Houlihan Lokey Stock Beneish M Score

HLI Stock  USD 158.81  0.78  0.49%   
This module uses fundamental data of Houlihan Lokey to approximate the value of its Beneish M Score. Houlihan Lokey M Score tells investors if the company management is likely to be manipulating earnings. The score is calculated using eight financial indicators that are adjusted by a specific multiplier. Please note, the M Score is a probabilistic model and cannot detect companies that manipulate their earnings with 100% accuracy. Check out Houlihan Lokey Piotroski F Score and Houlihan Lokey Altman Z Score analysis.
For more detail on how to invest in Houlihan Stock please use our How to Invest in Houlihan Lokey guide.
  
As of now, Houlihan Lokey's Interest Debt Per Share is increasing as compared to previous years. The Houlihan Lokey's current Debt To Assets is estimated to increase to 0.39, while Net Debt is projected to decrease to (321.8 M). As of now, Houlihan Lokey's Capex To Depreciation is increasing as compared to previous years. The Houlihan Lokey's current EV To Sales is estimated to increase to 4.35, while Dividend Yield is projected to decrease to 0.02.
At this time, it appears that Houlihan Lokey is an unlikely manipulator. The earnings manipulation may begin if Houlihan Lokey's top management creates an artificial sense of financial success, forcing the stock price to be traded at a high price-earnings multiple than it should be. In general, excessive earnings management by Houlihan Lokey executives may lead to removing some of the operating profits from subsequent periods to inflate earnings in the following periods. This way, the manipulation of Houlihan Lokey's earnings can lead to misrepresentations of actual financial condition, taking the otherwise loyal stakeholders on to the path of questionable ethical practices and plain fraud.
-2.91
Beneish M Score - Unlikely Manipulator
Elasticity of Receivables

1.06

Focus
Asset Quality

1.01

Focus
Expense Coverage

1.34

Focus
Gross Margin Strengs

0.76

Focus
Accruals Factor

1.34

Focus
Depreciation Resistance

0.68

Focus
Net Sales Growth

0.71

Focus
Financial Leverage Condition

0.9

Focus

Houlihan Lokey Beneish M-Score Indicator Trends

The cure to earnings manipulation is the transparency of financial reporting. It will typically remove the temptation of the top executives to inflate earnings (i.e., to promote the idea of 'winning at any cost'). Because a healthy internal audit department can enhance transparency, the board should promote the auditors' access to all the record-keeping systems across the enterprise. For example, if Houlihan Lokey's auditors report directly to the board (not management), the managers will be reluctant to manipulate simply due to the fear of punishment. On the other hand, the auditors will be free to investigate the ledgers properly because they know that the board has their back.
Current ValueLast YearChange From Last Year 10 Year Trend
Net Receivables174 M232.5 M
Way Down
Pretty Stable
Total Revenue1.4 B1.9 B
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Total Assets2.1 B3.2 B
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Total Current Assets769.5 M1.2 B
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Non Current Assets Total1.3 BB
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Property Plant Equipment56.3 M101.6 M
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Depreciation And Amortization27.1 M28.5 M
Notably Down
Slightly volatile
Selling General Administrative175.7 M185.3 M
Notably Down
Slightly volatile
Total Current Liabilities655.7 M873.3 M
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Non Current Liabilities Total483.7 M460.7 M
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Short Term Debt797.1 M759.2 M
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Long Term Debt17.6 M19.9 M
Fairly Down
Slightly volatile
Operating Income297 M399.1 M
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Total Cash From Operating Activities314.8 M328.5 M
Sufficiently Down
Slightly volatile
Long Term Investments28.9 M30.4 M
Notably Down
Pretty Stable
Gross Profit Margin0.280.3661
Way Down
Slightly volatile

Houlihan Lokey Beneish M-Score Driver Matrix

One of the toughest challenges investors face today is learning how to quickly synthesize historical financial statements and information provided by the company, SEC reporting, and various external parties in order to detect the potential manipulation of earnings. Understanding the correlation between Houlihan Lokey's different financial indicators related to revenue, expenses, operating profit, and net earnings helps investors identify and prioritize their investing strategies towards Houlihan Lokey in a much-optimized way. Analyzing correlations between earnings drivers directly associated with dollar figures is the most effective way to find Houlihan Lokey's degree of accounting gimmicks and manipulations.

About Houlihan Lokey Beneish M Score

M-Score is one of many grading techniques for value stocks. It was developed by Professor M. Daniel Beneish of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and published in 1999 under the paper titled The Detection of Earnings Manipulation. The Beneish score is a multi-factor model that utilizes financial identifiers to compile eight variables used to classify whether a company has manipulated its reported earnings. The variables are built from the officially filed financial statements to create a final score call 'M Score.' The score helps to identify companies that are likely to manipulate their profits if they show deteriorating gross margins, operating expenses, and leverage against growing revenue.

Other Operating Expenses

1.06 Billion

As of now, Houlihan Lokey's Other Operating Expenses is increasing as compared to previous years.

Houlihan Lokey Earnings Manipulation Drivers

Although earnings manipulation is typically not the result of intentional misconduct by the c-level executives, it is still a widespread practice by the senior management of public companies such as Houlihan Lokey. It is usually done by a series of misrepresentations of various accounting rules and operating activities across multiple financial cycles. The best way to spot the manipulation is to examine the historical financial statement to find inconsistencies in earning reports to find trends in assets or liabilities that are not sustainable in the future.
201920202021202220232024 (projected)
Net Receivables125.0M226.5M248.8M314.8M232.5M174.0M
Total Revenue1.2B1.5B2.3B1.8B1.9B1.4B
Total Assets1.7B2.4B2.9B3.0B3.2B2.1B
Total Current Assets505.8M1.1B1.1B1.0B1.2B769.5M
Net Debt(221.5M)(671.5M)(636.1M)(339.6M)(306.4M)(321.8M)
Short Term Debt29.5M29.1M34.7M31.6M759.2M797.1M
Long Term Debt22.5M818K539K22.1M19.9M17.6M
Operating Income229.6M408.2M612.9M341.7M399.1M297.0M
Investments(10.2M)(73.1M)95.8M68.2M(70.4M)(66.9M)

Houlihan Lokey ESG Sustainability

Some studies have found that companies with high sustainability scores are getting higher valuations than competitors with lower social-engagement activities. While most ESG disclosures are voluntary and do not directly affect the long term financial condition, Houlihan Lokey's sustainability indicators can be used to identify proper investment strategies using environmental, social, and governance scores that are crucial to Houlihan Lokey's managers, analysts, and investors.
Environmental
Governance
Social

About Houlihan Lokey Fundamental Analysis

The Macroaxis Fundamental Analysis modules help investors analyze Houlihan Lokey's financials across various querterly and yearly statements, indicators and fundamental ratios. We help investors to determine the real value of Houlihan Lokey using virtually all public information available. We use both quantitative as well as qualitative analysis to arrive at the intrinsic value of Houlihan Lokey based on its fundamental data. In general, a quantitative approach, as applied to this company, focuses on analyzing financial statements comparatively, whereas a qaualitative method uses data that is important to a company's growth but cannot be measured and presented in a numerical way.
Please read more on our fundamental analysis page.

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Additional Information and Resources on Investing in Houlihan Stock

When determining whether Houlihan Lokey offers a strong return on investment in its stock, a comprehensive analysis is essential. The process typically begins with a thorough review of Houlihan Lokey's financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, to assess its financial health. Key financial ratios are used to gauge profitability, efficiency, and growth potential of Houlihan Lokey Stock. Outlined below are crucial reports that will aid in making a well-informed decision on Houlihan Lokey Stock:
Check out Houlihan Lokey Piotroski F Score and Houlihan Lokey Altman Z Score analysis.
For more detail on how to invest in Houlihan Stock please use our How to Invest in Houlihan Lokey guide.
You can also try the Risk-Return Analysis module to view associations between returns expected from investment and the risk you assume.
Is Investment Banking & Brokerage space expected to grow? Or is there an opportunity to expand the business' product line in the future? Factors like these will boost the valuation of Houlihan Lokey. If investors know Houlihan will grow in the future, the company's valuation will be higher. The financial industry is built on trying to define current growth potential and future valuation accurately. All the valuation information about Houlihan Lokey listed above have to be considered, but the key to understanding future value is determining which factors weigh more heavily than others.
Quarterly Earnings Growth
0.444
Dividend Share
2.22
Earnings Share
4.5
Revenue Per Share
31.124
Quarterly Revenue Growth
0.235
The market value of Houlihan Lokey is measured differently than its book value, which is the value of Houlihan that is recorded on the company's balance sheet. Investors also form their own opinion of Houlihan Lokey's value that differs from its market value or its book value, called intrinsic value, which is Houlihan Lokey's true underlying value. Investors use various methods to calculate intrinsic value and buy a stock when its market value falls below its intrinsic value. Because Houlihan Lokey's market value can be influenced by many factors that don't directly affect Houlihan Lokey's underlying business (such as a pandemic or basic market pessimism), market value can vary widely from intrinsic value.
Please note, there is a significant difference between Houlihan Lokey's value and its price as these two are different measures arrived at by different means. Investors typically determine if Houlihan Lokey is a good investment by looking at such factors as earnings, sales, fundamental and technical indicators, competition as well as analyst projections. However, Houlihan Lokey's price is the amount at which it trades on the open market and represents the number that a seller and buyer find agreeable to each party.