Houlihan Lokey Reports Fiscal Year and Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Results

– Fiscal Year 2023 Revenues of $1.81 billion –

– Fiscal Year 2023 Diluted EPS of $3.98 –

– Adjusted Fiscal Year 2023 Diluted EPS of $4.54 –

– Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2023 Revenues of $445 million –

– Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2023 Diluted EPS of $1.10 –

– Adjusted Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2023 Diluted EPS of $1.11 –

– Announces an Increase in the Quarterly Dividend to $0.55 per Share –

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) (“Houlihan Lokey” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for its fiscal year and fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023. For the fiscal year, revenues declined (20)% to $1.81 billion, compared with $2.27 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. For the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023, revenues declined (6)% to $445 million, compared with $471 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Net income was $269 million, or $3.98 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, compared with $438 million, or $6.41 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. Adjusted net income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 was $315 million, or $4.54 per diluted share, compared with $485 million, or $7.10 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.

Net income was $75 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared with $65 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. Adjusted net income for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023 was $77 million, or $1.11 per diluted share, compared with $88 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022.

“As we look towards a new fiscal year, we believe that our diversified business model will continue to help us produce solid profitability under the current market environment. Our Corporate Finance business continues to see strong new business activity and some consistency in its quarterly results, notwithstanding the complexities in closing transactions in this market environment. Our Financial Restructuring business had a solid fourth quarter and is poised to deliver strong results in fiscal 2024, and our Financial and Valuation Advisory business modestly grew in fiscal 2023, maintaining its growth profile in a challenging M&A environment,” stated Scott Beiser, Chief Executive Officer of Houlihan Lokey.

Revenues

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, revenues declined to $1.81 billion, compared with $2.27 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, CF revenues decreased (29)%, Financial Restructuring (“FR”) revenues increased 1%, and Financial and Valuation Advisory (“FVA”) revenues increased 1% when compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.

For the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023, revenues declined to $445 million, compared with $471 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. For the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023, CF revenues decreased (8)%, FR revenues decreased (1)%, and FVA revenues decreased (4)% when compared with the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022.

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.

Year Ended March 31, 2023 Compared to the Year Ended March 31, 2022

Employee compensation and benefits expenses were $1.15 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, compared with $1.41 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. This resulted in a GAAP compensation ratio of 63.4% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, compared with 62.1% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. Adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses were $1.11 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, compared with $1.40 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. This resulted in an adjusted compensation ratio of 61.5% for both the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 and the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in GAAP and adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses was primarily a result of a decline in revenues for the year when compared with the prior year.

Non-compensation expenses were $320 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, compared with $248 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. Adjusted non-compensation expenses were $273 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, compared with $193 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. The increase in GAAP and adjusted non-compensation expenses was primarily a result of an increase in travel, meals, and entertainment expenses as employees continued to return to travel and an increase in other operating expenses.

The provision for income taxes was $70 million, representing an effective tax rate of 20.6%, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, compared with $166 million, representing an effective tax rate of 27.4%, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in the Company’s effective tax rate during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023 relative to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 was primarily the result of increased stock compensation deductions, the release of the provision for an uncertain tax position as a result of the successful closure of a state audit and the release of a valuation allowance. The adjusted provision for income taxes was $113 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 26.4%, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, compared with $194 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 28.6%, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.

Quarter Ended March 31, 2023 Compared to the Quarter Ended March 31, 2022

Employee compensation and benefits expenses were $283 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared with $294 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. This resulted in a GAAP compensation ratio of 63.6% for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared with 62.3% for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. Adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses were $274 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared with $290 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. This resulted in an adjusted compensation ratio of 61.5% for both the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023 and the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in GAAP and adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses was primarily a result of a decline in revenues when compared with the same quarter last year.

Non-compensation expenses were $71 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared with $79 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in GAAP non-compensation expenses was primarily a result of a decrease in amortization expense as the intangible assets recognized in connection with the acquisition of GCA became predominantly amortized, and a decrease in other operating expenses. Adjusted non-compensation expenses were $68 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared with $59 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. The increase in adjusted non-compensation expenses was primarily a result of an increase in travel, meals, and entertainment expenses as employees continued to return to travel and an increase in rent expense, partially offset by a decrease in other operating expenses.

The provision for income taxes was $21 million, representing an effective tax rate of 21.7%, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared with $26 million, representing an effective tax rate of 28.1%, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in the Company’s effective tax rate during the quarter ended March 31, 2023 relative to the quarter ended March 31, 2022 was primarily the result of the release of a valuation allowance. The adjusted provision for income taxes was $30 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 28.0%, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared with $34 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 27.9%, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Segment Reporting for the Fourth Quarter

Corporate Finance

CF revenues were $256 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared with $279 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. Revenues decreased primarily due to a decrease in the average transaction fee on closed transactions, which was driven by the size and timing of transactions that closed during the quarter, and does not represent a trend in the average fee on closed transactions.

Financial Restructuring

FR revenues were $120 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared with $122 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. Revenues remained relatively flat primarily due to a decrease in the average transaction fee on closed transactions, offset by an increase in the number of closed transactions. The decrease in the average transaction fee was driven by the size and timing of transactions that closed during the quarter, and does not represent a trend in the average fee on closed transactions. The increase in the number of closed transactions was driven by favorable market conditions for restructuring transactions.

Financial and Valuation Advisory

FVA revenues were $68 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared with $71 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. Revenues decreased primarily due to a decrease in the number of fee events. The decrease in the number of Fee Events was driven by softness in the M&A markets, which affected one or more of the service lines within our FVA business.

Other Announcements

The Board of Directors of the Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.55 per share of Class A and Class B common stock. The dividend will be payable on June 15, 2023 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 2, 2023.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host a conference call and live webcast at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, to discuss its full year and fourth quarter fiscal 2023 results. The number to call is 1-877-226-0954 (domestic) or 1-212-231-2901 (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 May 9, 2023 through May 16, 2023, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (domestic) or 1-412-317-6671 (international) and entering the passcode 151918000#. 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. These adjusted items remove the significant accounting impact of one-time or non-recurring charges associated with the Company’s one-time/non-recurring matters, as set forth in the tables at the end of this release.

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 (NYSE:HLI) is a global investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. The firm 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. Houlihan Lokey is the No. 1 investment bank for global M&A transactions under $1 billion, the No. 1 M&A advisor for the past eight consecutive years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past nine 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 Refinitiv.

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)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230509006178/en/