ARES vs. MS: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
UpdatedHere’s a clear look at ARES and MS, comparing key factors like performance, valuation metrics, dividends, and financial strength. It’s built for investors or anyone curious to see how these two stocks match up.
Company Overview
MS stands out with 201.02 billion USD in market value—about 5.88× ARES’s market cap of 34.18 billion USD.
With betas of 1.42 for ARES and 1.30 for MS, both show similar volatility profiles relative to the overall market.
| Symbol | ARES | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Ares Management Corporation | Morgan Stanley |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| Industry | Asset Management | Financial - Capital Markets |
| CEO | Mr. Michael J. Arougheti | Mr. Edward N. Pick |
| Price | 158.98 USD | 125.3 USD |
| Market Cap | 34.18 billion USD | 201.02 billion USD |
| Beta | 1.42 | 1.30 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | May 2, 2014 | February 23, 1993 |
| ADR | No | No |
Performance Comparison
This chart compares the performance of ARES and MS over the past year by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each (starting one year ago).
Hover over the lines to see the investment’s value and total return (%) at specific dates.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Valuation Metrics Comparison
The section examines key financial ratios to assess the valuation of ARES and MS based on earnings, cash flow, sales, and book value. Pay attention to the following notable points where extreme values stand out.
- MS reports a negative Price-to-Free Cash Flow ratio of -95.72, showing a cash flow shortfall that could threaten its operational sustainability, while ARES at 6.22 maintains positive cash flow.
| Symbol | ARES | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 64.72 | 13.89 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 2.92 | 1.97 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 6.95 | 1.90 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 7.47 | 1.90 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 6.22 | -95.72 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 20.91 | 20.41 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 6.97 | 4.60 |
| EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM) | 6.23 | -231.32 |
Dividend Comparison
Both ARES and MS offer similar dividend yields (2.46% vs. 2.95%), indicating comparable approaches to balancing income and growth.
| Symbol | ARES | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.46% | 2.95% |
Financial Strength Metrics Comparison
This section dives into the financial resilience of ARES and MS, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.
- With current ratios of 0.90 and 0.66, both ARES and MS have less current assets than short-term liabilities, which could strain their working capital and force reliance on additional financing.
- MS posts a quick ratio of 0.66, indicating limited coverage of short-term debts from its most liquid assets—while ARES at 0.90 enjoys stronger liquidity resilience.
- MS is highly leveraged (debt-to-equity ratio 3.45), elevating both potential gains and risks, compared to ARES at 0.15, which maintains a steadier capital structure.
- MS’s low interest coverage (0.41) means it doesn't cover interest from operating earnings. ARES (at 1.95) meets its interest obligations.
| Symbol | ARES | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 0.90 | 0.66 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.90 | 0.66 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.15 | 3.45 |
| Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM) | 0.03 | 0.30 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 1.95 | 0.41 |