MS
Morgan Stanley
MS has a slight edge over RPC overall, supported by stronger modeled upside and lower modeled downside.
RPC
Ridgepost Capital, Inc.
RPC offers stronger fundamentals, but that advantage does not outweigh its weaker overall profile.
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.
RPC Fundamentals
| Metric | Status |
|---|---|
| Healthy | |
| Strong | |
| N/A | |
| N/A |
RPC's revenue and profitability are currently healthy. Free cash flow and net leverage aren't meaningful measures for financial services companies like RPC.
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'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.
RPC PE Valuation
| Level | PE | Price | Vs current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward | 8.8x | $9.52 | — |
| Current | 31x | $9.52 | — |
| Cheap | 35x | $10.72 | +13% |
| Fair | 39x | $12.22 | +28% |
| Expensive | 47x | $14.58 | +53% |
Historical ranges are pointers, not guarantees.
RPC has the edge over MS in the historical PE scenario, which offers more potential upside but is not a forecast.
MS Forward outlook
| Metric | Outlook |
|---|---|
| Improving | |
| Growth | |
| Growth | |
| Improving | |
| Limited | |
| Moderate |
MS has the edge over RPC on the outlook, with more favorable profitability expectations.
RPC Forward outlook
| Metric | Outlook |
|---|---|
| Strongly improving | |
| Growth | |
| Growth | |
| Weakening | |
| Limited | |
| High |
Analysts expect earnings and revenue growth for RPC, but weaker profitability.
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.
RPC Earnings Per Share
| Quarter | TTM EPS | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Forward | $1.08 | +248% |
| Q3 2026 | $0.31 | +121% |
| Q2 2026 | $0.24 | +85% |
| Q1 2026 | $0.21 | +31% |
| Q4 2025 | $0.17 | +6.3% |
| Q3 2025 | $0.14 | +56% |
| Q2 2025 | $0.13 | +1200% |
| Q1 2025 | $0.16 | +$0.19 |
| Q4 2024 | $0.16 | +$0.22 |
RPC's earnings per share have climbed steadily: $0.31 over the past year, up 121% from the year before, and higher year over year for eight quarters in a row.
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 has the edge over RPC on sales, with more consistent year-over-year improvement.
| 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 has the edge over RPC on profitability, with a higher operating margin.
RPC Quarterly Revenue
| Quarter | Revenue | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | $88.9M | +17% |
| Q2 2026 | $80.9M | +11% |
| Q1 2026 | $75M | +11% |
| Q4 2025 | $81M | -4.7% |
| Q3 2025 | $75.9M | +2.3% |
| Q2 2025 | $72.7M | +2.3% |
| Q1 2025 | $67.7M | +2.3% |
| Q4 2024 | $85M | +35% |
RPC's revenue is growing: $89M last quarter, up 17% from the same quarter a year ago.
| Quarter | Margin | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 29% | +15 points |
| Q2 2026 | 22% | -2.5 points |
| Q1 2026 | 26% | +9.6 points |
| Q4 2025 | 32% | +5.1 points |
| Q3 2025 | 14% | +2.2 points |
| Q2 2025 | 24% | +0.7 points |
| Q1 2025 | 17% | -1.7 points |
| Q4 2024 | 27% | +18 points |
RPC's operating margin was 29% last quarter, up 15 points from the same quarter a year ago.
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.
RPC Free Cash Flow
| Quarter | Free cash flow | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | $33.6M | +$43.1M |
| Q2 2026 | $24.2M | +109% |
| Q1 2026 | $16.7M | +$22.7M |
| Q4 2025 | $22.1M | -18% |
| Q3 2025 | -$9.5M | -138% |
| Q2 2025 | $11.6M | -66% |
| Q1 2025 | -$6M | -156% |
| Q4 2024 | $26.8M | +1458% |
RPC 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 1.6B diluted shares, down 1.5% from a year ago.
RPC Total Shares
| Period | Change % | Net change |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly | -4.3% | -5.1M shares |
| 1 year | -2.9% | -3.4M shares |
| 3 years | -1.6% | -1.8M shares |
| 5 years | +74% | +48.7M shares |
RPC has the edge over MS on shareholder dilution, with a more favorable share count trend.
| Quarter | Spent |
|---|---|
| Q2 2023 | — |
| Q1 2023 | $851,000 |
| Q2 2021 | $1.2B |
| Q1 2021 | $868M |
| Q4 2020 | — |
| Q3 2020 | — |
| Q2 2020 | — |
| Q1 2020 | — |
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'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.
RPC Net Leverage
| Quarter | Net Leverage | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 3.9x | Elevated |
| Q2 2026 | 4.6x | High |
| Q1 2026 | 3.5x | Elevated |
| Q4 2025 | 3.8x | Elevated |
| Q3 2025 | 4.0x | High |
| Q2 2025 | 3.9x | Elevated |
| Q1 2025 | 3.3x | Elevated |
| Q4 2024 | 2.9x | Moderate |
RPC has the edge over MS on leverage, with a lower net debt burden relative to earnings.
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).
RPC Weekly Momentum
| Metric | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| RSI | 61.6 | Neutral |
| Stochastic | 85.1 | Overbought |
RPC's weekly RSI is 62 (neutral) and its Stochastic is 85 (overbought).
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 RPC on valuation relative to its sector.
RPC PE vs Financial Services Sector
| Metric | RPC | Sector median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 31x | 13x | 136% above |
| PE % | 0 | 64 | 64 pts below |
RPC is trading at 31x earnings, a 136% premium to the Financial Services sector's median of 13x, though its earnings don't support one.
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.
RPC Weekly Moving Averages
| Moving average | MA price | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| 8 week MA | $8.56 | 11% above |
| 20 week MA | $8.48 | 12% above |
| 50 week MA | $8.61 | 11% above |
| 100 week MA | $10.1 | 5.3% below |
| 200 week MA | $10.1 | 5.7% below |
RPC has bounced recently, but its long-term trend is still down: it's above its 8-, 20- and 50-week averages, but 5.7% below 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 RPC on returns for 2026, with the stronger performance.
RPC Yearly ROI
| Year | Start price | End price | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $12.0 | $12.6 | +5% |
| 2022 | $12.6 | $9.76 | -23% |
| 2023 | $9.76 | $10.2 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $10.2 | $12.6 | +23% |
| 2025 | $12.6 | $10.1 | -20% |
| 2026 YTD | $10.1 | $9.52 | -5.6% |
RPC has finished higher in three of the last five years. It's down 5.6% so far in 2026.