Houlihan Lokey Reports Fiscal Year and Fourth Quarter 2021 Financial Results
Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI) reported robust financial results for the fiscal year and Q4 ended March 31, 2021. Revenue surged 32% to a record $1.53 billion, with Q4 revenue up 65% to $501 million. Net income rose to $313 million ($4.55 per diluted share), a significant increase from $184 million ($2.80 per diluted share) in the previous year. Adjusted net income also climbed 51% to $317 million. Key drivers included increases in Corporate Finance revenues by 24%, Financial Restructuring by 52%, and Valuation Advisory by 17% for the fiscal year. A quarterly cash dividend of $0.43 was declared.
- Record annual revenues of $1.53 billion, up 32% year-over-year.
- Q4 revenues increased 65% to $501 million.
- Net income for the fiscal year reached $313 million ($4.55 per diluted share), an increase of 70%.
- Adjusted net income grew 51% to $317 million ($4.62 per diluted share).
- Corporate Finance revenues up 24%, Financial Restructuring up 52%, and Valuation Advisory up 17% for the fiscal year.
- Employee compensation expenses increased significantly to $971 million, raising compensation ratios to 63.7% for the fiscal year.
Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) (“Houlihan Lokey” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for its fiscal year and fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021. For the fiscal year, revenues grew
Net income was
Net income was
“Fiscal 2021 was a roller coaster year, with the first half led by restructuring and then followed by a very robust market for our M&A and valuation businesses. Houlihan Lokey’s employees, once again, rose to the challenge and achieved record revenues for the 9th consecutive fiscal year. Our business performed exceptionally well and all three product lines did as they were designed to do. We remain committed to building upon a business model that will continue to provide growth and stability to our stakeholders” stated Scott Beiser, Chief Executive Officer of Houlihan Lokey.
Selected Financial Data |
|||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except per share data) |
U.S. GAAP |
||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
Year Ended March 31, |
|||||||||||||
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
|||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
500,704 |
|
|
$ |
302,694 |
|
|
$ |
1,525,452 |
|
|
$ |
1,159,368 |
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Employee compensation and benefits |
317,082 |
|
|
186,706 |
|
|
971,195 |
|
|
737,762 |
|
||||
Non-compensation expenses |
43,346 |
|
|
47,333 |
|
|
146,100 |
|
|
192,005 |
|
||||
Operating income |
140,276 |
|
|
68,655 |
|
|
408,157 |
|
|
229,601 |
|
||||
Other (income)/expense, net |
473 |
|
|
(2,259) |
|
|
(1,071) |
|
|
(6,046) |
|
||||
Income before provision for income taxes |
139,803 |
|
|
70,914 |
|
|
409,228 |
|
|
235,647 |
|
||||
Provision for income taxes |
40,437 |
|
|
11,900 |
|
|
96,457 |
|
|
51,854 |
|
||||
Net income attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc. |
$ |
99,366 |
|
|
$ |
59,014 |
|
|
$ |
312,771 |
|
|
$ |
183,793 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Diluted earnings per share |
$ |
1.44 |
|
|
$ |
0.90 |
|
|
$ |
4.55 |
|
|
$ |
2.80 |
|
Revenues
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, revenues increased to
For the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021, revenues increased to
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) * |
||||||||||||
|
Year Ended March 31, |
||||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) |
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||||||
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Employee compensation and benefits |
$ |
971,195 |
|
|
$ |
737,762 |
|
|
$ |
953,409 |
|
|
$ |
706,019 |
|
% of Revenues |
63.7 |
% |
|
63.6 |
% |
|
62.5 |
% |
|
60.9 |
% |
||||
Non-compensation |
$ |
146,100 |
|
|
$ |
192,005 |
|
|
$ |
139,527 |
|
|
$ |
176,476 |
|
% of Revenues |
9.6 |
% |
|
16.6 |
% |
|
9.1 |
% |
|
15.2 |
% |
||||
Provision for Income Taxes |
$ |
96,457 |
|
|
$ |
51,854 |
|
|
$ |
116,418 |
|
|
$ |
71,078 |
|
% of Pre-Tax Income |
23.6 |
% |
|
22.0 |
% |
|
26.9 |
% |
|
25.2 |
% |
||||
∗ 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.
|
U.S. GAAP |
|
Adjusted (Non-GAAP) * |
||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) |
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||||||
Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Employee compensation and benefits |
$ |
317,082 |
|
|
$ |
186,706 |
|
|
$ |
311,531 |
|
|
$ |
184,415 |
|
% of Revenues |
63.3 |
% |
|
61.7 |
% |
|
62.2 |
% |
|
60.9 |
% |
||||
Non-compensation |
$ |
43,346 |
|
|
$ |
47,333 |
|
|
$ |
42,265 |
|
|
$ |
45,063 |
|
% of Revenues |
8.7 |
% |
|
15.6 |
% |
|
8.4 |
% |
|
14.9 |
% |
||||
Provision for Income Taxes |
$ |
40,437 |
|
|
$ |
11,900 |
|
|
$ |
42,410 |
|
|
$ |
11,230 |
|
% of Pre-Tax Income |
28.9 |
% |
|
16.8 |
% |
|
29.0 |
% |
|
15.1 |
% |
||||
∗ 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.
Year Ended March 31, 2021 Compared to the Year Ended March 31, 2020
Employee compensation and benefits expenses were
Non-compensation expenses were
The provision for income taxes was
Quarter Ended March 31, 2021 Compared to the Quarter Ended March 31, 2020
Employee compensation and benefits expenses were
Non-compensation expenses were
The provision for income taxes was
Segment Reporting for the Fourth Quarter
Corporate Finance
CF revenues increased
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
Year Ended March 31, |
||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) |
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||||||
Corporate Finance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
300,662 |
|
|
$ |
156,081 |
|
|
$ |
802,853 |
|
|
$ |
646,788 |
|
# of Managing Directors |
120 |
|
|
123 |
|
|
120 |
|
|
123 |
|
||||
# of Closed transactions (1) |
151 |
|
|
84 |
|
|
360 |
|
|
309 |
|
||||
Financial Restructuring
FR revenues increased
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
Year Ended March 31, |
||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) |
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||||||
Financial Restructuring |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
142,741 |
|
|
$ |
103,079 |
|
|
$ |
534,747 |
|
|
$ |
352,517 |
|
# of Managing Directors |
47 |
|
|
45 |
|
|
47 |
|
|
45 |
|
||||
# of Closed transactions (1) |
35 |
|
|
29 |
|
|
138 |
|
|
99 |
|
||||
Financial and Valuation Advisory
FVA revenues increased
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
Year Ended March 31, |
||||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) |
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||||||
Financial and Valuation Advisory |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
57,301 |
|
|
$ |
43,534 |
|
|
$ |
187,852 |
|
|
$ |
160,063 |
|
# of Managing Directors |
31 |
|
|
30 |
|
|
31 |
|
|
30 |
|
||||
# of Fee Events (1) |
765 |
|
|
624 |
|
|
1,540 |
|
|
1,385 |
|
||||
-
A Fee Event includes any engagement that involves revenue activity during the measurement period based on a revenue minimum of
$1,000. 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
As of March 31, 2021, the Company had
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 11, 2021, to discuss its full year and fourth quarter fiscal 2021 results. The number to call is 1-877-407-4018 (domestic) or 1-201-689-8471 (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 11, 2021 through May 18, 2021, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (domestic) or 1-412-317-6671 (international) and entering the passcode 13718782#. 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 (including the significant effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our business and is expected to continue to have on our business) 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 valuation. The firm serves corporations, institutions, and governments worldwide with offices in the United States, 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 M&A advisor for the past six consecutive years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past seven consecutive years, and the No. 1 global M&A fairness opinion advisor over the past 20 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 Sheet (Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Statement 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) |
March 31, 2021 |
|
March 31, 2020 |
||||
Assets |
|
|
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
846,851 |
|
|
$ |
380,373 |
|
Restricted cash |
373 |
|
|
373 |
|
||
Investment securities |
208,618 |
|
|
135,389 |
|
||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses |
108,409 |
|
|
80,912 |
|
||
Unbilled work in process, net of allowance for credit losses |
118,115 |
|
|
39,821 |
|
||
Income taxes receivable |
— |
|
|
4,282 |
|
||
Deferred income taxes |
28,332 |
|
|
6,507 |
|
||
Property and equipment, net |
46,370 |
|
|
42,372 |
|
||
Operating lease right-of-use assets |
152,031 |
|
|
135,240 |
|
||
Goodwill and other intangibles, net |
866,221 |
|
|
812,844 |
|
||
Other assets |
50,747 |
|
|
38,890 |
|
||
Total assets |
$ |
2,426,067 |
|
|
$ |
1,677,003 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity |
|
|
|
||||
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
||||
Accrued salaries and bonuses |
$ |
648,399 |
|
|
$ |
420,376 |
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
67,468 |
|
|
53,883 |
|
||
Deferred income |
27,868 |
|
|
26,780 |
|
||
Income taxes payable |
68,339 |
|
|
— |
|
||
Deferred income taxes |
52 |
|
|
664 |
|
||
Loans payable to former shareholders |
818 |
|
|
1,393 |
|
||
Loan payable to non-affiliate |
— |
|
|
3,283 |
|
||
Operating lease liabilities |
174,516 |
|
|
154,218 |
|
||
Other liabilities |
55,046 |
|
|
32,024 |
|
||
Total liabilities |
1,042,506 |
|
|
692,621 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
||||
Stockholders' equity: |
|
|
|
||||
Class A common stock, |
51 |
|
|
46 |
|
||
Class B common stock, |
17 |
|
|
19 |
|
||
Additional paid-in capital |
803,573 |
|
|
649,954 |
|
||
Retained earnings |
600,096 |
|
|
377,471 |
|
||
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) |
(20,176) |
|
|
(43,108) |
|
||
Total stockholders' equity |
1,383,561 |
|
|
984,382 |
|
||
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity |
$ |
2,426,067 |
|
|
$ |
1,677,003 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
HOULIHAN LOKEY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) |
|||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
Year Ended March 31, |
||||||||||||
(In thousands, except share and per share data) |
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
500,704 |
|
|
$ |
302,694 |
|
|
$ |
1,525,452 |
|
|
$ |
1,159,368 |
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Employee compensation and benefits |
317,082 |
|
|
186,706 |
|
|
971,195 |
|
|
737,762 |
|
||||
Travel, meals, and entertainment |
2,111 |
|
|
9,185 |
|
|
6,527 |
|
|
41,945 |
|
||||
Rent |
9,223 |
|
|
10,239 |
|
|
39,233 |
|
|
44,693 |
|
||||
Depreciation and amortization |
3,937 |
|
|
5,011 |
|
|
15,228 |
|
|
17,291 |
|
||||
Information technology and communications |
9,114 |
|
|
7,427 |
|
|
31,646 |
|
|
26,904 |
|
||||
Professional fees |
8,259 |
|
|
5,210 |
|
|
24,681 |
|
|
21,704 |
|
||||
Other operating expenses |
10,702 |
|
|
10,261 |
|
|
28,785 |
|
|
39,468 |
|
||||
Total operating expenses |
360,428 |
|
|
234,039 |
|
|
1,117,295 |
|
|
929,767 |
|
||||
Operating income |
140,276 |
|
|
68,655 |
|
|
408,157 |
|
|
229,601 |
|
||||
Other (income)/expense, net |
473 |
|
|
(2,259) |
|
|
(1,071) |
|
|
(6,046) |
|
||||
Income before provision for income taxes |
139,803 |
|
|
70,914 |
|
|
409,228 |
|
|
235,647 |
|
||||
Provision for income taxes |
40,437 |
|
|
11,900 |
|
|
96,457 |
|
|
51,854 |
|
||||
Net income attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc. |
$ |
99,366 |
|
|
$ |
59,014 |
|
|
$ |
312,771 |
|
|
$ |
183,793 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Basic |
66,104,427 |
|
|
62,011,301 |
|
|
65,785,042 |
|
|
62,152,870 |
|
||||
Fully diluted |
68,899,634 |
|
|
65,590,918 |
|
|
68,671,248 |
|
|
65,725,516 |
|
||||
Earnings per share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Basic |
$ |
1.50 |
|
|
$ |
0.95 |
|
|
$ |
4.75 |
|
|
$ |
2.96 |
|
Fully diluted |
$ |
1.44 |
|
|
$ |
0.90 |
|
|
$ |
4.55 |
|
|
$ |
2.80 |
|
HOULIHAN LOKEY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO ADJUSTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) |
|||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
Year Ended March 31, |
||||||||||||
(In thousands, except per share data) |
2021 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2020 |
||||||||
Revenues |
$ |
500,704 |
|
|
$ |
302,694 |
|
|
$ |
1,525,452 |
|
|
$ |
1,159,368 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Employee compensation and benefits expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Employee compensation and benefits expenses (GAAP) |
$ |
317,082 |
|
|
$ |
186,706 |
|
|
$ |
971,195 |
|
|
$ |
737,762 |
|
(Less)/plus: Pre-IPO grant vesting |
— |
|
|
(6,055) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(24,324) |
|
||||
(Less)/plus: Acquisition related retention payments |
(5,551) |
|
|
3,764 |
|
|
(17,786) |
|
|
(7,419) |
|
||||
Employee compensation and benefits expenses (adjusted) |
311,531 |
|
|
184,415 |
|
|
953,409 |
|
|
706,019 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Non-compensation expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Non-compensation expenses (GAAP) |
$ |
43,346 |
|
|
$ |
47,333 |
|
|
$ |
146,100 |
|
|
$ |
192,005 |
|
(Less)/plus: Secondary offering related costs |
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(418) |
|
|
(665) |
|
||||
(Less)/plus: Acquisition related costs |
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(1,258) |
|
|
(579) |
|
||||
(Less)/plus: Acquisition amortization |
(1,081) |
|
|
(2,270) |
|
|
(4,161) |
|
|
(7,454) |
|
||||
(Less)/plus: Oracle ERP implementation |
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(736) |
|
|
— |
|
||||
(Less)/plus: London office buildout |
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(6,831) |
|
||||
Non-compensation expenses (adjusted) |
42,265 |
|
|
45,063 |
|
|
139,527 |
|
|
176,476 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Operating income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Operating income (GAAP) |
$ |
140,276 |
|
|
$ |
68,655 |
|
|
$ |
408,157 |
|
|
$ |
229,601 |
|
(Less)/plus: Adjustments (1) |
6,632 |
|
|
4,561 |
|
|
24,359 |
|
|
47,272 |
|
||||
Operating income (adjusted) |
146,908 |
|
|
73,216 |
|
|
432,516 |
|
|
276,873 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Other (income)/expense, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Other (income)/expense, net (GAAP) |
$ |
473 |
|
|
$ |
(2,259) |
|
|
$ |
(1,071) |
|
|
$ |
(6,046) |
|
Less/(plus): Reduction of acquisition earnout liabilities |
— |
|
|
1,220 |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,220 |
|
||||
Other (income)/expense, net (adjusted) |
473 |
|
|
(1,039) |
|
|
(1,071) |
|
|
(4,826) |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Provision for income taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Provision for income taxes (GAAP) |
$ |
40,437 |
|
|
$ |
11,900 |
|
|
$ |
96,457 |
|
|
$ |
51,854 |
|
(Less)/plus: Impact of the excess tax benefit for stock vesting |
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
13,408 |
|
|
7,605 |
|
||||
Adjusted provision for income taxes |
40,437 |
|
|
11,900 |
|
|
109,865 |
|
|
59,459 |
|
||||
(Less)/plus: Resulting tax impact (2) |
1,973 |
|
|
(670) |
|
|
6,553 |
|
|
11,619 |
|
||||
Provision for income taxes (adjusted) |
42,410 |
|
|
11,230 |
|
|
116,418 |
|
|
71,078 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Net income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Net income (GAAP) |
$ |
99,366 |
|
|
$ |
59,014 |
|
|
$ |
312,771 |
|
|
$ |
183,793 |
|
(Less)/plus: adjustments (3) |
4,659 |
|
|
4,011 |
|
|
4,398 |
|
|
26,828 |
|
||||
Net income (adjusted) |
104,025 |
|
|
63,025 |
|
|
317,169 |
|
|
210,621 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Diluted EPS (GAAP) |
$ |
1.44 |
|
|
$ |
0.90 |
|
|
$ |
4.55 |
|
|
$ |
2.80 |
|
Diluted EPS (adjusted) |
$ |
1.51 |
|
|
$ |
0.96 |
|
|
$ |
4.62 |
|
|
$ |
3.20 |
|
- The aggregate of adjustments from employee compensation and benefits and non-compensation expenses.
- Reflects the tax impact of utilizing the adjusted effective tax rate on the non-tax adjustments identified above.
- Consists of all adjustments identified above net of the associated tax impact.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210511006112/en/
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