CJMB vs LAZ vs HLI vs MC vs PJT

For growth investors, Moelis & Company (MC) is the stronger pick with 27.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -50. 3% for CALLAN JMB INC. (CJMB). Lazard Ltd (LAZ) offers the better valuation at 21. 4x trailing P/E (14. 5x 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.

On trailing P/E, Lazard Ltd (LAZ) is the cheapest at 21.

4x versus Houlihan Lokey, Inc. at 26. 4x. On forward P/E, Lazard Ltd is actually cheaper at 14. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Houlihan Lokey, Inc. wins at 1. 26x versus PJT Partners Inc. 's 2. 36x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) delivered a total return of +141. 5%, compared to -71. 5% for CALLAN JMB INC. (CJMB). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HLI returned +603. 4% versus CJMB's -71. 5%. 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 Lazard Ltd's 1. 79β — meaning LAZ is approximately 91% 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 3% for Lazard Ltd — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Moelis & Company (MC) is pulling ahead at 27.

0% versus -50. 3% for CALLAN JMB INC. (CJMB). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Moelis & Company grew EPS 65. 2% year-over-year, compared to -297. 7% for CALLAN JMB 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 -34. 9% for CALLAN JMB INC. — meaning it keeps 16. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PJT leads at 21. 2% versus -34. 7% for CJMB. 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.

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, Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 26x versus PJT Partners Inc. 's 2. 36x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Lazard Ltd (LAZ) trades at 14. 5x forward P/E versus 20. 8x for Moelis & Company — 6. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HLI: 30. 3% to $200. 00.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

CALLAN JMB INC. (CJMB) offers the highest yield at 100. 0%, versus 0. 6% for PJT Partners Inc. (PJT).

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, +603. 4% 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 (HLI: +603. 4%, LAZ: +100. 4%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (CJMB (Industrials) and LAZ (Financial Services) and HLI (Financial Services) and MC (Financial Services) and PJT (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: CJMB is a small-cap income-oriented stock; LAZ is a small-cap income-oriented stock; HLI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; MC is a small-cap high-growth stock; PJT is a small-cap quality compounder 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.