MS
Morgan Stanley
MS has lower modeled downside risk, despite its lower overall score.
VIRT
Virtu Financial, Inc.
VIRT has a slight edge over MS overall, supported by stronger fundamentals and stronger valuation.
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.
VIRT Fundamentals
| Metric | Status |
|---|---|
| Healthy | |
| Strong | |
| N/A | |
| N/A |
VIRT's revenue and profitability are currently healthy. Free cash flow and net leverage aren't meaningful measures for financial services companies like VIRT.
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.
VIRT PE Valuation
| Level | PE | Price | Vs current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheap | 6.6x | $45.25 | -24% |
| Forward | 8.2x | $59.61 | — |
| Current | 8.8x | $59.61 | — |
| Fair | 8.9x | $60.51 | +1.5% |
| Expensive | 15x | $103 | +72% |
Historical ranges are pointers, not guarantees.
VIRT 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 VIRT on the outlook, with more favorable profitability expectations.
VIRT Forward outlook
| Metric | Outlook |
|---|---|
| Improving | |
| Growth | |
| Strong growth | |
| Weakening | |
| Limited | |
| Moderate |
Analysts expect earnings and revenue growth for VIRT, 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.
VIRT Earnings Per Share
| Quarter | TTM EPS | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Forward | $7.30 | +7.1% |
| Q3 2026 | $6.81 | +47% |
| Q2 2026 | $6.02 | +37% |
| Q1 2026 | $6.04 | +75% |
| Q4 2025 | $5.13 | +73% |
| Q3 2025 | $4.62 | +130% |
| Q2 2025 | $4.40 | +120% |
| Q1 2025 | $3.46 | +139% |
| Q4 2024 | $2.97 | +109% |
VIRT has the edge over MS on earnings, with stronger typical year-over-year growth.
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 has the edge over VIRT on profitability, with a higher operating margin.
VIRT Quarterly Revenue
| Quarter | Revenue | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | $1.2B | +40% |
| Q2 2026 | $1.2B | +19% |
| Q1 2026 | $1.1B | +31% |
| Q4 2025 | $969.9M | +16% |
| Q3 2025 | $824.8M | +17% |
| Q2 2025 | $999.6M | +44% |
| Q1 2025 | $837.9M | +30% |
| Q4 2024 | $834.3M | +56% |
VIRT has the edge over MS on sales, with stronger typical year-over-year growth.
| Quarter | Margin | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | 29% | +6.9 points |
| Q2 2026 | 29% | -5.9 points |
| Q1 2026 | 37% | +11 points |
| Q4 2025 | 35% | +11 points |
| Q3 2025 | 22% | +1 points |
| Q2 2025 | 35% | +12 points |
| Q1 2025 | 27% | +4.9 points |
| Q4 2024 | 24% | +21 points |
VIRT's operating margin was 29% last quarter, up 6.9 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.
VIRT Free Cash Flow
| Quarter | Free cash flow | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | $281M | +$357.7M |
| Q2 2026 | $98.1M | +70% |
| Q1 2026 | -$5.8M | -162% |
| Q4 2025 | $505.5M | +29% |
| Q3 2025 | -$76.7M | -172% |
| Q2 2025 | $57.6M | -88% |
| Q1 2025 | $9.2M | +$407.5M |
| Q4 2024 | $391.7M | +17% |
VIRT 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 VIRT on shareholder dilution, with a more favorable share count trend.
VIRT Total Shares
| Period | Change % | Net change |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly | +1% | +861K shares |
| 1 year | +4.3% | +3.7M shares |
| 3 years | -5.3% | -4.9M shares |
| 5 years | -24% | -28.2M shares |
| Available history | -22% | -25.5M shares |
VIRT has 88M diluted shares, up 4.3% from a year ago.
| Quarter | Spent |
|---|---|
| Q3 2026 | — |
| Q2 2026 | — |
| Q1 2026 | — |
| Q4 2025 | — |
| Q3 2025 | — |
| Q2 2025 | — |
| Q1 2025 | $1.6M |
| Q2 2024 | — |
VIRT hasn't bought back shares in the past year.
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.
VIRT Net Leverage
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).
VIRT Weekly Momentum
| Metric | Value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| RSI | 54.8 | Neutral |
| Stochastic | 24.4 | Neutral |
VIRT's weekly RSI is 55 (neutral) and its Stochastic is 24 (neutral).
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.
VIRT PE vs Financial Services Sector
| Metric | VIRT | Sector median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|
| PE | 8.8x | 13x | 33% below |
| PE % | 47 | 63 | 16 pts below |
VIRT has the edge over MS on valuation relative to its sector.
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.
VIRT Weekly Moving Averages
| Moving average | MA price | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| 8 week MA | $56.2 | 6% above |
| 20 week MA | $59.2 | 0.6% above |
| 50 week MA | $50.2 | 19% above |
| 100 week MA | $44.3 | 34% above |
| 200 week MA | $33.2 | 80% above |
VIRT has the edge over MS on trend strength, trading above more of its moving averages.
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.
VIRT Yearly ROI
| Year | Start price | End price | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $16.0 | $25.1 | +57% |
| 2021 | $25.1 | $28.4 | +13% |
| 2022 | $28.4 | $20.8 | -27% |
| 2023 | $20.8 | $20.3 | -2.8% |
| 2024 | $20.3 | $36.6 | +81% |
| 2025 | $36.6 | $34.1 | -6.8% |
| 2026 YTD | $34.1 | $59.6 | +75% |
VIRT has the edge over MS on returns for 2026, with the stronger performance.