Ranking these firms by exits (from the PE perspective)

Hi everyone,

I've recently gotten an offer from a competing firm (below, for RX specifically) and have been stressing out about my decision. My current offer explodes EOW, and my new offer explodes EO next week. I know this is very subjective, but I feel like I'm splitting hairs atm (I've loved both firms, the people I met at each, and know they're both strong). My friends are torn as well.

Tour insights from being on the other side (especially from the recruiting POV) would be helpful! My end goal is to go into the buy-side (either PE or HF, not necessarily distressed related but obviously interested!)

I've gotten 2 RX offers from the following firms (alphabetical order): Evercore, HL, Lazard, Moelis, PWP. How would you "rank" them?

8 Comments
 
DISTRESSEDHFGANG

Hi everyone,

I've recently gotten an offer from a competing firm (below, for RX specifically) and have been stressing out about my decision. My current offer explodes EOW, and my new offer explodes EO next week. I know this is very subjective, but I feel like I'm splitting hairs atm (I've loved both firms, the people I met at each, and know they're both strong). My friends are torn as well.

Tour insights from being on the other side (especially from the recruiting POV) would be helpful! My end goal is to go into the buy-side (either PE or HF, not necessarily distressed related but obviously interested!)

I've gotten 2 RX offers from the following firms (alphabetical order): Evercore, HL, Lazard, Moelis, PWP. How would you "rank" them?

Your* not tour.

 

EVR > HL (marginal difference — depends on the candidate more than the firm) > LAZ > MOE.

If you purely care about recent exits (2y), that is how I would personally rank the abovementioned firms. Ofc, another factor that plays a major role in this ranking is what you consider a “top exit” e.g. HL exits a lot to Oaktree (and many of their groups are located in LA | I think Global Opps is the only relevant one in NYC, might be wrong), so if you’re not particularly interested in staying in NYC for the long run, you might prioritize that.

Regardless, all firms will give you excellent opportunities but I would take EVR or HL if I were in your shoes (I am an incoming first-year at one of the two). Hope this helps.

 

EVR > HL (marginal difference - depends on the candidate more than the firm) > LAZ > MOE.

If you purely care about recent exits (2y), that is how I would personally rank the abovementioned firms. Ofc, another factor that plays a major role in this ranking is what you consider a "top exit" e.g. HL exits a lot to Oaktree (and many of their groups are located in LA | I think Global Opps is the only relevant one in NYC, might be wrong), so if you're not particularly interested in staying in NYC for the long run, you might prioritize that.

Regardless, all firms will give you excellent opportunities but I would take EVR or HL if I were in your shoes (I am an incoming first-year at one of the two). Hope this helps.

To add onto that, your resume (especially your GPA) and interview skills/ culture fit will play a more significant role than the specific firm when it comes to HL or EVR RX since both firms' processes are pretty much equally as selective and if you recruit on-cycle, you'll have zero actual deal experience

 
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