Houlihan Lokey Reports Fiscal Year and Fourth Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Houlihan Lokey (HLI) reported strong fiscal year 2022 results with record revenues of $2.27 billion, a 49% increase from the prior year. Diluted EPS for FY 2022 reached $6.41, up from $4.55 year-over-year. The fourth quarter saw revenues of $471 million, a 6% decline compared to Q4 2021, with diluted EPS of $0.97. Adjusted EPS for the quarter was $1.30. The company announced a quarterly dividend increase to $0.53 and initiated a new $500 million share repurchase program. Despite a revenue drop in Q4, the overall fiscal year results reflect a successful growth trajectory.

Positive

• Record fiscal year 2022 revenues of $2.27 billion, a 49% increase year-over-year.
• Diluted EPS for FY 2022 at $6.41, up from $4.55 in FY 2021.
• Adjusted diluted EPS for FY 2022 grew to $7.10 from $4.62.
• Quarterly dividend increased to $0.53 per share.
• New share repurchase program authorized for up to $500 million.

Negative

• Fourth quarter revenues decreased 6% to $471 million from $501 million in Q4 2021.
• Fourth quarter diluted EPS fell to $0.97 from $1.44 year-over-year.

– Record Fiscal Year 2022 Revenues of $2.27 billion –

– Fiscal Year 2022 Diluted EPS of $6.41 –

– Adjusted Fiscal Year 2022 Diluted EPS of $7.10 –

– Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2022 Revenues of $471 million –

– Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2022 Diluted EPS of $0.97 –

– Adjusted Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2022 Diluted EPS of $1.30 –

– Announces an Increase in the Quarterly Dividend to $0.53 per Share –

– Announces Replacement Share Repurchase Program of up to $500 million –

LOS ANGELES & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) (“Houlihan Lokey” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for its fiscal year and fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. For the fiscal year, revenues grew 49% to a fiscal year record of $2.27 billion, compared with $1.53 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, revenues decreased (6)% to $471 million, compared with $501 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021.

Net income was $438 million, or $6.41 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared with $313 million, or $4.55 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. Adjusted net income for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 grew 53% to $486 million, or $7.10 per diluted share, compared with $317 million, or $4.62 per diluted share, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.

Net income was $65 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared with $99 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021. Adjusted net income for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022 was $88 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, compared with $104 million, or $1.51 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021.

“We are pleased with our financial performance in fiscal year 2022 as we reached a new milestone of over $2 billion in revenue. We continue to build our advisory model focused on growth and diversification across geography, industry, product line and banker. We enter fiscal year 2023 optimistic about the firm’s continued ability to perform in today’s evolving market environment.” 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,
		2022			2021			2022				2021
Revenues	$	471,166		$	500,704		$	2,269,958			$	1,525,452
Operating expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits		293,580			317,082			1,408,634				971,195
Non-compensation expenses		78,977			43,346			248,460				146,100
Operating income		98,609			140,276			612,864				408,157
Other (income)/expense, net		7,921			473			8,926				(1,071	)
Income before provision for income taxes		90,688			139,803			603,938				409,228
Provision for income taxes		25,515			40,437			165,614				96,457
Net income		65,173			99,366			438,324				312,771
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		—			—			(573	)			—
Net income attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc.	$	65,173		$	99,366		$	437,751			$	312,771
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc.	$	0.97		$	1.44		$	6.41			$	4.55

Revenues

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, revenues increased to $2.27 billion, compared with $1.53 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. Revenues increased primarily as a result of (i) the completion of our acquisition of GCA Corporation (“GCA”) during the third quarter ended December 31, 2021, resulting in the consolidation of their operating results and (ii) a significant increase in the number of closed transactions and the average transaction fee on closed transactions for our Corporate Finance (“CF”) business segment. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, CF revenues increased 98%, Financial Restructuring (“FR”) revenues decreased (27)%, and Financial and Valuation Advisory (“FVA”) revenues increased 51% when compared with the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.

For the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, revenues decreased to $471 million, compared with $501 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021. For the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, CF revenues decreased (7)%, FR revenues decreased (15)%, and FVA revenues increased 23% when compared with the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021.

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,
($ in thousands)		2022				2021				2022				2021
Expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits	$	1,408,634			$	971,195			$	1,396,025			$	953,409
% of Revenues		62.1	%			63.7	%			61.5	%			62.5	%
Non-compensation	$	248,460			$	146,100			$	192,925			$	139,527
% of Revenues		10.9	%			9.6	%			8.5	%			9.1	%
Provision for Income Taxes	$	165,614			$	96,457			$	194,180			$	116,418
% of Pre-Tax Income		27.4	%			23.6	%			28.6	%			26.9	%

* 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,
($ in thousands)		2022				2021				2022				2021
Expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits	$	293,580			$	317,082			$	289,768			$	311,531
% of Revenues		62.3	%			63.3	%			61.5	%			62.2	%
Non-compensation	$	78,977			$	43,346			$	59,377			$	42,265
% of Revenues		16.8	%			8.7	%			12.6	%			8.4	%
Provision for Income Taxes	$	25,515			$	40,437			$	34,011			$	42,410
% of Pre-Tax Income		28.1	%			28.9	%			27.9	%			29.0	%

* 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, 2022 Compared to the Year Ended March 31, 2021

Employee compensation and benefits expenses were $1.41 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared with $971 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. This resulted in a GAAP compensation ratio of 62.1% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared with 63.7% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. Adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses were $1.40 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared with $953 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. This resulted in an adjusted compensation ratio of 61.5% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared with 62.5% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. The increase in GAAP and adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses was primarily a result of an increase in revenues for the year when compared with the prior year.

Non-compensation expenses were $248 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared with $146 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. The increase in GAAP non-compensation expenses was primarily a result of non-compensation expenses attributable to GCA, amortization of intangible assets recognized in connection with the acquisition of GCA, integration and acquisition related costs associated with our acquisition of GCA and an increase in other operating expenses. Adjusted non-compensation expenses were $193 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared with $140 million for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. The increase in adjusted non-compensation expenses was primarily a result of non-compensation expenses attributable to GCA and an increase in other operating expenses and travel, meals, and entertainment expenses.

The provision for income taxes was $166 million, representing an effective tax rate of 27.4%, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared with $96 million, representing an effective tax rate of 23.6%, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. The increase in the Company’s GAAP effective tax rate during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 relative to the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021 was primarily the result of increased state taxes, increased foreign taxes and decreased stock compensation deductions. The adjusted provision for income taxes was $194 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 28.6%, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, compared with $116 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 26.9%, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.

Quarter Ended March 31, 2022 Compared to the Quarter Ended March 31, 2021

Employee compensation and benefits expenses were $294 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared with $317 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021. This resulted in a GAAP compensation ratio of 62.3% for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared with 63.3% for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021. Adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses were $290 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared with $312 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021. This resulted in an adjusted compensation ratio of 61.5% for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared with 62.2% for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021. The decrease in GAAP and adjusted employee compensation and benefits expenses was primarily a result of a decrease in revenues.

Non-compensation expenses were $79 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared with $43 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021. The increase in GAAP non-compensation expenses was primarily a result of non-compensation expenses attributable to GCA, amortization of intangible assets recognized in connection with the acquisition of GCA, integration and acquisition related costs associated with our acquisition of GCA and an increase in other operating expenses. Adjusted non-compensation expenses were $59 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared with $42 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021. The increase in adjusted non-compensation expenses was primarily a result of non-compensation expenses attributable to GCA and an increase in other operating expenses and rent expense.

The provision for income taxes was $26 million, representing an effective tax rate of 28.1%, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared with $40 million, representing an effective tax rate of 28.9%, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021. The adjusted provision for income taxes was $34 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 27.9%, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared with $42 million, representing an adjusted effective tax rate of 29.0%, for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021.

Segment Reporting for the Fourth Quarter

Corporate Finance

CF revenues decreased (7)% to $279 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared with $301 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021. Revenues decreased primarily due to a decrease in the number of closed transactions.

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Year Ended March 31,
($ in thousands)		2022			2021			2022			2021
Corporate Finance
Revenues	$	279,019		$	300,662		$	1,593,083		$	802,853
# of Managing Directors		202			120			202			120
# of Closed transactions (1)		144			151			600			360

Financial Restructuring

FR revenues decreased (15)% to $122 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared with $143 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021. Revenues decreased primarily due to a decrease in the number of closed transactions, partially offset by an increase in the average transaction fee on closed transactions.

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Year Ended March 31,
($ in thousands)		2022			2021			2022			2021
Financial Restructuring
Revenues	$	121,586		$	142,741		$	392,818		$	534,747
# of Managing Directors		53			47			53			47
# of Closed transactions (1)		25			35			90			138

Financial and Valuation Advisory

FVA revenues increased 23% to $71 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, compared with $57 million for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2021. Revenues increased primarily due to an increase in the number of fee events.

	Three Months Ended March 31,						Year Ended March 31,
($ in thousands)		2022			2021			2022			2021
Financial and Valuation Advisory
Revenues	$	70,561		$	57,301		$	284,057		$	187,852
# of Managing Directors		34			31			34			31
# of Fee Events (1)		999			765			2,183			1,540

1. 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.

Other Announcements

The Board of Directors of the Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.53 per share of Class A and Class B common stock. The dividend will be payable on June 15, 2022 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 2, 2022.

The Board of Directors replaced its prior stock repurchase program, which authorized repurchases from time to time up to $250 million in aggregate purchase price of the Company’s common stock, with a new stock repurchase program, which authorizes repurchases of an aggregate of up to $500 million of the Company’s common stock.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host a conference call and live webcast at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 12, 2022, to discuss its full year and fourth quarter fiscal 2022 results. The number to call is 1-888-394-8218 (domestic) or 1-646-828-8193 (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 12, 2022 through May 19, 2022, by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (domestic) or 1-412-317-6671 (international) and entering the passcode 2205005#. 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 investment bank for all global M&A transactions, the No. 1 M&A advisor for the past seven consecutive years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past eight 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 Statement of Income (Unaudited)
Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Financial Information (Unaudited)

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)		2022			2021			2022				2021
Revenues	$	471,166		$	500,704		$	2,269,958			$	1,525,452
Operating expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits		293,580			317,082			1,408,634				971,195
Travel, meals, and entertainment		5,001			2,111			22,465				6,527
Rent		14,120			9,223			47,747				39,233
Depreciation and amortization		19,948			3,937			48,537				15,228
Information technology and communications		13,497			9,114			41,714				31,646
Professional fees		10,361			8,259			38,349				24,681
Other operating expenses		16,050			10,702			49,648				28,785
Total operating expenses		372,557			360,428			1,657,094				1,117,295
Operating income		98,609			140,276			612,864				408,157
Other (income)/expense, net		7,921			473			8,926				(1,071	)
Income before provision for income taxes		90,688			139,803			603,938				409,228
Provision for income taxes		25,515			40,437			165,614				96,457
Net income		65,173			99,366			438,324				312,771
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		—			—			(573	)			—
Net income attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc.	$	65,173		$	99,366		$	437,751			$	312,771
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:
Basic		64,085,273			66,104,427			64,970,287				65,785,042
Fully diluted		67,461,779			68,899,634			68,259,708				68,671,248
Earnings per share attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc.
Basic	$	1.02		$	1.50		$	6.74			$	4.75
Fully diluted	$	0.97		$	1.44		$	6.41			$	4.55

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)		2022				2021				2022				2021
Revenues	$	471,166			$	500,704			$	2,269,958			$	1,525,452
Employee compensation and benefits expenses
Employee compensation and benefits expenses (GAAP)	$	293,580			$	317,082			$	1,408,634			$	971,195
Less: Acquisition related retention payments		(3,812	)			(5,551	)			(12,609	)			(17,786	)
Employee compensation and benefits expenses (adjusted)		289,768				311,531				1,396,025				953,409
Non-compensation expenses
Non-compensation expenses (GAAP)	$	78,977			$	43,346			$	248,460			$	146,100
Less: Secondary offering related costs		—				—				—				(418	)
Less: Integration and acquisition related costs		(3,793	)			—				(21,598	)			(1,258	)
Less: Acquisition amortization		(15,807	)			(1,081	)			(33,937	)			(4,161	)
Less: Oracle ERP implementation		—				—				—				(736	)
Non-compensation expenses (adjusted)		59,377				42,265				192,925				139,527
Operating income
Operating income (GAAP)	$	98,609			$	140,276			$	612,864			$	408,157
Plus: Adjustments (1)		23,412				6,632				68,144				24,359
Operating income (adjusted)		122,021				146,908				681,008				432,516
Other (income)/expense, net
Other (income)/expense, net (GAAP)	$	7,921			$	473			$	8,926			$	(1,071	)
Less/(plus): Increase in acquisition earnout liability		(7,613	)			—				(7,613	)			—
Other (income)/expense, net (adjusted)		308				473				1,313				(1,071	)
Provision for income taxes
Provision for income taxes (GAAP)	$	25,515			$	40,437			$	165,614			$	96,457
Plus: Impact of the excess tax benefit for stock vesting		—				—				6,922				13,408
Adjusted provision for income taxes		25,515				40,437				172,536				109,865
Plus: Resulting tax impact (2)		8,496				1,973				21,644				6,553
Provision for income taxes (adjusted)		34,011				42,410				194,180				116,418
Net income
Net income (GAAP)	$	65,173			$	99,366			$	438,324			$	312,771
(Less)/plus: adjustments (3)		22,529				4,659				47,191				4,398
Net income (adjusted)		87,702				104,025				485,515				317,169
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		—				—				(573	)			—
Net income attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (GAAP)		65,173				99,366				437,751				312,771
Net income attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (adjusted)		87,702				104,025				484,942				317,169
Diluted EPS attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (GAAP)	$	0.97			$	1.44			$	6.41			$	4.55
Diluted EPS attributable to Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (adjusted)	$	1.30			$	1.51			$	7.10			$	4.62

1. The aggregate of adjustments from employee compensation and benefits and non-compensation expenses.
2. Reflects the tax impact of utilizing the adjusted effective tax rate on the non-tax adjustments identified above.
3. Consists of all adjustments identified above net of the associated tax impact.

 

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Source: Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

FAQ

What were Houlihan Lokey's fiscal year 2022 revenues and EPS?

Houlihan Lokey reported record revenues of $2.27 billion for fiscal year 2022 and a diluted EPS of $6.41.

How did Houlihan Lokey perform in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2022?

In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2022, Houlihan Lokey reported revenues of $471 million and a diluted EPS of $0.97.

What is the new dividend per share announced by Houlihan Lokey?

Houlihan Lokey declared a quarterly dividend increase to $0.53 per share.

What is the value of Houlihan Lokey's new share repurchase program?

The new share repurchase program authorized by Houlihan Lokey is for up to $500 million.

What were the key factors driving Houlihan Lokey's revenue growth in fiscal year 2022?

The revenue growth was driven by the acquisition of GCA Corporation and an increase in closed transactions in the Corporate Finance segment.