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Houlihan Lokey(HLI) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
Houlihan LokeyHoulihan Lokey(US:HLI)2025-07-29 22:00

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenues of $605 million for the first quarter, an 18% increase year-over-year, and adjusted earnings per share of $2.14, up 75% compared to the same quarter last year [5][6][10] - Adjusted compensation expenses were $372 million, up from $316 million in the same period last year, maintaining an adjusted compensation expense ratio of 61.5% [13][14] - Adjusted non-compensation expenses increased to $94 million from $80 million year-over-year, with a non-compensation expense ratio of 15.6% [14][15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Corporate Finance generated $399 million in revenue, a 21% increase year-over-year, with 125 transactions closed, up from 116 [6][11] - Financial Restructuring revenues were $128 million, a 9% increase, with 35 transactions closed compared to 33 in the same quarter last year [7][12] - Financial and Valuation Advisory produced $79 million in revenues, a 16% increase, with 957 fee events, up from 847 [8][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. market continues to outperform EMEA in terms of revenue and activity levels, with expectations that this trend will persist [11][12][56] - The company noted that while the sponsor activity has been muted, there are signs of improvement expected post-Labor Day [54][55] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on maintaining a diversified business model across industries and geographies, which has shown resilience in the current macro environment [6][10] - The company is committed to hiring senior talent and expanding its workforce through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions [9][78] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding the business environment, acknowledging ongoing volatility and uncertainty [61] - The outlook for fiscal year 2026 remains positive, with expectations for continued growth across all business lines [10][19] Other Important Information - The company hosted the inaugural Houlihan Lokey ONE conference, which was well-received, showcasing its global reach and client engagement [9] - The adjusted effective tax rate for the quarter was negative 0.8%, a significant decrease from 31.2% in the same quarter last year, due to changes in stock-based compensation accounting [18][19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on Corporate Finance market improvement - Management noted that while there is improvement quarter by quarter, it is not necessarily consistent month by month, with clients adapting to market conditions [25][26] Question: Backlog trends and sector performance - Management refrained from commenting on backlog specifics but indicated solid performance across sectors, with EMEA lagging behind the U.S. [28][29] Question: Quality of assets and deal activity - Management acknowledged a strong environment but noted that the volume of deals is expected to pick up after Labor Day [33][34] Question: Non-compensation expense growth expectations - Management confirmed expectations for high single-digit growth in non-compensation expenses for the year, despite a higher first quarter [36][37] Question: Restructuring market outlook - Management indicated that both in-court and out-of-court restructuring activities remain strong, with a good pipeline expected to continue [41][42] Question: Growth of the secondaries business - Management expressed satisfaction with the growth of the secondaries business, which is integrated within the Capital Solutions group [44][45] Question: Sponsor market activity post-Labor Day - Management expects an increase in sponsor activity after Labor Day, consistent with broader market trends [54][55] Question: Hiring strategy and focus areas - Management emphasized a commitment to hiring across all sectors, without specific focus areas, driven by growth opportunities [78][80]