ATLC
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation
ATLC has a slight edge over MS overall, supported by stronger valuation.
MS
Morgan Stanley
MS has lower modeled downside risk, despite its lower overall score.
ATLC Fundamentals
| Metric | Status |
|---|---|
| Strong | |
| Strong | |
| N/A | |
| N/A |
ATLC's revenue and profitability are currently strong. Free cash flow and net leverage aren't meaningful measures for financial services companies like ATLC.
MS Fundamentals
| Metric | Status |
|---|---|
| Healthy | |
| Strong | |
| N/A | |
| N/A |
MS's revenue and profitability are currently healthy. Free cash flow and net leverage aren't meaningful measures for financial services companies like MS.
ATLC PE Valuation
| Level | PE | Price | Vs current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheap | 4.9x | $55.81 | -30% |
| Forward | 6.4x | $79.30 | — |
| Current | 7x | $79.30 | — |
| Fair | 8x | $90.95 | +15% |
| Expensive | 11x | $126 | +59% |
Historical ranges are pointers, not guarantees.
ATLC's PE is 7.0x, but its earnings don't support one, so it isn't a reliable read right now.
MS PE Valuation
| Level | PE | Price | Vs current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheap | 11x | $134 | -29% |
| Fair | 14x | $178 | -5.7% |
| Forward | 14x | $189 | — |
| Current | 15x | $189 | — |
| Expensive | 18x | $223 | +18% |
Historical ranges are pointers, not guarantees.
MS has the edge over ATLC in the historical PE scenario, which offers more potential upside but is not a forecast.
ATLC Forward outlook
| Metric | Outlook |
|---|---|
| Improving | |
| Strong growth | |
| Growth | |
| Improving | |
| Limited | |
| High |
Analysts expect earnings and revenue growth for ATLC, with profitability improving.
MS Forward outlook
| Metric | Outlook |
|---|---|
| Improving | |
| Growth | |
| Growth | |
| Improving | |
| Limited | |
| Moderate |
Analysts expect earnings and revenue growth for MS, with profitability improving.
ATLC Earnings Per Share
| Quarter | TTM EPS | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Forward | $12.40 | +9.3% |
| Q3 2026 | $11.35 | +102% |
| Q2 2026 | $7.69 | +35% |
| Q1 2026 | $6.70 | +30% |
| Q4 2025 | $5.96 | +25% |
| Q3 2025 | $5.63 | +26% |
| Q2 2025 | $5.69 | +35% |
| Q1 2025 | $5.17 | +22% |
| Q4 2024 | $4.77 | +12% |
ATLC's earnings per share have climbed steadily: $11.35 over the past year, up 102% from the year before, and higher year over year for nine quarters in a row. Its recent earnings include one-off gains.
MS Earnings Per Share
| Quarter | TTM EPS | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Forward | $13.39 | +6.3% |
| Q3 2026 | $12.60 | +29% |
| Q2 2026 | $12.37 | +40% |
| Q1 2026 | $11.04 | +29% |
| Q4 2025 | $10.21 | +28% |
| Q3 2025 | $9.76 | +48% |
| Q2 2025 | $8.84 | +45% |
| Q1 2025 | $8.53 | +55% |
| Q4 2024 | $7.95 | +53% |
MS has the edge over ATLC on earnings, with stronger typical year-over-year growth.
ATLC Quarterly Revenue
| Quarter | Revenue | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | $238.1M | +69% |
| Q2 2026 | $223.6M | +83% |
| Q1 2026 | $189.7M | +60% |
| Q4 2025 | $175.9M | +50% |
| Q3 2025 | $140.8M | +40% |
| Q2 2025 | $122.3M | +36% |
| Q1 2025 | $118.2M | +26% |
| Q4 2024 | $117.5M | +28% |
ATLC has the edge over MS on sales, with stronger typical year-over-year growth.
| Quarter | Margin | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 44% | +21 points |
| Q2 2026 | 30% | -3.3 points |
| Q1 2026 | 31% | -3.6 points |
| Q4 2025 | 26% | -7.7 points |
| Q3 2025 | 23% | -14 points |
| Q2 2025 | 33% | +1.1 points |
| Q1 2025 | 35% | -0.5 points |
| Q4 2024 | 34% | +0.5 points |
ATLC has the edge over MS on profitability, with a higher operating margin.
MS Quarterly Revenue
| Quarter | Revenue | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | $20.3B | +12% |
| Q2 2026 | $21.3B | +27% |
| Q1 2026 | $20.6B | +16% |
| Q4 2025 | $17.9B | +10% |
| Q3 2025 | $18.2B | +18% |
| Q2 2025 | $16.8B | +12% |
| Q1 2025 | $17.7B | +17% |
| Q4 2024 | $16.2B | +26% |
MS's revenue has grown year over year for 14 quarters in a row: $20.3B last quarter, up 12% from the same quarter a year ago.
| Quarter | Margin | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 32% | -1.2 points |
| Q2 2026 | 34% | +6.9 points |
| Q1 2026 | 34% | +2.8 points |
| Q4 2025 | 32% | +2 points |
| Q3 2025 | 33% | +5.6 points |
| Q2 2025 | 28% | +0.4 points |
| Q1 2025 | 31% | +2.2 points |
| Q4 2024 | 30% | +14 points |
MS's operating margin was 32% last quarter, down 1.2 points from the same quarter a year ago.
ATLC Free Cash Flow
| Quarter | Free cash flow | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | $253.3M | +136% |
| Q2 2026 | $276.9M | +109% |
| Q1 2026 | $286.3M | +118% |
| Q4 2025 | $266.3M | +117% |
| Q3 2025 | $107.5M | -4.4% |
| Q2 2025 | $132.7M | +15% |
| Q1 2025 | $131.6M | +11% |
| Q4 2024 | $122.6M | -7.6% |
ATLC has the edge over MS on cash generation, producing positive trailing cash flow while its opponent burns cash.
MS Free Cash Flow
| Quarter | Free cash flow | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | -$46B | -$42.7B |
| Q2 2026 | -$2.7B | -123% |
| Q1 2026 | -$7.1B | +$16.9B |
| Q4 2025 | -$2.4B | -120% |
| Q3 2025 | -$3.3B | +$14B |
| Q2 2025 | $11.8B | +368% |
| Q1 2025 | -$24B | -650% |
| Q4 2024 | $11.8B | +$29.6B |
MS's free cash flow was −$58.3B over the past year, against −$3.7B the year before. Free cash flow isn't a meaningful measure for financial services companies like MS.
ATLC Total Shares
| Period | Change % | Net change |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly | +0.3% | +52K shares |
| 1 year | +0.2% | +34K shares |
| 3 years | +1.3% | +240K shares |
| 5 years | -4.6% | -927K shares |
ATLC has 19M diluted shares, about the same as a year ago.
| Quarter | Spent |
|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | $407,000 |
| Q2 2026 | $55,000 |
| Q1 2026 | $3.8M |
| Q4 2025 | $16.4M |
| Q3 2025 | $25,000 |
| Q2 2025 | $1.9M |
| Q1 2025 | $51.2M |
| Q4 2024 | $25M |
ATLC spent $21M buying back its own shares over the past year, down 74% from the year before.
MS Total Shares
| Period | Change % | Net change |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly | -0.2% | -3M shares |
| 1 year | -1.5% | -24M shares |
| 3 years | -4.7% | -77M shares |
| 5 years | -14% | -246M shares |
| Available history | -4.5% | -74M shares |
MS has the edge over ATLC on shareholder dilution, with a more favorable share count trend.
ATLC Net Leverage
| Quarter | Net Leverage | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 19.9x | High |
| Q2 2026 | 25.9x | High |
| Q1 2026 | 29.7x | High |
| Q4 2025 | 34.8x | High |
| Q3 2025 | 34.9x | High |
| Q2 2025 | 14.9x | High |
| Q1 2025 | 14.0x | High |
| Q4 2024 | 14.7x | High |
ATLC's net debt is about 20 years of its operating earnings (EBITDA), down from more than 20 years a year ago. Net leverage isn't a meaningful measure for financial services companies like ATLC.
MS Net Leverage
| Quarter | Net Leverage | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 7.8x | High |
| Q2 2026 | 7.3x | High |
| Q1 2026 | 8.2x | High |
| Q4 2025 | 8.6x | High |
| Q3 2025 | 8.4x | High |
| Q2 2025 | 8.7x | High |
| Q1 2025 | 8.7x | High |
| Q4 2024 | 7.9x | High |
MS has the edge over ATLC on leverage, with a lower net debt burden relative to earnings.
ATLC Weekly Momentum
| Metric | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| RSI | 42.0 | Neutral |
| Stochastic | 16.5 | Oversold |
ATLC's weekly RSI is 42 (neutral) and its Stochastic is 17 (oversold).
MS Weekly Momentum
| Metric | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| RSI | 45.0 | Neutral |
| Stochastic | 18.7 | Oversold |
MS's weekly RSI is 45 (neutral) and its Stochastic is 19 (oversold).
ATLC PE vs Financial Services Sector
| Metric | ATLC | Sector median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 7x | 13x | 46% below |
| PE % | 36 | 63 | 27 pts below |
ATLC has the edge over MS on valuation relative to its sector.
MS PE vs Financial Services Sector
| Metric | MS | Sector median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 15x | 13x | 15% above |
| PE % | 59 | 63 | 4 pts below |
MS is trading at 15x earnings, a 15% premium to the Financial Services sector's median of 13x.
ATLC Weekly Moving Averages
| Moving average | MA price | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| 8 week MA | $90.0 | 12% below |
| 20 week MA | $94.6 | 16% below |
| 50 week MA | $78.9 | 0.5% above |
| 100 week MA | $67.3 | 18% above |
| 200 week MA | $50.5 | 57% above |
ATLC has pulled back, but its long-term trend is still up: it's below its 8- and 20-week averages, but 57% above its 200-week average.
MS Weekly Moving Averages
| Moving average | MA price | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| 8 week MA | $186.5 | 1.5% above |
| 20 week MA | $203.3 | 6.9% below |
| 50 week MA | $191.9 | 1.4% below |
| 100 week MA | $164.9 | 15% above |
| 200 week MA | $129.3 | 46% above |
MS's trend is mixed: it's above three of its five weekly moving averages, and 46% above its 200-week average.
ATLC Yearly ROI
| Year | Start price | End price | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $8.45 | $24.0 | +184% |
| 2021 | $24.0 | $67.8 | +182% |
| 2022 | $67.8 | $24.1 | -64% |
| 2023 | $24.1 | $38.7 | +61% |
| 2024 | $38.7 | $57.0 | +47% |
| 2025 | $57.0 | $70.1 | +23% |
| 2026 YTD | $70.1 | $79.3 | +13% |
ATLC has the edge over MS on returns for 2026, with the stronger performance.
MS Yearly ROI
| Year | Start price | End price | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $51.1 | $68.1 | +33% |
| 2021 | $68.1 | $99.3 | +46% |
| 2022 | $99.3 | $86.1 | -13% |
| 2023 | $86.1 | $93.3 | +8.3% |
| 2024 | $93.3 | $126.8 | +36% |
| 2025 | $126.8 | $181.9 | +43% |
| 2026 YTD | $181.9 | $189.2 | +4% |
MS has finished higher in five of the last six years. It's up 4% so far in 2026.