STEP vs HLI vs HLNE

For growth investors, StepStone Group Inc.

(STEP) is the stronger pick with 65. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 24. 8% for Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI). Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) offers the better valuation at 16. 4x trailing P/E (14. 8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) a "Buy" — based on 8 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.

On trailing P/E, Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) is the cheapest at 16.

4x versus Houlihan Lokey, Inc. at 25. 3x. On forward P/E, Hamilton Lane Incorporated is actually cheaper at 14. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Hamilton Lane Incorporated wins at 0. 72x versus Houlihan Lokey, Inc. 's 1. 21x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) delivered a total return of +135. 9%, compared to +7. 2% for Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HLI returned +580. 9% versus STEP's +134. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 94β versus StepStone Group Inc. 's 1. 73β — meaning STEP is approximately 85% more volatile than HLI relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 20% versus 40% for Hamilton Lane Incorporated — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), StepStone Group Inc.

(STEP) is pulling ahead at 65. 1% versus 24. 8% for Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Hamilton Lane Incorporated grew EPS 46. 6% year-over-year, compared to -376. 9% for StepStone Group Inc.. 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.

Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) is the more profitable company, earning 30.

5% net margin versus -15. 3% for StepStone Group Inc. — meaning it keeps 30. 5% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HLNE leads at 44. 4% versus -21. 3% for STEP. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HLNE leads at 70. 8%, 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 72x versus Houlihan Lokey, Inc. 's 1. 21x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) trades at 14. 8x forward P/E versus 25. 6x for StepStone Group Inc. — 10. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HLNE: 92. 8% to $171. 50.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Hamilton Lane Incorporated (HLNE) offers the highest yield at 2. 8%, versus 1. 6% for Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 94), 1. 6% yield, +580. 9% 10Y return). StepStone Group Inc. (STEP) carries a higher beta of 1. 73 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (HLI: +580. 9%, STEP: +134. 3%), 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.

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.

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.