FCN vs HLI vs HUBB vs HURN vs ICFI

For growth investors, Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) is the stronger pick with 24. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -7. 3% for ICF International, Inc. (ICFI). ICF International, Inc. (ICFI) offers the better valuation at 15. 1x trailing P/E (10. 6x 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, ICF International, Inc.

(ICFI) is the cheapest at 15. 1x versus Hubbell Incorporated at 29. 8x. On forward P/E, ICF International, Inc. is actually cheaper at 10. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: ICF International, Inc. wins at 0. 92x versus FTI Consulting, Inc. 's 2. 23x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Hubbell Incorporated (HUBB) delivered a total return of +159.

4%, compared to -16. 9% for ICF International, Inc. (ICFI). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HLI returned +603. 4% versus ICFI's +100. 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), FTI Consulting, Inc.

(FCN) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 09β versus Hubbell Incorporated's 1. 38β — meaning HUBB is approximately 1440% 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 104% for Huron Consulting Group Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) is pulling ahead at 24. 8% versus -7. 3% for ICF International, Inc. (ICFI). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Houlihan Lokey, Inc. grew EPS 41. 6% year-over-year, compared to -14. 9% for ICF International, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, HURN leads at 14. 5% annualised revenue growth. 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 4. 9% for ICF International, 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 8. 1% for ICFI. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — HLI leads at 38. 5%, 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, ICF International, Inc. (ICFI) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 92x versus FTI Consulting, Inc. 's 2. 23x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, ICF International, Inc. (ICFI) trades at 10. 6x forward P/E versus 25. 0x for Hubbell Incorporated — 14. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for HURN: 60. 3% to $200. 00.

In this comparison, HLI (1.

6% yield), HUBB (1. 1% yield), ICFI (0. 8% yield) pay a dividend. FCN, HURN do 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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FCN: +294. 4%, HURN: +116. 8%), 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 HUBB (Industrials) and HURN (Industrials) and ICFI (Industrials)), 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; HUBB is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; HURN is a small-cap quality compounder stock; ICFI is a small-cap deep-value stock. HLI, HUBB, ICFI pay a dividend while FCN, HURN do 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.