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Houlihan Lokey Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

– Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Revenues of $575 million –

– Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Diluted EPS of $1.37 –

– Adjusted Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Diluted EPS of $1.46 –

– Announces Dividend of $0.57 per Share for Third Quarter Fiscal 2025 –

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) (“Houlihan Lokey” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for its second quarter ended September 30, 2024.

For the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, revenues were $575 million, compared with $467 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023. Net income was $94 million, or $1.37 per diluted share, for the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared with $67 million, or $0.99 per diluted share, for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023. Adjusted net income for the second quarter ended September 30, 2024 was $100 million, or $1.46 per diluted share, compared with $77 million, or $1.11 per diluted share, for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023.

“We are pleased with our second-quarter results, and we enter the second half of the year with momentum across all three of our business lines. While we recognize uncertainties in the macro environment, our outlook for the second half of fiscal 2025 is positive, as we continue to see the benefits of our highly diversified business model,” stated Scott Adelson, Chief Executive Officer of Houlihan Lokey.

Selected Financial Data

(In thousands, except per share data)

U.S. GAAP

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Six Months Ended September 30,

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Revenues by segment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate Finance

$

364,028

 

 

$

281,684

 

 

$

692,445

 

 

$

508,735

 

Financial Restructuring

 

131,568

 

 

 

114,670

 

 

 

248,990

 

 

 

238,038

 

Financial and Valuation Advisory

 

79,361

 

 

 

70,635

 

 

 

147,131

 

 

 

136,045

 

Revenues

$

574,957

 

 

$

466,989

 

 

$

1,088,566

 

 

$

882,818

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee compensation and benefits

$

360,637

 

 

$

296,542

 

 

$

690,753

 

 

$

560,025

 

Non-compensation

 

83,651

 

 

 

80,170

 

 

 

171,576

 

 

 

159,169

 

Operating income

 

130,669

 

 

 

90,277

 

 

 

226,237

 

 

 

163,624

 

Other income, net

 

(5,419

)

 

 

(3,296

)

 

 

(9,725

)

 

 

(6,301

)

Income before provision for income taxes

 

136,088

 

 

 

93,573

 

 

 

235,962

 

 

 

169,925

 

Provision for income taxes

 

42,539

 

 

 

26,542

 

 

 

53,473

 

 

 

41,504

 

Net income attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

$

93,549

 

 

$

67,031

 

 

$

182,489

 

 

$

128,421

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings per share attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

$

1.37

 

 

$

0.99

 

 

$

2.67

 

 

$

1.89

 

Revenues

For the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, revenues were $575 million, compared with $467 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023. For the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, Corporate Finance (“CF”) revenues increased 29%, Financial Restructuring (“FR”) revenues increased 15%, and Financial and Valuation Advisory (“FVA”) revenues increased 12%, in each case, when compared with the second quarter ended September 30, 2023.

Expenses

The Company’s employee compensation and benefits expenses, non-compensation expenses, and provision for income taxes during the periods presented and described below are on a GAAP and an adjusted basis.

 

U.S. GAAP

 

Adjusted (Non-GAAP) *

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

($ in thousands)

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee compensation and benefits

$

360,637

 

 

$

296,542

 

 

$

353,599

 

 

$

287,200

 

% of Revenues

 

62.7

%

 

 

63.5

%

 

 

61.5

%

 

 

61.5

%

Non-compensation

$

83,651

 

 

$

80,170

 

 

$

80,879

 

 

$

75,345

 

% of Revenues

 

14.5

%

 

 

17.2

%

 

 

14.1

%

 

 

16.1

%

Per full-time employee (1)

$

32

 

 

$

30

 

 

$

31

 

 

$

29

 

Provision for income taxes

$

42,539

 

 

$

26,542

 

 

$

45,610

 

 

$

30,329

 

% of Pre-tax income

 

31.3

%

 

 

28.4

%

 

 

31.3

%

 

 

28.4

%

*

Adjusted figures represent non-GAAP information. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the tables at the end of this release for an explanation of the adjustments and reconciliations to the comparable GAAP numbers.

(1)

Calculated using the average of the number of full-time employees at the beginning of the reporting period and the end of the reporting period.

 

U.S. GAAP

 

Adjusted (Non-GAAP) *

 

Six Months Ended September 30,

($ in thousands)

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee compensation and benefits

$

690,753

 

 

$

560,025

 

 

$

669,468

 

 

$

542,933

 

% of Revenues

 

63.5

%

 

 

63.4

%

 

 

61.5

%

 

 

61.5

%

Non-compensation

$

171,576

 

 

$

159,169

 

 

$

161,209

 

 

$

150,989

 

% of Revenues

 

15.8

%

 

 

18.0

%

 

 

14.8

%

 

 

17.1

%

Per full-time employee (1)

$

65

 

 

$

60

 

 

$

61

 

 

$

57

 

Provision for income taxes

$

53,473

 

 

$

41,504

 

 

$

83,849

 

 

$

55,828

 

% of Pre-tax income

 

22.7

%

 

 

24.4

%

 

 

31.2

%

 

 

28.7

%

*

Adjusted figures represent non-GAAP information. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and the tables at the end of this release for an explanation of the adjustments and reconciliations to the comparable GAAP numbers.

(1)

Calculated using the average of the number of full-time employees at the beginning of the reporting period and the end of the reporting period.

Employee compensation and benefits expenses were $361 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared with $297 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023. Adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses were $354 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared with $287 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023. This resulted in an adjusted compensation ratio of 61.5% for both the second quarter ended September 30, 2024 and the second quarter ended September 30, 2023. The increase in GAAP and adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses was a result of an increase in revenues for the quarter when compared with the same quarter last year.

Non-compensation expenses were $84 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared with $80 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023. Adjusted non-compensation expenses were $81 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared with $75 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023. The increase in GAAP and adjusted non-compensation expenses was primarily a result of an increase in other operating expenses and information technology and communication expenses for the quarter when compared with the same quarter last year.

The provision for income taxes was $43 million, representing an effective tax rate of 31.3% for the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared with $27 million, representing an effective tax rate of 28.4% for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023. The increase in the Company’s GAAP tax rate was primarily a result of increased state taxes and increased taxes due to foreign operations. The adjusted provision for income taxes was $46 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 31.3% for the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared with $30 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 28.4% for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023.

Segment Reporting for the Second Fiscal Quarter

Corporate Finance

CF revenues were $364 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared with $282 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023, representing an increase of 29%. Revenues increased primarily due to an increase in the average transaction fee on closed transactions, which was driven by transaction mix, and does not represent a trend in the average transaction fee on closed transactions.

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Six Months Ended September 30,

($ in thousands)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Corporate Finance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

$

364,028

 

$

281,684

 

$

692,445

 

$

508,735

# of Managing Directors

 

224

 

 

211

 

 

224

 

 

211

# of Closed transactions (1)

 

131

 

 

117

 

 

247

 

 

212

Financial Restructuring

FR revenues increased 15% to $132 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared with $115 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023. Revenues increased primarily due to an increase in the average transaction fee on closed transactions, which was driven by transaction mix, and does not represent a trend in the average transaction fee on closed transactions.

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Six Months Ended September 30,

($ in thousands)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Financial Restructuring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

$

131,568

 

$

114,670

 

$

248,990

 

$

238,038

# of Managing Directors

 

58

 

 

60

 

 

58

 

 

60

# of Closed transactions (1)

 

33

 

 

31

 

 

66

 

 

61

Financial and Valuation Advisory

FVA revenues increased 12% to $79 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared with $71 million for the second quarter ended September 30, 2023. Revenues increased due to an increase in the number of Fee Events and an increase in the average fee per Fee Event, driven by improvements in the M&A markets, which impacted one or more of the service lines within our FVA business.

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Six Months Ended September 30,

($ in thousands)

2024

 

2023

 

2024

 

2023

Financial and Valuation Advisory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

$

79,361

 

$

70,635

 

$

147,131

 

$

136,045

# of Managing Directors

 

41

 

 

40

 

 

41

 

 

40

# of Fee Events (1)

 

903

 

 

852

 

 

1,316

 

 

1,255

(1)

A Fee Event includes any engagement that involves revenue activity during the measurement period based on a revenue minimum of one thousand dollars. References in this press release to closed transactions should be understood to be the same as transactions that are “effectively closed” as described in our periodic reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q.

Balance Sheet and Capital Allocation

The Board of Directors of the Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.57 per share of Class A and Class B common stock. The dividend will be payable on December 15, 2024 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 2, 2024. As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $748 million of cash and cash equivalents and investment securities, and $33 million of other liabilities.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host a conference call and live webcast at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, to discuss its second quarter fiscal 2025 results. The number to call is 1-844-825-9789 (domestic) or 1-412-317-5180 (international). A live webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website. A replay of the conference call will be available from October 30, 2024 through November 6, 2024, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (domestic) or 1-412-317-6671 (international) and entering the passcode 10193284. A replay of the webcast will be archived and available on the Company’s website.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. You can identify these statements by our use of the words “assumes,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “guidance,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” and similar expressions that do not relate to historical matters. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Company’s control and could materially affect actual results, performance, or achievements. For a further description of such factors, you should read the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted net income, total and on a per share basis, and certain adjusted items used to determine adjusted net income, are presented and discussed in this earnings press release and are non-GAAP measures that management believes, when presented together with comparable GAAP measures, are useful to investors in understanding the Company’s operating results. The adjusted items included in this earnings press release as calculated by the Company are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Additionally, these adjusted amounts are not a measurement of financial performance or liquidity under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to the Company’s financial information determined under GAAP. For a description of the Company’s use of these adjusted items and a reconciliation with comparable GAAP items, see the section of this press release titled “Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Financial Information.” Please refer to our financial statements, prepared in accordance with GAAP, for purposes of evaluating our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

About Houlihan Lokey

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is a global investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Houlihan Lokey serves corporations, institutions, and governments worldwide with offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Independent advice and intellectual rigor are hallmarks of the firm’s commitment to client success across its advisory services. The firm is the No. 1 investment bank for all global M&A transactions, the No. 1 M&A advisor for the past nine consecutive years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past ten consecutive years, and the No. 1 global M&A fairness opinion advisor over the past 25 years, all based on number of transactions and according to data provided by LSEG.

For more information, please visit www.HL.com.

Appendix

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Financial Information (Unaudited)

HOULIHAN LOKEY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

 

(In thousands, except share data and par value)

September 30, 2024

 

March 31, 2024

Assets

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

691,410

 

 

$

721,235

 

Restricted cash

 

1,452

 

 

 

619

 

Investment securities

 

56,829

 

 

 

38,005

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses

 

219,133

 

 

 

199,630

 

Unbilled work in process, net of allowance for credit losses

 

138,293

 

 

 

192,012

 

Income taxes receivable

 

21,832

 

 

 

32,856

 

Deferred income taxes

 

87,020

 

 

 

90,064

 

Property and equipment, net

 

148,729

 

 

 

136,701

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

359,739

 

 

 

344,024

 

Goodwill

 

1,177,757

 

 

 

1,127,497

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

196,641

 

 

 

197,439

 

Other assets

 

113,916

 

 

 

90,677

 

Total assets

$

3,212,751

 

 

$

3,170,759

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

Accrued salaries and bonuses

$

641,370

 

 

$

726,031

 

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

 

104,661

 

 

 

114,171

 

Deferred income

 

37,956

 

 

 

33,139

 

Deferred income taxes

 

7,575

 

 

 

7,505

 

Operating lease liabilities

 

431,222

 

 

 

415,412

 

Other liabilities

 

32,880

 

 

 

37,751

 

Total liabilities

 

1,255,664

 

 

 

1,334,009

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' equity:

 

 

 

Class A common stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 1,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 53,403,939 and 52,348,511 shares, respectively

 

53

 

 

 

52

 

Class B common stock, $0.001 par value. Authorized 1,000,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 16,082,738 and 16,746,676 shares, respectively

 

16

 

 

 

17

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

735,277

 

 

 

739,870

 

Retained earnings

 

1,259,950

 

 

 

1,163,419

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(38,209

)

 

 

(66,608

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

1,957,087

 

 

 

1,836,750

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

3,212,751

 

 

$

3,170,759

 

HOULIHAN LOKEY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Six Months Ended September 30,

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Revenues

$

574,957

 

 

$

466,989

 

 

$

1,088,566

 

 

$

882,818

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee compensation and benefits

 

353,599

 

 

 

287,200

 

 

 

669,468

 

 

 

542,933

 

Acquisition related compensation and benefits

 

7,038

 

 

 

9,342

 

 

 

21,285

 

 

 

17,092

 

Travel, meals, and entertainment

 

13,570

 

 

 

14,151

 

 

 

32,082

 

 

 

30,169

 

Rent

 

15,174

 

 

 

19,013

 

 

 

34,458

 

 

 

36,416

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

7,444

 

 

 

7,086

 

 

 

16,300

 

 

 

13,618

 

Information technology and communications

 

17,755

 

 

 

14,328

 

 

 

33,944

 

 

 

27,876

 

Professional fees

 

9,677

 

 

 

10,859

 

 

 

18,154

 

 

 

20,416

 

Other operating expenses

 

20,031

 

 

 

14,733

 

 

 

36,638

 

 

 

30,674

 

Total operating expenses

 

444,288

 

 

 

376,712

 

 

 

862,329

 

 

 

719,194

 

Operating income

 

130,669

 

 

 

90,277

 

 

 

226,237

 

 

 

163,624

 

Other income, net

 

(5,419

)

 

 

(3,296

)

 

 

(9,725

)

 

 

(6,301

)

Income before provision for income taxes

 

136,088

 

 

 

93,573

 

 

 

235,962

 

 

 

169,925

 

Provision for income taxes

 

42,539

 

 

 

26,542

 

 

 

53,473

 

 

 

41,504

 

Net income

$

93,549

 

 

$

67,031

 

 

$

182,489

 

 

$

128,421

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:

Basic

 

65,822,690

 

 

 

64,551,353

 

 

 

65,429,115

 

 

 

64,180,642

 

Fully diluted

 

68,422,600

 

 

 

67,867,381

 

 

 

68,450,866

 

 

 

67,881,623

 

Earnings per share attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

1.42

 

 

$

1.04

 

 

$

2.79

 

 

$

2.00

 

Fully diluted

$

1.37

 

 

$

0.99

 

 

$

2.67

 

 

$

1.89

 

HOULIHAN LOKEY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO ADJUSTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(UNAUDITED)

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Six Months Ended September 30,

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

 

 

2024

 

 

 

2023

 

Revenues

$

574,957

 

 

$

466,989

 

 

$

1,088,566

 

 

$

882,818

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee compensation and benefits expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee compensation and benefits expenses (GAAP)

$

360,637

 

 

$

296,542

 

 

$

690,753

 

 

$

560,025

 

Less: Acquisition related compensation and benefits

 

(7,038

)

 

 

(9,342

)

 

 

(21,285

)

 

 

(17,092

)

Employee compensation and benefits expenses (adjusted)

 

353,599

 

 

 

287,200

 

 

 

669,468

 

 

 

542,933

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-compensation expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-compensation expenses (GAAP)

$

83,651

 

 

$

80,170

 

 

$

171,576

 

 

$

159,169

 

Less: Acquisition related legal structure reorganization

 

(705

)

 

 

 

 

 

(1,205

)

 

 

 

Less: Integration and acquisition related costs

 

 

 

 

(1,465

)

 

 

(3,554

)

 

 

(1,465

)

Less: Acquisition amortization

 

(2,067

)

 

 

(3,360

)

 

 

(5,608

)

 

 

(6,715

)

Non-compensation expenses (adjusted)

 

80,879

 

 

 

75,345

 

 

 

161,209

 

 

 

150,989

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (GAAP)

$

130,669

 

 

$

90,277

 

 

$

226,237

 

 

$

163,624

 

Plus: Adjustments (1)

 

9,810

 

 

 

14,167

 

 

 

31,652

 

 

 

25,272

 

Operating income (adjusted)

 

140,479

 

 

 

104,444

 

 

 

257,889

 

 

 

188,896

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income, net (GAAP)

$

(5,419

)

 

$

(3,296

)

 

$

(9,725

)

 

$

(6,301

)

Plus: Change in acquisition earnout liability fair value

 

 

 

 

816

 

 

 

(828

)

 

 

816

 

Other income, net (adjusted)

 

(5,419

)

 

 

(2,480

)

 

 

(10,553

)

 

 

(5,485

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes (GAAP)

$

42,539

 

 

$

26,542

 

 

$

53,473

 

 

$

41,504

 

Plus: Impact of the excess tax benefit for stock vesting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21,921

 

 

 

7,299

 

Less: Reversal of deferred tax asset

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1,690

)

 

 

 

Adjusted provision for income taxes

 

42,539

 

 

 

26,542

 

 

 

73,704

 

 

 

48,803

 

Plus: Resulting tax impact (2)

 

3,071

 

 

 

3,787

 

 

 

10,145

 

 

 

7,025

 

Provision for income taxes (adjusted)

 

45,610

 

 

 

30,329

 

 

 

83,849

 

 

 

55,828

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (GAAP)

$

93,549

 

 

$

67,031

 

 

$

182,489

 

 

$

128,421

 

Plus/(less): Adjustments (3)

 

6,739

 

 

 

9,564

 

 

 

2,104

 

 

 

10,132

 

Net income (adjusted)

$

100,288

 

 

$

76,595

 

 

 

184,593

 

 

 

138,553

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fully diluted shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fully diluted shares outstanding (GAAP)

 

68,422,600

 

 

 

67,867,381

 

 

 

68,450,866

 

 

 

67,881,623

 

Plus: Impact of unvested GCA retention and deferred share awards

 

458,865

 

 

 

1,132,423

 

 

 

532,840

 

 

 

1,257,446

 

Fully diluted shares outstanding (adjusted)

 

68,881,465

 

 

 

68,999,804

 

 

 

68,983,706

 

 

 

69,139,069

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted EPS attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (GAAP)

$

1.37

 

 

$

0.99

 

 

$

2.67

 

 

$

1.89

 

Diluted EPS attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (adjusted)

$

1.46

 

 

$

1.11

 

 

$

2.68

 

 

$

2.00

 

(1)

The aggregate of adjustments from employee compensation and benefits and non-compensation expenses.

(2)

Reflects the tax impact of utilizing the adjusted effective tax rate on the non-tax adjustments identified above.

(3)

Consists of all adjustments identified above net of the associated tax impact.

 

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