APLD vs. MS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at APLD and MS, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
MS’s market capitalization of 231.25 billion USD is significantly greater than APLD’s 2.35 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.
APLD’s beta of 5.87 points to significantly higher volatility compared to MS (beta: 1.29), suggesting APLD has greater potential for both gains and losses relative to market movements.
| Symbol | APLD | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Applied Digital Corporation | Morgan Stanley |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Technology | Financial Services |
| Industry | Information Technology Services | Financial - Capital Markets |
| CEO | Wesley Cummins | Edward N. Pick |
| Price | 10.45 USD | 144.14 USD |
| Market Cap | 2.35 billion USD | 231.25 billion USD |
| Beta | 5.87 | 1.29 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NYSE |
| IPO Date | April 13, 2022 | February 23, 1993 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of APLD and MS by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
APLD
-74.91%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 47.24%
- Q3
- 23.27%
- Median
- 12.85%
- Q1
- 2.22%
- Min
- -26.63%
APLD has a negative Return on Equity of -74.91%. This indicates the company is generating a loss for its shareholders, which can be a result of unprofitability or negative shareholder equity and is often a sign of financial distress.
MS
14.01%
Financial - Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 42.02%
- Q3
- 20.69%
- Median
- 13.73%
- Q1
- 3.33%
- Min
- -21.32%
MS’s Return on Equity of 14.01% is on par with the norm for the Financial - Capital Markets industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Return on Invested Capital
APLD
-4.16%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 28.29%
- Q3
- 13.19%
- Median
- 7.24%
- Q1
- 0.23%
- Min
- -18.82%
APLD has a negative Return on Invested Capital of -4.16%. This indicates that its operations are failing to generate a profit on the total capital invested, signaling significant inefficiency or value destruction.
MS
2.64%
Financial - Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 30.24%
- Q3
- 13.34%
- Median
- 6.20%
- Q1
- -1.71%
- Min
- -16.91%
Return on Invested Capital is often not a primary measure of capital efficiency in the Financial - Capital Markets industry.
Net Profit Margin
APLD
-109.99%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 20.47%
- Q3
- 11.62%
- Median
- 5.97%
- Q1
- 1.89%
- Min
- -4.62%
APLD has a negative Net Profit Margin of -109.99%, indicating the company is operating at a net loss as its expenses exceeded its revenues.
MS
13.52%
Financial - Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 28.67%
- Q3
- 13.52%
- Median
- 10.47%
- Q1
- 0.24%
- Min
- -9.55%
MS’s Net Profit Margin of 13.52% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Financial - Capital Markets industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin
APLD
-28.02%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 29.42%
- Q3
- 14.75%
- Median
- 8.92%
- Q1
- 2.62%
- Min
- -11.92%
APLD has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -28.02%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.
MS
17.73%
Financial - Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 56.86%
- Q3
- 25.29%
- Median
- 15.90%
- Q1
- 0.51%
- Min
- -19.18%
MS’s Operating Profit Margin of 17.73% is around the midpoint for the Financial - Capital Markets industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | APLD | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | -74.91% | 14.01% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | -14.25% | 1.18% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | -4.16% | 2.64% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | -109.99% | 13.52% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | -28.02% | 17.73% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 5.58% | 56.30% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
APLD
0.70
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 3.41
- Q3
- 2.37
- Median
- 1.58
- Q1
- 1.20
- Min
- 0.00
APLD’s Current Ratio of 0.70 falls into the lower quartile for the Information Technology Services industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
MS
0.66
Financial - Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 4.60
- Q3
- 3.24
- Median
- 1.32
- Q1
- 0.96
- Min
- 0.05
For the Financial - Capital Markets industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
APLD
2.00
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 2.63
- Q3
- 1.16
- Median
- 0.48
- Q1
- 0.09
- Min
- 0.01
APLD’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Information Technology Services industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.00. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
MS
3.45
Financial - Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 3.63
- Q3
- 1.68
- Median
- 0.37
- Q1
- 0.09
- Min
- 0.00
MS’s leverage is in the upper quartile of the Financial - Capital Markets industry, with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 3.45. While this approach can boost equity growth, it also exposes the company to greater financial vulnerability.
Interest Coverage Ratio
APLD
-1.48
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 17.52
- Q3
- 10.04
- Median
- 4.66
- Q1
- 0.80
- Min
- -10.50
APLD has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -1.48. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
MS
0.41
Financial - Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 12.71
- Q3
- 7.94
- Median
- 1.92
- Q1
- 0.24
- Min
- -7.71
The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Financial - Capital Markets industry.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | APLD | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 0.70 | 0.66 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.70 | 0.66 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 2.00 | 3.45 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.58 | 0.30 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | -20.07 | 11.97 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -1.48 | 0.41 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for APLD and MS. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
APLD
0.00%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 16.57%
- Q3
- 1.39%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
APLD currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
MS
2.57%
Financial - Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 5.86%
- Q3
- 1.74%
- Median
- 0.79%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 2.57%, MS offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Financial - Capital Markets industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
Dividend Payout Ratio
APLD
-0.50%
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 112.81%
- Q3
- 20.98%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
APLD has a negative Dividend Payout Ratio of -0.50%. This typically means the company paid a dividend despite reporting a net loss, a situation that may signal financial instability.
MS
42.94%
Financial - Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 128.06%
- Q3
- 43.11%
- Median
- 12.56%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
MS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 42.94% is within the typical range for the Financial - Capital Markets industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | APLD | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 2.57% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | -0.50% | 42.94% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
APLD
-9.56
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 49.12
- Q3
- 36.91
- Median
- 24.84
- Q1
- 15.88
- Min
- 1.55
APLD has a negative P/E Ratio of -9.56. This occurs when a company has negative earnings (a net loss), making the ratio unsuitable for valuation analysis.
MS
15.97
Financial - Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 42.65
- Q3
- 29.09
- Median
- 20.52
- Q1
- 14.58
- Min
- 8.28
MS’s P/E Ratio of 15.97 is within the middle range for the Financial - Capital Markets industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
APLD
0.13
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 5.35
- Q3
- 3.79
- Median
- 2.23
- Q1
- 1.19
- Min
- 0.03
In the lower quartile for the Information Technology Services industry, APLD’s Forward PEG Ratio of 0.13 is a positive indicator. It suggests that the stock may be attractively valued relative to its expected earnings growth.
MS
2.27
Financial - Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 4.05
- Q3
- 2.46
- Median
- 1.52
- Q1
- 0.78
- Min
- 0.02
MS’s Forward PEG Ratio of 2.27 is within the middle range of its peers in the Financial - Capital Markets industry. This suggests a reasonable balance between the stock’s price and its expected growth, aligning with sector valuation norms.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
APLD
10.63
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 8.15
- Q3
- 4.17
- Median
- 2.14
- Q1
- 1.00
- Min
- 0.10
With a P/S Ratio of 10.63, APLD trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Information Technology Services industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
MS
2.19
Financial - Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 14.34
- Q3
- 7.63
- Median
- 2.98
- Q1
- 1.50
- Min
- 0.04
The P/S Ratio is often not a primary valuation tool in the Financial - Capital Markets industry.
Price-to-Book Ratio
APLD
4.67
Information Technology Services Industry
- Max
- 11.78
- Q3
- 6.14
- Median
- 3.23
- Q1
- 1.97
- Min
- 0.42
The P/B Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric for the Information Technology Services industry.
MS
2.18
Financial - Capital Markets Industry
- Max
- 9.60
- Q3
- 6.00
- Median
- 2.91
- Q1
- 1.84
- Min
- 0.53
MS’s P/B Ratio of 2.18 is within the conventional range for the Financial - Capital Markets industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | APLD | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | -9.56 | 15.97 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 0.13 | 2.27 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 10.63 | 2.19 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 4.67 | 2.18 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -5.02 | -110.12 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | -71.12 | 21.68 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 14.81 | 4.88 |