SF vs HLI Comparison

Stifel Financial is a diversified financial-services provider that generates revenue from wealth management, investment banking, and lending. The firm was founded in 1890 as a St. Louis-based full-service brokerage but has been transformed under CEO Ronald Kruszewski through a slew of acquisitions into a globally competitive wealth manager, investment bank, and retail and institutional brokerage. The firm generated $5.5 billion in revenue in 2025, with roughly two-thirds derived from wealth management and one-third derived from investment banking and trading.

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.