Equity Profile

HLI

Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

FinancialsInvestment Banking & Brokerage$9.2B

Jul28Tue

Pre-Earnings Brief

UpcomingQ1-2027After Close5:00 PM EDT

Company Snapshot

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI) is a global investment bank 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 the company's profitability and financial health, which investors closely watch.

N/A

Revenue

Revenue growth is essential for assessing the company's performance and ability to generate cash flow.

N/A

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 bank that provides financial advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and financial restructuring. With a market cap of $9 billion, it plays a significant role in the financial sector, particularly in investment banking and brokerage services.

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 below expectations, resulting in a stock decline of nearly 2% the following day. This miss raised concerns about the company's growth trajectory.

Management Promises & Guidance

Expectations

Wall Street Expectations

Overall, there is uncertainty surrounding Houlihan Lokey's upcoming earnings report, especially after a disappointing last quarter. Investors are eager to see if the company can rebound and meet or exceed expectations.

Bull Case

If Houlihan Lokey can deliver strong earnings and revenue growth, it may signal a recovery in its business operations, boosting investor confidence.

Bear Case

Conversely, if the company reports another earnings miss, it could further erode investor trust and lead to a significant decline in stock price.

Expectations

Two Questions That Matter

The print will turn on these two things.

Will the EPS exceed $1.70?

A strong EPS figure could indicate a turnaround from the previous quarter's miss and restore investor confidence.

What is the revenue growth rate compared to last year?

Investors will closely watch revenue growth as a sign of the company's ability to expand and compete effectively in the market.

Edge

What the Street Is Missing

Why consensus could be wrong

The Street may be underestimating the potential for a strong recovery in Houlihan Lokey's earnings, as recent trends in investment banking suggest a rebound.

Supporting Evidence

The company has a track record of beating EPS estimates 75% of the time, which could indicate a potential upside.

Options pricing suggests a significant move, indicating that traders are anticipating volatility that could favor a positive outcome.

Key Risk

If the EPS exceeds $1.70, it could challenge the current bearish sentiment and shift investor expectations.

Edge

Thesis-Break Levels

Pre-commit to what would confirm each case.

The market is debating whether Houlihan Lokey can recover from its recent earnings miss and demonstrate solid growth.

Bull Confirmed If

An EPS of $1.75 or higher would confirm a strong recovery and positive momentum.

Bear Confirmed If

An EPS below $1.60 would indicate ongoing struggles and could lead to further declines.

Pre-Earnings Positioning

Options Market

Implied Move

±4.1%

Historical Avg

±1.0%

Pricing rich

The options market is pricing in a relatively high move of about 4.1%, suggesting that traders expect significant volatility around the earnings announcement.

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 the stock could rise by about 0.31%, confirming a positive trend.

In-Line / Cautious

If results are in line but management provides cautious commentary, the stock may remain flat or see a slight decline.

Miss

If the company misses expectations again, history suggests a potential decline of about 0.68%, raising concerns about its future performance.

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 deal flow and market conditions affecting investment banking.
2Management's outlook on future revenue growth and market opportunities.
3Details on cost management strategies and their impact on profitability.
4Insights into client demand and how it may affect future earnings.
5Any commentary on competitive positioning in the investment banking sector.

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Company Snapshot

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI) is a global investment bank 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 the company's profitability and financial health, which investors closely watch.

N/A

Revenue

Revenue growth is essential for assessing the company's performance and ability to generate cash flow.

N/A

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 deliver strong earnings and revenue growth, it may signal a recovery in its business operations, boosting investor confidence.

Bear Case

Conversely, if the company reports another earnings miss, it could further erode investor trust and lead to a significant decline in stock price.

Expectations

Two Questions That Matter

The print will turn on these two things.

Will the EPS exceed $1.70?

A strong EPS figure could indicate a turnaround from the previous quarter's miss and restore investor confidence.

What is the revenue growth rate compared to last year?

Investors will closely watch revenue growth as a sign of the company's ability to expand and compete effectively in the market.

Edge

What the Street Is Missing

Why consensus could be wrong

The Street may be underestimating the potential for a strong recovery in Houlihan Lokey's earnings, as recent trends in investment banking suggest a rebound.

Supporting Evidence

The company has a track record of beating EPS estimates 75% of the time, which could indicate a potential upside.

Options pricing suggests a significant move, indicating that traders are anticipating volatility that could favor a positive outcome.

Key Risk

If the EPS exceeds $1.70, it could challenge the current bearish sentiment and shift investor expectations.

Edge

Thesis-Break Levels

Pre-commit to what would confirm each case.

The market is debating whether Houlihan Lokey can recover from its recent earnings miss and demonstrate solid growth.

Bull Confirmed If

An EPS of $1.75 or higher would confirm a strong recovery and positive momentum.

Bear Confirmed If

An EPS below $1.60 would indicate ongoing struggles and could lead to further declines.

Pre-Earnings Positioning

Options Market

Implied Move

±4.1%

Historical Avg

±1.0%

Pricing rich

The options market is pricing in a relatively high move of about 4.1%, suggesting that traders expect significant volatility around the earnings announcement.

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 the stock could rise by about 0.31%, confirming a positive trend.

In-Line / Cautious

If results are in line but management provides cautious commentary, the stock may remain flat or see a slight decline.

Miss

If the company misses expectations again, history suggests a potential decline of about 0.68%, raising concerns about its future performance.

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 deal flow and market conditions affecting investment banking.
2Management's outlook on future revenue growth and market opportunities.
3Details on cost management strategies and their impact on profitability.
4Insights into client demand and how it may affect future earnings.
5Any commentary on competitive positioning in the investment banking sector.