Houlihan Lokey (STU:2HL) Moat Score: 6/10 (As of Jul. 12, 2026)


STU:2HL Houlihan Lokey Inc STU:2HL
91 GF Score
Price €118.80
GF Value €167.07
Valuation Modestly Undervalued
! 3 Warning Signs
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What is Houlihan Lokey Moat Score?

Houlihan Lokey STU:2HL -0.67% 91 Moat Score is 6 as of Jul. 12, 2026. GuruFocus rates STU:2HL with a GF Score™ of 91/100 and a GF Value™ of €167.07 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 839 Capital Markets companies, Houlihan Lokey ranks better than 97.5% on this metric.

Houlihan Lokey has the Moat Score of 6, which implies that the company might have Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide.

Houlihan Lokey has Narrow Moat: Houlihan Lokey Inc has a strong narrow moat with a leading position in financial advisory services. It benefits from a strong brand, deep customer loyalty, and significant switching costs. While it has durable advantages, it lacks the exclusive licenses or regulatory barriers needed for a wide moat.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Houlihan Lokey might have Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide.

Houlihan Lokey  (STU:2HL) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Houlihan Lokey Moat Score Related Terms

STU:2HL vs JEF, SF, SNEX: Moat Score Comparison

For the Capital Markets subindustry, Houlihan Lokey's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

Houlihan Lokey Moat Score vs Capital Markets Industry

For the Capital Markets industry and Financial Services sector, Houlihan Lokey's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Houlihan Lokey's Moat Score falls into.


STU:2HL
91GF Score
Houlihan Lokey Inc STU:2HL
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
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Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 6 mean?
Houlihan Lokey (STU:2HL) has a Moat Score of 6 as of Jul. 12, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Houlihan Lokey ranks #21 out of 839 companies in the Capital Markets industry, placing it in the top 2.5%.
Is Houlihan Lokey's Moat Score too high?
Houlihan Lokey's current Moat Score is 6. Based on the distribution chart, Houlihan Lokey ranks #21 out of 839 companies in the Capital Markets industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, Houlihan Lokey has a GF Score™ of 91/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Houlihan Lokey's Moat Score compare to JEF and SF?
According to the Capital Markets industry distribution chart, Houlihan Lokey ranks #21 out of 839 companies for Moat Score. This places Houlihan Lokey in the top 3% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Capital Markets company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Capital Markets industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Houlihan Lokey's current Moat Score is 6. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Houlihan Lokey stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Houlihan Lokey (STU:2HL) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €167.07, compared to a current price of €118.80 — trading 28.9% below its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 6. Houlihan Lokey's overall GF Score™ is 91/100 with 3 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Houlihan Lokey (STU:2HL), the current Moat Score is 6 as of Jul. 12, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Houlihan Lokey (STU:2HL) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Houlihan Lokey stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of €118.80 is trading 28.9% below its estimated GF Value™ of €167.07. GuruFocus considers Houlihan Lokey to be Modestly Undervalued.

Key valuation signals for STU:2HL:

  • Moat Score: 6
  • GF Value™: €167.07 vs. price of €118.80 (28.9% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 91/100 with 3 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the STU:2HL stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.

Houlihan Lokey Business Description

Other Exchanges HLI:USA2HL:Germany
Address 10250 Constellation Boulevard, 5th Floor, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 90067
Houlihan Lokey Inc is an investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, valuation, and strategic consulting. The firm serves corporations, institutions, and governments world-wide with offices in the United States, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. The company operates in three segments. In the Corporate Finance business segment, it provides M&A and capital markets advisory services. Through the Financial Restructuring business segment, the company advises on some of the complex restructurings around the world. The Financial and Valuation Advisory Services business segment provides valuation and financial opinion, and financial and strategic consulting practices in the United States.
91GF Score

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Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

€118.80
Price
€167.07
GF Value