MS
Morgan Stanley
MS has the edge over NNI overall, supported by stronger modeled upside and stronger fundamentals.
NNI
Nelnet, Inc.
NNI trails on the overall score without a compensating advantage in the available component scores.
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.
NNI Fundamentals
| Metric | Status |
|---|---|
| Healthy | |
| Healthy | |
| N/A | |
| N/A |
NNI's revenue and profitability are currently healthy. Free cash flow and net leverage aren't meaningful measures for financial services companies like NNI.
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 NNI in the historical PE scenario, which offers more potential upside but is not a forecast.
NNI PE Valuation
| Level | PE | Price | Vs current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheap | 7.1x | $53.77 | -57% |
| Fair | 15x | $110 | -12% |
| Forward | 15x | $125 | — |
| Current | 16x | $125 | — |
| Expensive | 26x | $200 | +60% |
Historical ranges are pointers, not guarantees.
NNI's PE is in its fair range at 16x. On analysts' estimates for next year's earnings, today's price would be 15x.
MS Forward outlook
| Metric | Outlook |
|---|---|
| Improving | |
| Growth | |
| Growth | |
| Improving | |
| Limited | |
| Moderate |
MS has the edge over NNI on the outlook, with more favorable earnings and profitability expectations.
NNI Forward outlook
| Metric | Outlook |
|---|---|
| Improving | |
| Stable | |
| Growth | |
| Weakening | |
| Limited | |
| High |
Analysts expect NNI's revenue to grow, but its profitability to weaken.
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's earnings per share have climbed steadily: $12.60 over the past year, up 29% from the year before, and higher year over year for 10 quarters in a row.
NNI Earnings Per Share
| Quarter | TTM EPS | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Forward | $8.43 | +11% |
| Q3 2026 | $7.57 | -36% |
| Q2 2026 | $8.38 | -7.4% |
| Q1 2026 | $11.50 | +117% |
| Q4 2025 | $11.79 | +135% |
| Q3 2025 | $11.92 | +291% |
| Q2 2025 | $9.05 | +116% |
| Q1 2025 | $5.31 | +43% |
| Q4 2024 | $5.02 | +105% |
NNI's earnings per share have fallen from their peak: $7.57 over the past year, against $13.43 in late 2022.
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.
NNI Quarterly Revenue
| Quarter | Revenue | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | $101.4M | +19% |
| Q2 2026 | $96M | +21% |
| Q1 2026 | $101.6M | +23% |
| Q4 2025 | $107.1M | +34% |
| Q3 2025 | $85.3M | +18% |
| Q2 2025 | $79.4M | +20% |
| Q1 2025 | $82.7M | +11% |
| Q4 2024 | $80.1M | +15% |
NNI has the edge over MS on sales, with stronger typical year-over-year growth.
| Quarter | Margin | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 80% | -80 points |
| Q2 2026 | 68% | -231 points |
| Q1 2026 | 74% | -54 points |
| Q4 2025 | 71% | -27 points |
| Q3 2025 | 160% | +163 points |
| Q2 2025 | 299% | +211 points |
| Q1 2025 | 128% | +1.5 points |
| Q4 2024 | 98% | +155 points |
NNI has the edge over MS on profitability, with a higher operating margin.
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.
NNI Free Cash Flow
| Quarter | Free cash flow | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | $187.9M | +87% |
| Q2 2026 | $71.6M | -8.3% |
| Q1 2026 | $61.6M | -30% |
| Q4 2025 | $130.1M | -34% |
| Q3 2025 | $100.8M | -24% |
| Q2 2025 | $78.1M | -36% |
| Q1 2025 | $87.8M | -53% |
| Q4 2024 | $197.9M | +239% |
NNI has the edge over MS on cash generation, producing positive trailing cash flow while its opponent burns cash.
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 NNI on shareholder dilution, with a more favorable share count trend.
NNI Total Shares
| Period | Change % | Net change |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly | -0.5% | -192K shares |
| 1 year | -1.3% | -471K shares |
| 3 years | -4.4% | -1.7M shares |
| 5 years | -7.1% | -2.8M shares |
| Available history | -10% | -4.2M shares |
NNI has 36M diluted shares, down 1.3% from a year ago, with $110M in buybacks over the past year.
| Quarter | Spent |
|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | $53.1M |
| Q2 2026 | $24.4M |
| Q1 2026 | $16.3M |
| Q4 2025 | $16.3M |
| Q3 2025 | $27.3M |
| Q2 2025 | $21.4M |
| Q1 2025 | $4.5M |
| Q4 2024 | $403,000 |
NNI spent $110M buying back its own shares over the past year, up 106% from the year before.
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 NNI on leverage, with a lower net debt burden relative to earnings.
NNI Net Leverage
| Quarter | Net Leverage | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 18.1x | High |
| Q2 2026 | 16.6x | High |
| Q1 2026 | 12.8x | High |
| Q4 2025 | 12.1x | High |
| Q3 2025 | 12.2x | High |
| Q2 2025 | 15.7x | High |
| Q1 2025 | 26.4x | High |
| Q4 2024 | 25.5x | High |
NNI's net debt is about 18 years of its operating earnings (EBITDA), up from 12 years a year ago. Net leverage isn't a meaningful measure for financial services companies like NNI.
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).
NNI Weekly Momentum
| Metric | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| RSI | 45.5 | Neutral |
| Stochastic | 32.3 | Neutral |
NNI's weekly RSI is 46 (neutral) and its Stochastic is 32 (neutral).
MS PE vs Financial Services Sector
| Metric | MS | Sector median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 15x | 13x | 15% above |
| PE % | 59 | 63 | 4 pts below |
MS has the edge over NNI on valuation relative to its sector.
NNI PE vs Financial Services Sector
| Metric | NNI | Sector median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 16x | 13x | 27% above |
| PE % | 57 | 63 | 6 pts below |
NNI is trading at 16x earnings, a 27% premium to the Financial Services sector's median of 13x.
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 has the edge over NNI on trend strength, trading above more of its moving averages.
NNI Weekly Moving Averages
| Moving average | MA price | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| 8 week MA | $125.2 | 0.3% below |
| 20 week MA | $128.4 | 2.8% below |
| 50 week MA | $130.4 | 4.3% below |
| 100 week MA | $124.3 | 0.5% above |
| 200 week MA | $110.7 | 13% above |
NNI has pulled back, but its long-term trend is still up: it's below its 8-, 20- and 50-week averages, but 13% above its 200-week average.
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 the edge over NNI on returns for 2026, with the stronger performance.
NNI Yearly ROI
| Year | Start price | End price | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $58.5 | $68.7 | +17% |
| 2021 | $68.7 | $97.6 | +42% |
| 2022 | $97.6 | $89.6 | -8.2% |
| 2023 | $89.6 | $88.2 | -1.5% |
| 2024 | $88.2 | $106.2 | +20% |
| 2025 | $106.2 | $135.7 | +28% |
| 2026 YTD | $135.7 | $124.8 | -8% |
NNI has finished higher in four of the last six years. It's down 8% so far in 2026.