HCXY

Hercules Capital, Inc.

There isn't enough reported data to score HCXY yet.

MS

Morgan Stanley

62
Fundamentals71/ 100
Valuation48/ 100
Upside potential73/ 100
Risk potential11/ 100

MS's fundamentals are strong: revenue grew 16% and earnings per share grew 29%. At 15x earnings, it's trading in line with its usual 14x. Analysts expect earnings growth.

HCXY Fundamentals

MetricStatus
Under pressure
Healthy
N/A
N/A

HCXY's profitability is currently healthy, but its revenue is under pressure. Free cash flow and net leverage aren't meaningful measures for financial services companies like HCXY.

MS Fundamentals

MetricStatus
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.

HCXY PE Valuation

HCXY has no meaningful PE right now: it lost money over the past year.

MS PE Valuation

CHEAPFAIREXPENSIVE5.5x11x17x22x
CHEAPFAIREXPENSIVE5.5x11x17x22x
LevelPEPriceVs current
Cheap11x$134-29%
Fair14x$178-5.7%
Forward14x$189—
Current15x$189—
Expensive18x$223+18%

Historical ranges are pointers, not guarantees.

MS's PE is in its fair range at 15x. If earnings grow as analysts expect, today's price would be 14x next year's earnings.

HCXY Forward outlook

MetricOutlook
--
Stable
Growth
Strongly weakening
Limited
High

Analysts expect HCXY's revenue to grow, but its profitability to weaken.

MS Forward outlook

MetricOutlook
Improving
Growth
Growth
Improving
Limited
Moderate

MS has the edge over HCXY on the outlook, with more favorable earnings and profitability expectations.

HCXY Risk to reward

ScenarioChangePrice
UpsideUnknown—
DownsideUnknown—

Calculated from the latest close: $24.17 on Nov 12.

There is not enough scenario data to compare HCXY and MS's risk to reward.

MS Risk to reward

ScenarioChangePrice
Upside+29%$243.85
Downside-11%$168.44

Calculated from the latest close: $189.17 on Nov 12.

There is not enough scenario data to compare HCXY and MS's risk to reward.

HCXY Earnings Per Share

Q4 2023: $2.31Q1 2024: $2.20Q2 2024: $1.79Q3 2024: $2.02Q4 2024: $1.61Q1 2025: $1.33Q2 2025: $1.51Q3 2025: $1.72Q4 2025: $1.85Q1 2026: $1.79Q2 2026: $2.03Q3 2026: $1.88
Q4 2023: $2.31Q1 2024: $2.20Q2 2024: $1.79Q3 2024: $2.02Q4 2024: $1.61Q1 2025: $1.33Q2 2025: $1.51Q3 2025: $1.72Q4 2025: $1.85Q1 2026: $1.79Q2 2026: $2.03Q3 2026: $1.88
QuarterTTM EPSYoY
Q3 2026$1.88+9.3%
Q2 2026$2.03+34%
Q1 2026$1.79+35%
Q4 2025$1.85+15%
Q3 2025$1.72-15%
Q2 2025$1.51-16%
Q1 2025$1.33-40%
Q4 2024$1.61-30%

HCXY's earnings per share have fallen from their peak: $1.88 over the past year, against $2.89 in mid-2021.

MS Earnings Per Share

Q4 2023: $5.18Q1 2024: $5.50Q2 2024: $6.08Q3 2024: $6.58Q4 2024: $7.95Q1 2025: $8.53Q2 2025: $8.84Q3 2025: $9.76Q4 2025: $10.21Q1 2026: $11.04Q2 2026: $12.37Q3 2026: $12.60Forward: $13.39
Q4 2023: $5.18Q1 2024: $5.50Q2 2024: $6.08Q3 2024: $6.58Q4 2024: $7.95Q1 2025: $8.53Q2 2025: $8.84Q3 2025: $9.76Q4 2025: $10.21Q1 2026: $11.04Q2 2026: $12.37Q3 2026: $12.60Forward: $13.39
QuarterTTM EPSYoY
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 HCXY on earnings, with more consistent year-over-year improvement.

HCXY Quarterly Revenue

Q4 2023: --Q1 2024: --Q2 2024: --Q3 2024: --Q4 2024: --Q1 2025: --Q2 2025: --Q3 2025: --Q4 2025: --Q1 2026: --Q2 2026: --Q3 2026: --
Q4 2023: --Q1 2024: --Q2 2024: --Q3 2024: --Q4 2024: --Q1 2025: --Q2 2025: --Q3 2025: --Q4 2025: --Q1 2026: --Q2 2026: --Q3 2026: --
QuarterRevenueYoY
Q3 2022$87.4M+52%
Q2 2022$21.7M-81%
Q1 2022$29.7M-70%
Q4 2021$40.2M-78%
Q3 2021$57.4M-23%
Q2 2021$115.3M+23%
Q1 2021$98.4M+2179%
Q4 2020$184.3M+145%

HCXY has the stronger quarterly revenue trend. Revenue is up 52% for HCXY versus up 12% for MS.

MS Quarterly Revenue

Q4 2023: $12.9BQ1 2024: $15.1BQ2 2024: $15BQ3 2024: $15.4BQ4 2024: $16.2BQ1 2025: $17.7BQ2 2025: $16.8BQ3 2025: $18.2BQ4 2025: $17.9BQ1 2026: $20.6BQ2 2026: $21.3BQ3 2026: $20.3B
Q4 2023: $12.9BQ1 2024: $15.1BQ2 2024: $15BQ3 2024: $15.4BQ4 2024: $16.2BQ1 2025: $17.7BQ2 2025: $16.8BQ3 2025: $18.2BQ4 2025: $17.9BQ1 2026: $20.6BQ2 2026: $21.3BQ3 2026: $20.3B
QuarterRevenueYoY
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.

HCXY Free Cash Flow

Q4 2023: $130MQ1 2024: −$241MQ2 2024: $59MQ3 2024: $93MQ4 2024: −$29MQ1 2025: −$222MQ2 2025: −$145MQ3 2025: −$3MQ4 2025: −$56MQ1 2026: −$231MQ2 2026: $298MQ3 2026: −$166M
Q4 2023: $130MQ1 2024: −$241MQ2 2024: $59MQ3 2024: $93MQ4 2024: −$29MQ1 2025: −$222MQ2 2025: −$145MQ3 2025: −$3MQ4 2025: −$56MQ1 2026: −$231MQ2 2026: $298MQ3 2026: −$166M
QuarterFree cash flowYoY
Q3 2026-$165.6M-$162.4M
Q2 2026$297.9M+$442.8M
Q1 2026-$230.7M-$8.4M
Q4 2025-$55.6M-$26.4M
Q3 2025-$3.2M-103%
Q2 2025-$144.8M-345%
Q1 2025-$222.2M+$19M
Q4 2024-$29.2M-122%

HCXY's free cash flow was −$154M over the past year, against −$399M the year before. Free cash flow isn't a meaningful measure for financial services companies like HCXY.

MS Free Cash Flow

Q4 2023: −$17.8BQ1 2024: $4.4BQ2 2024: $2.5BQ3 2024: −$17.3BQ4 2024: $11.8BQ1 2025: −$24BQ2 2025: $11.8BQ3 2025: −$3.3BQ4 2025: −$2.4BQ1 2026: −$7.1BQ2 2026: −$2.7BQ3 2026: −$46B
Q4 2023: −$17.8BQ1 2024: $4.4BQ2 2024: $2.5BQ3 2024: −$17.3BQ4 2024: $11.8BQ1 2025: −$24BQ2 2025: $11.8BQ3 2025: −$3.3BQ4 2025: −$2.4BQ1 2026: −$7.1BQ2 2026: −$2.7BQ3 2026: −$46B
QuarterFree cash flowYoY
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 has the edge over HCXY on cash flow, with more consistent year-over-year improvement.

HCXY Total Shares

Q4 2023: 145MQ1 2024: 158MQ2 2024: 161MQ3 2024: 162MQ4 2024: 162MQ1 2025: 175MQ2 2025: 191MQ3 2025: 194MQ4 2025: 189MQ1 2026: 197MQ2 2026: 200MQ3 2026: 200M
Q4 2023: 145MQ1 2024: 158MQ2 2024: 161MQ3 2024: 162MQ4 2024: 162MQ1 2025: 175MQ2 2025: 191MQ3 2025: 194MQ4 2025: 189MQ1 2026: 197MQ2 2026: 200MQ3 2026: 200M
PeriodChange %Net change
Quarterly+0.3%+501K shares
1 year+2.9%+5.7M shares
3 years+36%+53M shares
5 years+72%+83.8M shares
Available history+89%+94M shares

HCXY has 200M diluted shares, up 2.9% from a year ago.

MS Total Shares

Q4 2023: 1.6BQ1 2024: 1.6BQ2 2024: 1.6BQ3 2024: 1.6BQ4 2024: 1.6BQ1 2025: 1.6BQ2 2025: 1.6BQ3 2025: 1.6BQ4 2025: 1.6BQ1 2026: 1.6BQ2 2026: 1.6BQ3 2026: 1.6B
Q4 2023: 1.6BQ1 2024: 1.6BQ2 2024: 1.6BQ3 2024: 1.6BQ4 2024: 1.6BQ1 2025: 1.6BQ2 2025: 1.6BQ3 2025: 1.6BQ4 2025: 1.6BQ1 2026: 1.6BQ2 2026: 1.6BQ3 2026: 1.6B
PeriodChange %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 HCXY on shareholder dilution, with a more favorable share count trend.

HCXY Net Leverage

QuarterNet LeverageStatus
Q3 202233.8xHigh
Q2 2022100.4xHigh
Q1 202211.9xHigh
Q4 20216.4xHigh
Q3 20213.7xElevated
Q2 20213.4xElevated
Q1 20213.6xElevated
Q4 20204.8xHigh

HCXY's net debt is more than 20 years of its operating earnings (EBITDA), up from 3.7 years a year ago. Net leverage isn't a meaningful measure for financial services companies like HCXY.

MS Net Leverage

Q4 2023: 10.7xQ1 2024: 9.8xQ2 2024: 9.8xQ3 2024: 10.2xQ4 2024: 7.9xQ1 2025: 8.7xQ2 2025: 8.7xQ3 2025: 8.4xQ4 2025: 8.6xQ1 2026: 8.2xQ2 2026: 7.3xQ3 2026: 7.8x
Q4 2023: 10.7xQ1 2024: 9.8xQ2 2024: 9.8xQ3 2024: 10.2xQ4 2024: 7.9xQ1 2025: 8.7xQ2 2025: 8.7xQ3 2025: 8.4xQ4 2025: 8.6xQ1 2026: 8.2xQ2 2026: 7.3xQ3 2026: 7.8x
QuarterNet LeverageStatus
Q3 20267.8xHigh
Q2 20267.3xHigh
Q1 20268.2xHigh
Q4 20258.6xHigh
Q3 20258.4xHigh
Q2 20258.7xHigh
Q1 20258.7xHigh
Q4 20247.9xHigh

MS's net debt is about 7.8 years of its operating earnings (EBITDA), down from 8.4 years a year ago. Net leverage isn't a meaningful measure for financial services companies like MS.

HCXY Weekly Momentum

MetricValueStatus
RSI36.5Neutral
Stochastic36.7Neutral

HCXY's weekly RSI is 36 (neutral) and its Stochastic is 37 (neutral).

MS Weekly Momentum

MetricValueStatus
RSI45.0Neutral
Stochastic18.7Oversold

MS's weekly RSI is 45 (neutral) and its Stochastic is 19 (oversold).

HCXY PE vs Financial Services Sector

MetricHCXYSector medianRelative
PE13x13x1.8% below
PE %446319 pts below

HCXY has the edge over MS on valuation relative to its sector.

MS PE vs Financial Services Sector

MetricMSSector medianRelative
PE15x13x15% above
PE %59634 pts below

MS is trading at 15x earnings, a 15% premium to the Financial Services sector's median of 13x.

HCXY Weekly Moving Averages

Moving averageMA priceRelative
8 week MA$24.40.8% below
20 week MA$24.72.2% below
50 week MA$25.03.2% below
100 week MA$25.03.4% below
200 week MA$24.82.7% below

HCXY is in a downtrend: it's below all five of its weekly moving averages, and 2.7% below its 200-week average.

MS Weekly Moving Averages

Moving averageMA priceRelative
8 week MA$186.51.5% above
20 week MA$203.36.9% below
50 week MA$191.91.4% below
100 week MA$164.915% above
200 week MA$129.346% above

MS has the edge over HCXY on trend strength, trading above more of its moving averages.

HCXY Yearly ROI

YearStart priceEnd priceROI
2020$26.3$26.8+2%
2021$26.8$26.4-1.5%
2022$26.4$23.9-9.7%
2023$23.9$25.3+5.9%
2024$25.3$24.9-1.2%
2025$24.9$25.3+1.5%
2026 YTD$25.3$24.2-4.5%

HCXY has finished lower in three of the last six years. It's down 4.5% so far in 2026.

MS Yearly ROI

YearStart priceEnd priceROI
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 the edge over HCXY on returns for 2026, with the stronger performance.

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