MC
Moelis & Company
Financial - Capital Markets
Market Cap$4.68B
5Y Perf.+89.7%
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Stock Comparison
MC vs PJT vs LAZ
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
PJT
PJT Partners Inc.
Financial - Capital Markets
Market Cap$3.68B
5Y Perf.+178.2%
LAZ
Lazard Ltd
Financial - Capital Markets
Market Cap$4.37B
5Y Perf.+73.3%
MC vs PJT vs LAZ — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | MC | PJT | LAZ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Financial - Capital Markets | Financial - Capital Markets | Financial - Capital Markets |
| Market Cap | $4.68B | $3.68B | $4.37B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $1.52B | $1.71B | $3.19B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $233M | $187M | $237M |
| Gross Margin | 99.2% | 32.4% | 31.8% |
| Operating Margin | 18.1% | 21.2% | 13.0% |
| Forward P/E | 20.8x | 20.4x | 14.6x |
| Total Debt | $267M | $414M | $2.58B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $509M | $539M | $1.50B |
MC vs PJT vs LAZ — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
MC
PJT
LAZ
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moelis & Company (MC) | 100 | 189.7 | +89.7% |
| PJT Partners Inc. (PJT) | 100 | 278.2 | +178.2% |
| Lazard Ltd (LAZ) | 100 | 173.3 | +73.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: MC vs PJT vs LAZ
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: PJT leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Moelis & Company is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
MC
Moelis & Company
The Banking Pick
MC is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 1 yrs, beta 1.75, yield 4.1%
- Rev growth 27.0%, EPS growth 65.2%
- 27.0% NII/revenue growth vs LAZ's 3.2%
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
PJT
PJT Partners Inc.
The Banking Pick
PJT carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 6.4% 10Y total return vs MC's 261.3%
- Lower volatility, beta 1.10, Low D/E 41.0%, current ratio 27.67x
- Beta 1.10, yield 0.6%, current ratio 27.67x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
LAZ
Lazard Ltd
The Financial Play
LAZ plays a supporting role in this comparison — it may shine differently against other peers.
Best for: financial services exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | MC | 27.0% NII/revenue growth vs LAZ's 3.2% |
| Value | PJT | Lower P/E (20.4x vs 20.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | PJT | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs MC's 0.8% (lower = leaner) |
| Stability / Safety | PJT | Beta 1.10 vs LAZ's 1.79, lower leverage |
| Dividends | MC | 4.1% yield, 1-year raise streak, vs PJT's 0.6% |
| Momentum (1Y) | MC | +25.4% vs PJT's +7.3% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PJT | Efficiency ratio 0.1% vs MC's 0.8% |
MC vs PJT vs LAZ — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
FY 2025
MC vs PJT vs LAZ — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 3 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLMCLAGGINGLAZ
LAZLazard Ltd
0leads
PJTPJT Partners Inc.
1leads
MCMoelis & Company
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs PJTvs LAZMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MC3/5
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MC7/8
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
PJT4/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
MC1/1
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MC leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
LAZ is the larger business by revenue, generating $3.2B annually — 2.1x MC's $1.5B. MC is the more profitable business, keeping 15.4% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to LAZ's 7.4%.
| Metric | MCMoelis & Company | PJTPJT Partners Inc. | LAZLazard Ltd |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $1.5B | $1.7B | $3.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $286M | $412M | $384M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $233M | $187M | $237M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $540M | $614M | $519M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +99.2% | +32.4% | +31.8% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +18.1% | +21.2% | +13.0% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +15.4% | +10.5% | +7.4% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +35.6% | +28.0% | +15.9% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -4.3% | +11.1% | -43.8% |
MC leads this category, winning 3 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — PJT and LAZ each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 21.5x trailing earnings, LAZ trades at a 6% valuation discount to PJT's 22.8x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, PJT's 9.0x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MC's 15.5x.
| Metric | MCMoelis & Company | PJTPJT Partners Inc. | LAZLazard Ltd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.7B | $3.7B | $4.4B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $4.4B | $3.6B | $5.4B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 21.70x | 22.78x | 21.46x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 20.79x | 20.38x | 14.56x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.62x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.55x | 9.02x | 12.12x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.09x | 2.15x | 1.37x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 7.43x | 4.31x | 5.01x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 8.68x | 7.66x | 8.65x |
Evenly matched — PJT and LAZ each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MC leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MC delivers a 37.9% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $38 in annual profit, vs $20 for PJT. MC carries lower financial leverage with a 0.39x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to LAZ's 2.61x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PJT scores 7/9 vs LAZ's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | MCMoelis & Company | PJTPJT Partners Inc. | LAZLazard Ltd |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +37.9% | +20.1% | +26.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +15.9% | +11.1% | +5.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +24.9% | +20.3% | +9.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +22.0% | +21.2% | +9.5% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 7 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.39x | 0.41x | 2.61x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$241M | -$125M | $1.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $509M | $539M | $1.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $267M | $414M | $2.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | — | 4.74x |
MC leads this category, winning 7 of 8 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
PJT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in PJT five years ago would be worth $22,100 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,951 for LAZ. Over the past 12 months, MC leads with a +25.4% total return vs PJT's +7.3%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PJT at 35.9% vs LAZ's 21.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | MCMoelis & Company | PJTPJT Partners Inc. | LAZLazard Ltd |
|---|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -9.5% | -10.1% | -5.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +25.4% | +7.3% | +20.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +103.7% | +151.0% | +80.6% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +44.3% | +121.0% | +19.5% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +261.3% | +638.5% | +99.1% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +26.8% | +35.9% | +21.8% |
PJT leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — MC and PJT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
PJT is the less volatile stock with a 1.10 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LAZ's 1.79 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MC currently trades 81.6% from its 52-week high vs PJT's 77.8% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | MCMoelis & Company | PJTPJT Partners Inc. | LAZLazard Ltd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.75x | 1.10x | 1.79x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $78.22 | $195.62 | $58.75 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $51.06 | $127.73 | $38.67 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +81.6% | +77.8% | +79.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.1 | 50.8 | 46.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 1.3M | 365K | 1.5M |
Evenly matched — MC and PJT each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
MC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Analyst Outlook
Analyst consensus: MC as "Hold", PJT as "Hold", LAZ as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 15.1% upside for MC (target: $73) vs 1.7% for LAZ (target: $47). For income investors, MC offers the higher dividend yield at 4.13% vs PJT's 0.56%.
| Metric | MCMoelis & Company | PJTPJT Partners Inc. | LAZLazard Ltd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Hold | Hold | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $73.40 | $158.67 | $47.33 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 22 | 12 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +4.1% | +0.6% | +3.8% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.63 | $0.86 | $1.75 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.6% | +5.3% | +2.1% |
MC leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Key Takeaway
MC leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). PJT leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallMoelis & Company (MC)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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MC vs PJT vs LAZ: Key Questions Answered
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is MC or PJT or LAZ a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Moelis & Company (MC) is the stronger pick with 27.
0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 2% for Lazard Ltd (LAZ). Lazard Ltd (LAZ) offers the better valuation at 21. 5x trailing P/E (14. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Lazard Ltd (LAZ) a "Buy" — based on 29 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — MC or PJT or LAZ?
On trailing P/E, Lazard Ltd (LAZ) is the cheapest at 21.
5x versus PJT Partners Inc. at 22. 8x. On forward P/E, Lazard Ltd is actually cheaper at 14. 6x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — MC or PJT or LAZ?
Over the past 5 years, PJT Partners Inc.
(PJT) delivered a total return of +121. 0%, compared to +19. 5% for Lazard Ltd (LAZ). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PJT returned +638. 5% versus LAZ's +99. 1%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — MC or PJT or LAZ?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), PJT Partners Inc.
(PJT) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 10β versus Lazard Ltd's 1. 79β — meaning LAZ is approximately 63% more volatile than PJT relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Moelis & Company (MC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 39% versus 3% for Lazard Ltd — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — MC or PJT or LAZ?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Moelis & Company (MC) is pulling ahead at 27.
0% versus 3. 2% for Lazard Ltd (LAZ). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Moelis & Company grew EPS 65. 2% year-over-year, compared to -19. 0% for Lazard Ltd. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — MC or PJT or LAZ?
Moelis & Company (MC) is the more profitable company, earning 15.
4% net margin versus 7. 4% for Lazard Ltd — meaning it keeps 15. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PJT leads at 21. 2% versus 13. 0% for LAZ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MC leads at 99. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is MC or PJT or LAZ more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Lazard Ltd (LAZ) trades at 14.
6x forward P/E versus 20. 8x for Moelis & Company — 6. 2x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MC: 15. 1% to $73. 40.
08Which pays a better dividend — MC or PJT or LAZ?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Moelis & Company (MC) offers the highest yield at 4. 1%, versus 0. 6% for PJT Partners Inc. (PJT).
09Is MC or PJT or LAZ better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, PJT Partners Inc.
(PJT) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1. 10), 0. 6% yield, +638. 5% 10Y return). Lazard Ltd (LAZ) carries a higher beta of 1. 79 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (PJT: +638. 5%, LAZ: +99. 1%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between MC and PJT and LAZ?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: MC is a small-cap high-growth stock; PJT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LAZ is a small-cap income-oriented stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(MC: 27.0% · PJT: 14.8%)Net Margin>
%
(MC: 15.4% · PJT: 10.5%)P/E Ratio<
x
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