Virtu Financial LLC Acquires Shares of 4,955 Houlihan Lokey, Inc. $HLI

Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm bought 4,955 shares of the financial services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $863,000.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of HLI. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Houlihan Lokey during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Oakworth Capital Inc. bought a new position in Houlihan Lokey in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Core Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Houlihan Lokey in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Eurizon Capital SGR S.p.A. purchased a new position in Houlihan Lokey in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLC purchased a new position in Houlihan Lokey in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.07% of the company’s stock.

Houlihan Lokey Stock Performance

Houlihan Lokey stock opened at $140.88 on Monday. Houlihan Lokey, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $133.83 and a fifty-two week high of $211.78. The stock has a market cap of $9.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.65, a PEG ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 0.95. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $149.26 and its 200-day moving average price is $160.45.

Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 6th. The financial services provider reported $1.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.79 by ($0.16). Houlihan Lokey had a net margin of 16.26% and a return on equity of 22.88%. The business had revenue of $635.64 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $679.22 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.96 EPS. Houlihan Lokey’s quarterly revenue was down 4.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Houlihan Lokey, Inc. will post 8.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Houlihan Lokey Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 1st were given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 1st. This is an increase from Houlihan Lokey’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. Houlihan Lokey’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 45.02%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Houlihan Lokey news, Chairman Scott L. Beiser sold 6,265 shares of Houlihan Lokey stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $150.26, for a total transaction of $941,378.90. Following the transaction, the chairman directly owned 6,265 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $941,378.90. This trade represents a 50.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Christopher M. Crain sold 500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.40, for a total transaction of $71,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the general counsel owned 500 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $71,700. The trade was a 50.00% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 22.83% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on HLI shares. Weiss Ratings downgraded Houlihan Lokey from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 21st. UBS Group set a $160.00 price target on Houlihan Lokey in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on Houlihan Lokey from $177.00 to $172.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on Houlihan Lokey from $210.00 to $184.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 1st. Finally, Zacks Research upgraded Houlihan Lokey from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 11th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $191.29.

Houlihan Lokey Profile

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.