FCN vs HLI vs EVR vs PJT vs LAZ

For growth investors, Evercore Inc.

(EVR) is the stronger pick with 29. 5% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 2. 4% for FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN). FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN) offers the better valuation at 19. 6x trailing P/E (17. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN) a "Buy" — based on 13 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, FTI Consulting, Inc.

(FCN) is the cheapest at 19. 6x versus Houlihan Lokey, Inc. at 26. 4x. On forward P/E, Lazard Ltd is actually cheaper at 14. 5x — 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: 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 +12. 6% for FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: EVR returned +613. 3% versus LAZ's +100. 4%. 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), FTI Consulting, Inc.

(FCN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 09β versus Evercore Inc. 's 1. 90β — meaning EVR is approximately 2027% more volatile than FCN 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), Evercore Inc.

(EVR) is pulling ahead at 29. 5% versus 2. 4% for FTI Consulting, Inc. (FCN). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Evercore Inc. grew EPS 54. 7% 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.

Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) is the more profitable company, earning 16. 7% net margin versus 7. 1% for FTI Consulting, 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 10. 9% for FCN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — EVR leads at 99. 4%, 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. 5x for PJT Partners Inc. — 6. 0x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HLI: 30. 3% to $200. 00.

In this comparison, LAZ (3.

8% yield), HLI (1. 6% yield), EVR (1. 0% yield), PJT (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. FCN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, FTI Consulting, Inc.

(FCN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 09), +294. 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 (FCN: +294. 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 (FCN (Industrials) and HLI (Financial Services) and EVR (Financial Services) and PJT (Financial Services) and LAZ (Financial Services)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: FCN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; HLI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; EVR is a mid-cap high-growth stock; PJT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LAZ is a small-cap income-oriented stock. HLI, EVR, PJT, LAZ pay a dividend while FCN 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.