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Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS)

This page compares Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) with Morgan Stanley (MS) using historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation metrics.

Company Profile

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) and Morgan Stanley (MS) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but BRK.B is classified in Financial Services while MS is classified in Capital Markets.

SymbolBRK.BMS
Company NameBerkshire Hathaway Inc.Morgan Stanley
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupFinancial ServicesFinancial Services
GICS IndustryFinancial ServicesCapital Markets
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-Sector HoldingsInvestment Banking & Brokerage
Market Capitalization1,036.28 billion USD299.02 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMay 9, 1996February 23, 1993
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Historical Performance

Morgan Stanley (MS) trades around 6.99M shares per day on average, while Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) sees only 0.00M — a volume gap that can matter for position sizing, exit liquidity, and order execution.

BRK.B
MS
Loading price history…
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Historical Performance at a Glance

SymbolBRK.BMS
5-Day Price Return-0.95%-2.19%
13-Week Price Return-4.54%10.52%
26-Week Price Return-3.37%13.86%
52-Week Price Return-6.07%44.89%
Month-to-Date Return1.22%-0.53%
Year-to-Date Return-4.53%6.79%
10-Day Avg. Volume0.00M5.39M
3-Month Avg. Volume0.00M6.99M
3-Month Volatility15.45%30.50%
Beta0.221.22

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 10.31% and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 16.32% post Return on Equity (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on this measure.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

10.31%

Max
47.95%
Q3
23.50%
Median
14.09%
Q1
6.10%
Min
-18.72%

MS

Financial Services industry group

16.32%

Max
47.95%
Q3
23.50%
Median
14.09%
Q1
6.10%
Min
-18.72%
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 19.31% and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 14.65% post Net Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on net profitability.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

19.31%

Max
53.82%
Q3
25.02%
Median
14.32%
Q1
5.67%
Min
-19.79%

MS

Financial Services industry group

14.65%

Max
53.82%
Q3
25.02%
Median
14.32%
Q1
5.67%
Min
-19.79%
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 12.52% and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 18.94% post Operating Profit Margin (TTM) near their industry mid-ranges, so neither company stands out strongly from peers on operating profitability.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

12.52%

Max
73.39%
Q3
36.76%
Median
20.24%
Q1
11.35%
Min
-19.92%

MS

Financial Services industry group

18.94%

Max
73.39%
Q3
36.76%
Median
20.24%
Q1
11.35%
Min
-19.92%
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability at a Glance

SymbolBRK.BMS
Return on Equity (TTM)10.31%16.32%
Return on Assets (TTM)5.96%1.27%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)19.31%14.65%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)12.52%18.94%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)24.81%55.61%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Current Ratio (MRQ) isn’t a meaningful figure for either Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) in Financial Services or Morgan Stanley (MS) in Financial Services under our convention.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

1.23

Max
4.77
Q3
2.27
Median
1.19
Q1
0.59
Min
0.00

MS

Financial Services industry group

0.31

Max
4.77
Q3
2.27
Median
1.19
Q1
0.59
Min
0.00
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) isn’t a meaningful figure for either Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) in Financial Services or Morgan Stanley (MS) in Financial Services under our convention.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

0.18

Max
8.59
Q3
3.66
Median
1.22
Q1
0.23
Min
0.00

MS

Financial Services industry group

8.41

Max
8.59
Q3
3.66
Median
1.22
Q1
0.23
Min
0.00
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) isn’t a meaningful figure for either Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) in Financial Services or Morgan Stanley (MS) in Financial Services under our convention.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

0.57

Max
33.37
Q3
20.09
Median
5.74
Q1
1.25
Min
-3.76

MS

Financial Services industry group

1.25

Max
33.37
Q3
20.09
Median
5.74
Q1
1.25
Min
-3.76
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength at a Glance

SymbolBRK.BMS
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.230.31
Quick Ratio (MRQ)0.990.31
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)0.188.41
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)0.571.25

Growth

Revenue Growth

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth at a Glance

SymbolBRK.BMS
Revenue Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)4.40%13.78%
Revenue Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)1.11%12.28%
3-Year Revenue CAGR7.14%21.98%
5-Year Revenue CAGR8.63%17.86%

EPS Growth

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth at a Glance

SymbolBRK.BMS
EPS Growth (MRQ vs Prior YoY)119.53%30.98%
EPS Growth (TTM vs Prior YoY)-10.46%28.42%
3-Year EPS CAGR--18.05%
5-Year EPS CAGR11.79%9.36%

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — often a deliberate choice to reinvest earnings rather than return cash. Meanwhile Morgan Stanley (MS) reports a yield of 2.20%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

0.00%

Max
9.39%
Q3
3.82%
Median
1.44%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MS

Financial Services industry group

2.20%

Max
9.39%
Q3
3.82%
Median
1.44%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Morgan Stanley (MS) reports a payout of 36.91%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

0.00%

Max
119.94%
Q3
55.73%
Median
23.88%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MS

Financial Services industry group

36.91%

Max
119.94%
Q3
55.73%
Median
23.88%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend at a Glance

SymbolBRK.BMS
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%2.20%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%36.91%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 14.39 and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 16.74 post Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing earnings multiple.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

14.39

Max
54.13
Q3
28.05
Median
16.19
Q1
10.16
Min
1.17

MS

Financial Services industry group

16.74

Max
54.13
Q3
28.05
Median
16.19
Q1
10.16
Min
1.17
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 2.78 and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 2.45 post Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on trailing revenue multiple.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

2.78

Max
9.20
Q3
4.55
Median
2.46
Q1
1.35
Min
0.02

MS

Financial Services industry group

2.45

Max
9.20
Q3
4.55
Median
2.46
Q1
1.35
Min
0.02
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

Both Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) at 1.42 and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 2.28 post Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) near the typical industry midpoint — neither company stands out strongly from peers on book-value multiple.

BRK.B

Financial Services industry group

1.42

Max
9.08
Q3
4.33
Median
2.15
Q1
1.08
Min
0.20

MS

Financial Services industry group

2.28

Max
9.08
Q3
4.33
Median
2.15
Q1
1.08
Min
0.20
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation at a Glance

SymbolBRK.BMS
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)14.3916.74
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)2.782.45
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)1.422.28
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)43.6813.79