Analysts Set Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) Price Target at $209.17

Shares of Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) have been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the eight ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $209.1667.

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Houlihan Lokey from $216.00 to $215.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Houlihan Lokey from $209.00 to $211.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, January 29th. Weiss Ratings raised Houlihan Lokey from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Friday, February 20th. UBS Group restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $196.00 target price on shares of Houlihan Lokey in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on Houlihan Lokey from $218.00 to $214.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 29th.

Houlihan Lokey Price Performance

Shares of Houlihan Lokey stock opened at $163.75 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $11.43 billion, a PE ratio of 25.15 and a beta of 0.94. Houlihan Lokey has a 1 year low of $137.99 and a 1 year high of $211.78. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $175.66 and a 200-day moving average price of $185.15.

Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 29th. The financial services provider reported $1.94 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.85 by $0.09. Houlihan Lokey had a net margin of 16.91% and a return on equity of 24.46%. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.64 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Houlihan Lokey will post 5.98 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Houlihan Lokey Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd will be paid a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 2nd. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.5%. Houlihan Lokey’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.87%.

Insider Activity at Houlihan Lokey

In other news, Director Robert A. Schriesheim sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.86, for a total value of $854,300.00. Following the sale, the director owned 27,982 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,781,004.52. The trade was a 15.16% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, General Counsel Christopher M. Crain sold 500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $174.17, for a total transaction of $87,085.00. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders own 22.83% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Houlihan Lokey

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Houlihan Lokey during the third quarter valued at approximately $230,335,000. ING Groep NV bought a new stake in Houlihan Lokey in the third quarter valued at $4,640,000. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its position in Houlihan Lokey by 75.6% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 713,494 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $146,495,000 after purchasing an additional 307,214 shares during the period. Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Houlihan Lokey in the 3rd quarter worth $589,000. Finally, Geneos Wealth Management Inc. raised its holdings in Houlihan Lokey by 63.2% in the 2nd quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 33,430 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $6,016,000 after purchasing an additional 12,944 shares in the last quarter. 78.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Houlihan Lokey

Houlihan Lokey, Inc is a global investment bank and financial services firm founded in 1972 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The company specializes in advisory services across a broad range of transaction types and financial matters. Since its founding, Houlihan Lokey has grown to serve corporations, financial sponsors, and government entities worldwide, providing expertise in complex and high-stakes engagements.

The firm’s core service offerings include mergers and acquisitions advisory, capital markets advisory, financial restructuring and distressed M&A, and valuation and fairness opinions.