BAML vs UBS vs HL
PE
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(Senior Chimp, 19
Points)
on 11/1/11 at 2:35pm
BAML vs UBS vs HL, which offer for SA would you take right now?
BofA and UBS are BB, but both are intensely struggling. On the other hand HL is a solid MM firm doing well, but the name is pretty much unknown outside the finance community.






As someone working in the A&D
As someone working in the A&D industry, I would take a job with HL's A&D group with a quickness.
You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake, son.
Any idea what groups? There
Any idea what groups? There are a couple of very strong groups at BAML (i.e. LevFin, Real Estate, M&A is pretty good), but HL is obviously a really good MM and you would be guaranteed solid M&A access. UBS I do not know as much about so can't provide much insight there.
Your real choices are: BAML
Your real choices are: BAML BAML, BAML
UBS maybe if you can get guaranteed placement into a product group
Houlihan isn't even in the conversation
Solidarity wrote: Houlihan
Houlihan isn't even in the conversation
This is just ignorant especially because the question is fairly open ended.
HL is a great firm.
You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake, son.
What group in HL? HL does
What group in HL? HL does have restructuring, so there's that, if you're interested.
I'd honestly probably take BAML, but that's just me.
Assuming these are NY
Assuming these are NY positions, no
Houlihan's a pretty kickass MM firm but it's definitely not of the same caliber as BAML
Solidarity wrote: Assuming
Assuming these are NY positions, no
Houlihan's a pretty kickass MM firm but it's definitely not of the same caliber as BAML
I am biased because HL has a great Aerospace & Defense group, which is the industry I work in.
You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake, son.
Quote: I am biased because HL
I am biased because HL has a great Aerospace & Defense group, which is the industry I work in.
Exactly
Solidarity wrote: Quote: I
I am biased because HL has a great Aerospace & Defense group, which is the industry I work in.
Exactly
I said that earlier though
You're born, you take shit. You get out in the world, you take more shit. You climb a little higher, you take less shit. Till one day you're up in the rarefied atmosphere and you've forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake, son.
All three are solid. It
All three are solid. It depends on the industry you are interested in and where you want to work long term. I know people in A&D at both UBS and BAML; I would of worked for either group. At the end of the day this is for an SA position; UBS and BAML both probably give your resume more prestige than HL. Not saying that to degrade HL, I think it's a great firm...
If the firm isn't stable that gives you an out for not receiving a FT over at the end of the summer...You leave with experience, a BB name on your resume and a story for why you didn't convert to FT. So, I would pick either UBS or BAML.
God of Wine wrote: If the
If the firm isn't stable that gives you an out for not receiving a FT over at the end of the summer...You leave with experience, a BB name on your resume and a story for why you didn't convert to FT. So, I would pick either UBS or BAML.
I see your logic. On the flip side, however, if next year's FT recruiting is similar to this year's, it will be very difficult to get a FT position if you don't get a return offer, just because many banks will fill their classes with interns. HL is growing, and if you do a good job, you're probably much more likely to get a return offer than at the other places simply because they may face additional hiring freezes or may not be around anymore lol. And going into FT recruiting with an offer will be very helpful because a) your downside is limited and b) you can push for accelerated recruiting/ interview with other banks before OCR at targets starts.
I guess BAML and UBS are the riskier options (with potential for higher reward) and HL is the safer bet. If it's Restructuring or A&D it shouldn't be a question, though
There's also no reason to take UBS over BAML, so unless you really like UBS for whatever reason, you should just consider this to be HL vs. BAML