-commit to what would confirm each case.

The upcoming earnings report is crucial for determining whether Houlihan Lokey can regain momentum after a disappointing last quarter.

Bull Confirmed If

An EPS of $1.85 or higher would confirm the bull case by demonstrating strong profitability.

Bear Confirmed If

An EPS below $1.60 would confirm the bear case, indicating ongoing challenges in the business.

Pre-Earnings Positioning

Options Market

Implied Move

±4.94%

Historical Avg

±1.0%

Pricing rich

The options market is pricing in a significant move of nearly 5%, indicating that traders expect volatility around the earnings report.

Options are pricing ±4.1% while HLI has averaged ±1.0% over the last 8 prints — setup is pricing rich.

Detail

ATM IV

0.4%

30d HV

26.2%

Preparation

Post-Print Playbook

Likely market behavior by outcome — not investment advice.

Beat & Raise

If Houlihan Lokey beats expectations, history suggests a potential stock increase of around +0.31%, confirming a positive outlook.

In-Line / Cautious

If results are in line with expectations, the stock may react cautiously, reflecting uncertainty about future growth.

Miss

If the company misses again, history suggests a decline of about -0.68%, which could further dampen investor confidence.

Preparation

Congressional Activity

House & Senate STOCK Act disclosures over the trailing 6 months.

Trades

1 buy·0 sells

Members

House only

Est. Notional

$1,001.00–$15,000.00

disclosed dollar ranges

Most Active Members

D-CAGilbert CisnerosRep.
1

Earnings Track Record

Preparation

What to Listen For

Call Prep

1Any updates on the company's deal pipeline and expected closings in the upcoming quarters.
2Insights into how the current economic environment is affecting client demand for advisory services.
3Management's commentary on cost management and operational efficiency improvements.
4Details on any strategic initiatives or partnerships that could drive future growth.
5Guidance on expected revenue and EPS for the next quarter.

See the full picture

AI-powered briefs, options data, and 20 quarters of history — everything you need before earnings.

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Company Snapshot

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI) is a global investment banking firm that provides financial advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and financial restructuring....

Key Metrics to Watch

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

EPS is a key indicator of profitability and will show how well the company is managing its costs and generating income.

N/A

Revenue Growth

Revenue growth reflects the company's ability to attract new clients and retain existing ones, which is crucial in the competitive investment banking industry.

N/A

1 more metrics, Wall Street expectations, options signals, track record, and call prep available with Pro.

HLI Q1-2027 Earnings Preview

Context

Company Snapshot

Earnings Scorecard·Last 8Q

EPS Beat Streak

EPS Beat Rate

75%

Avg EPS Surprise

+8.53%

Avg Stock Reaction

+0.06%

Last Quarter Recap

Management Promises & Guidance

Expectations

Wall Street Expectations

Bull Case

If Houlihan Lokey can report strong EPS and revenue growth, it could signal a rebound in deal activity and investor confidence, leading to a positive stock reaction.

Bear Case

Conversely, if the company fails to show improvement in key metrics or reports another earnings miss, it could lead to further declines in stock price and investor sentiment.

Expectations

Two Questions That Matter

The print will turn on these two things.

What will the EPS be for Q1-2027, and how does it compare to analyst expectations?

Given the recent earnings miss, the market will closely watch EPS to gauge the company's recovery and operational efficiency.

How has deal volume changed compared to the previous quarter?

Deal volume is critical for Houlihan Lokey's revenue generation, and any significant changes could indicate the company's market position and future growth potential.

Edge

What the Street Is Missing

Why consensus could be wrong

The Street may underestimate the potential for a rebound in deal activity, as recent market trends indicate increased M&A activity that could benefit Houlihan Lokey.

Supporting Evidence

Options pricing suggests a significant move, indicating that traders expect volatility and potential surprises.

The company's historical performance shows a 75% EPS beat rate, suggesting a higher likelihood of exceeding expectations.

Recent insider buying activity may indicate confidence in the company's future prospects.

Key Risk

If deal volume significantly exceeds expectations, it could lead to a positive reassessment of the company's growth potential.

Edge

Thesis-Break Levels

Pre-commit to what would confirm each case.

The upcoming earnings report is crucial for determining whether Houlihan Lokey can regain momentum after a disappointing last quarter.

Bull Confirmed If

An EPS of $1.85 or higher would confirm the bull case by demonstrating strong profitability.

Bear Confirmed If

An EPS below $1.60 would confirm the bear case, indicating ongoing challenges in the business.

Pre-Earnings Positioning

Options Market

Implied Move

±4.94%

Historical Avg

±1.0%

Pricing rich

The options market is pricing in a significant move of nearly 5%, indicating that traders expect volatility around the earnings report.

Options are pricing ±4.1% while HLI has averaged ±1.0% over the last 8 prints — setup is pricing rich.

Detail

ATM IV

0.4%

30d HV

26.2%

Preparation

Post-Print Playbook

Likely market behavior by outcome — not investment advice.

Beat & Raise

If Houlihan Lokey beats expectations, history suggests a potential stock increase of around +0.31%, confirming a positive outlook.

In-Line / Cautious

If results are in line with expectations, the stock may react cautiously, reflecting uncertainty about future growth.

Miss

If the company misses again, history suggests a decline of about -0.68%, which could further dampen investor confidence.

Preparation

Congressional Activity

House & Senate STOCK Act disclosures over the trailing 6 months.

Trades

1 buy·0 sells

Members

House only

Est. Notional

$1,001.00–$15,000.00

disclosed dollar ranges

Most Active Members

D-CAGilbert CisnerosRep.
1

Earnings Track Record

Preparation

What to Listen For

Call Prep

1Any updates on the company's deal pipeline and expected closings in the upcoming quarters.
2Insights into how the current economic environment is affecting client demand for advisory services.
3Management's commentary on cost management and operational efficiency improvements.
4Details on any strategic initiatives or partnerships that could drive future growth.
5Guidance on expected revenue and EPS for the next quarter.