RZC vs HLI vs PJT vs LAZ

For growth investors, Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) is the stronger pick with 24. 8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 2% for Lazard Ltd (LAZ). 7. 125% Fixed-Rate Reset Subordinated Debentures due 2052 (RZC) offers the better valuation at 1. 4x 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, 7.

125% Fixed-Rate Reset Subordinated Debentures due 2052 (RZC) is the cheapest at 1. 4x 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 +20. 6% for Lazard Ltd (LAZ). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HLI returned +603. 4% versus RZC's +25. 3%. 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), 7.

125% Fixed-Rate Reset Subordinated Debentures due 2052 (RZC) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 12β versus Lazard Ltd's 1. 79β — meaning LAZ is approximately 1410% more volatile than RZC 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), Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

(HLI) is pulling ahead at 24. 8% versus 3. 2% for Lazard Ltd (LAZ). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: 7. 125% Fixed-Rate Reset Subordinated Debentures due 2052 grew EPS 64. 9% 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 5. 2% for 7. 125% Fixed-Rate Reset Subordinated Debentures due 2052 — 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 6. 8% for RZC. 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, 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.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

7. 125% Fixed-Rate Reset Subordinated Debentures due 2052 (RZC) offers the highest yield at 14. 2%, versus 0. 6% for PJT Partners Inc. (PJT).

For long-horizon retirement investors, 7.

125% Fixed-Rate Reset Subordinated Debentures due 2052 (RZC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 12), 14. 2% yield). 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 (RZC: +25. 3%, 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.

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: RZC is a small-cap deep-value stock; HLI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; PJT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; LAZ is a small-cap income-oriented 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.