Values First Advisors Inc. Reduces Holdings in Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI)

Values First Advisors Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) by 36.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 840 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 487 shares during the quarter. Values First Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Houlihan Lokey were worth $146,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Houlihan Lokey by 0.8% in the third quarter. Strategic Wealth Investment Group LLC now owns 8,103 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,293,000 after purchasing an additional 62 shares during the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System boosted its position in Houlihan Lokey by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 17,238 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,724,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. Pathstone Holdings LLC boosted its position in Houlihan Lokey by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 21,787 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $3,443,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. grew its holdings in Houlihan Lokey by 24.8% in the 4th quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 584 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $101,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Houlihan Lokey by 12.1% in the fourth quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,387 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $241,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.07% of the company’s stock.

Houlihan Lokey Stock Performance

Houlihan Lokey stock opened at $177.69 on Thursday. Houlihan Lokey, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $121.81 and a fifty-two week high of $192.10. The stock has a market cap of $12.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.91 and a beta of 0.69. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $177.82 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $169.18.

Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.64 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.13. Houlihan Lokey had a return on equity of 20.04% and a net margin of 16.00%. On average, analysts predict that Houlihan Lokey, Inc. will post 5.98 earnings per share for the current year.

Houlihan Lokey Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 3rd will be given a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 3rd. Houlihan Lokey’s dividend payout ratio is presently 43.51%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Houlihan Lokey from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday. UBS Group increased their price objective on Houlihan Lokey from $229.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Houlihan Lokey from $172.00 to $169.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Houlihan Lokey from $200.00 to $201.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Houlihan Lokey from $178.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 29th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Houlihan Lokey has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $194.40.

Houlihan Lokey Company Profile

Houlihan Lokey, Inc, an investment banking company, provides merger and acquisition (M&A), capital market, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory services worldwide. It operates in three segments: Corporate Finance, Financial Restructuring, and Financial and Valuation Advisory.