Moodys Corporation (MCO)vsMorgan Stanley (MS)
MCO
Moodys Corporation
$451.32
-1.26%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $79.84B
MS
Morgan Stanley
$193.09
+1.54%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $299.95B
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Morgan Stanley generates 829% more annual revenue ($73.17B vs $7.87B). MCO leads profitability with a 31.7% profit margin vs 24.7%. MCO appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.04. MS earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 73/100 (B).
MCO
Buy61
out of 100
Grade: C+
MS
Strong Buy73
out of 100
Grade: B
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Every $100 of equity generates 71 in profit
Keeps 32 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Strong operational efficiency at 45.7%
Large-cap with strong market position
Mega-cap, among the largest globally
Strong operational efficiency at 40.6%
Keeps 25 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Reasonable price relative to book value
16.3% revenue growth
Areas to Watch
Expensive relative to growth rate
Premium valuation, high expectations priced in
Trading at 26.3x book value
Expensive relative to growth rate
Weak financial health signals
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : MCO
The strongest argument for MCO centers on Return on Equity, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 31.7% and operating margin at 45.7%.
Bull Case : MS
The strongest argument for MS centers on Market Cap, Operating Margin, Profit Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 24.7% and operating margin at 40.6%. Revenue growth of 16.3% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : MCO
The primary concerns for MCO are PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Price/Book.
Bear Case : MS
The primary concerns for MS are PEG Ratio, Piotroski F-Score, Free Cash Flow.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
MCO profiles as a mature stock while MS is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
MCO carries more volatility with a beta of 1.37 — expect wider price swings.
MS is growing revenue faster at 16.3% — sustainability is the question.
MCO generates stronger free cash flow (844M), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
MS scores higher overall (73/100 vs 61/100), backed by strong 24.7% margins and 16.3% revenue growth. Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Moodys Corporation
FINANCIAL SERVICES · FINANCIAL DATA & STOCK EXCHANGES · USA
Moody's Corporation, often referred to as Moody's, is an American business and financial services company. It is the holding company for Moody's Investors Service (MIS), an American credit rating agency, and Moody's Analytics (MA), an American provider of financial analysis software and services.
Morgan Stanley
FINANCIAL SERVICES · CAPITAL MARKETS · USA
Morgan Stanley is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered at 1585 Broadway in the Morgan Stanley Building, Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
Compare with Other FINANCIAL DATA & STOCK EXCHANGES Stocks
Want to dig deeper into these stocks?