RILY vs MC vs HLI vs PJT

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

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -11. 5% for BRC Group Holdings, Inc. (RILY). BRC Group Holdings, Inc. (RILY) offers the better valuation at 1. 2x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI) a "Buy" — based on 15 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, BRC Group Holdings, Inc.

(RILY) is the cheapest at 1. 2x versus Houlihan Lokey, Inc. at 25. 3x. On forward P/E, Houlihan Lokey, Inc. is actually cheaper at 19. 1x — 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. 21x versus PJT Partners Inc. 's 2. 34x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) delivered a total return of +135. 9%, compared to -62. 0% for BRC Group Holdings, Inc. (RILY). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: PJT returned +638. 5% versus RILY's +252. 0%. 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 BRC Group Holdings, Inc. 's 2. 03β — meaning RILY is approximately 116% 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 41% for PJT Partners Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

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

0% versus -11. 5% for BRC Group Holdings, Inc. (RILY). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: BRC Group Holdings, Inc. grew EPS 129. 9% year-over-year, compared to 35. 8% for PJT Partners 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.

BRC Group Holdings, Inc.

(RILY) is the more profitable company, earning 29. 8% net margin versus 10. 5% for PJT Partners Inc. — meaning it keeps 29. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PJT leads at 21. 2% versus 14. 6% for RILY. 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. 21x versus PJT Partners Inc. 's 2. 34x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (HLI) trades at 19. 1x forward P/E versus 20. 8x for Moelis & Company — 1. 7x 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), HLI (1. 6% yield), PJT (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. RILY 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). BRC Group Holdings, Inc. (RILY) carries a higher beta of 2. 03 — 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%, RILY: +252. 0%), 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.

In terms of investment character: RILY is a small-cap deep-value stock; MC is a small-cap high-growth stock; HLI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; PJT is a small-cap quality compounder stock. MC, HLI, PJT pay a dividend while RILY 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.