BGC vs PIPR vs MC vs HLI

For growth investors, Piper Sandler Companies (PIPR) is the stronger pick with 28.

6% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 24. 8% for Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI). Piper Sandler Companies (PIPR) offers the better valuation at 20. 3x trailing P/E (17. 0x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate BGC Group, Inc (BGC) a "Buy" — based on 2 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, Piper Sandler Companies (PIPR) is the cheapest at 20.

3x versus BGC Group, Inc at 35. 1x. On forward P/E, BGC Group, Inc is actually cheaper at 7. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: BGC Group, Inc wins at 0. 25x 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, Piper Sandler Companies (PIPR) delivered a total return of +194.

9%, compared to +44. 3% for Moelis & Company (MC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PIPR returned +815. 9% versus BGC's +125. 2%. 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), BGC Group, Inc (BGC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

78β versus Moelis & Company's 1. 75β — meaning MC is approximately 125% more volatile than BGC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Piper Sandler Companies (PIPR) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 7% versus 155% for BGC Group, Inc — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Piper Sandler Companies (PIPR) is pulling ahead at 28.

6% versus 24. 8% for Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Moelis & Company grew EPS 65. 2% year-over-year, compared to 24. 0% for BGC 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.

Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 7% net margin versus 5. 5% for BGC Group, Inc — meaning it keeps 16. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HLI leads at 21. 0% versus 16. 8% for BGC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — BGC leads at 100. 0%, 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, BGC Group, Inc (BGC) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 25x 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, BGC Group, Inc (BGC) trades at 7. 6x forward P/E versus 20. 8x for Moelis & Company — 13. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HLI: 35. 8% to $200. 00.

In this comparison, MC (4.

1% yield), PIPR (2. 0% yield), HLI (1. 6% yield) pay a dividend. BGC does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

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). Moelis & Company (MC) carries a higher beta of 1. 75 — 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%, MC: +261. 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.

PIPR, MC, HLI pay a dividend while BGC does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.