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BX vs. MS: Blackstone vs. Morgan Stanley Stock Comparison

How do Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS) both belong to the Capital Markets industry, though BX is classified under Asset Management & Custody Banks while MS falls under Investment Banking & Brokerage.

Company profile comparison for Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS)
Profile ItemBXMS
NameBlackstone Inc.Morgan Stanley Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorFinancialsFinancials
GICS Industry GroupFinancial ServicesFinancial Services
GICS IndustryCapital MarketsCapital Markets
GICS Sub-IndustryAsset Management & Custody BanksInvestment Banking & Brokerage
Market Capitalization148.61 billion USD283.60 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateJune 22, 2007February 23, 1993
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

BX
MS
GSPC
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Blackstone (BX) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS)
MetricBXMS
Total Return (1Y)-11.29%19.44%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)12.22%40.69%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)0.26%17.38%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

BX
MS
GSPC
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Blackstone (BX) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS)
MetricBXMS
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)38.63%29.73%
Beta (5Y)1.501.21
Max Drawdown (5Y)-49.29%-32.38%
Avg. Volume (3M)4.75M5.37M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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BX and MS are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS)
MetricBXMS
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.400.51
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.570.73

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Blackstone (BX) at 32.38% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Morgan Stanley (MS) at 18.04% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for BX.

BX

Financial Services industry group

32.38%

Max
44.78%
BX
32.38%
Q3
21.85%
Median
12.91%
Q1
4.48%
Min
-18.71%

MS

Financial Services industry group

18.04%

Max
44.78%
Q3
21.85%
MS
18.04%
Median
12.91%
Q1
4.48%
Min
-18.71%
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Blackstone (BX) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their ROE against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both Blackstone (BX) at 22.99% and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 25.63% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

BX

Financial Services industry group

22.99%

Max
62.84%
Q3
28.05%
BX
22.99%
Median
15.36%
Q1
4.82%
Min
-28.52%

MS

Financial Services industry group

25.63%

Max
62.84%
Q3
28.05%
MS
25.63%
Median
15.36%
Q1
4.82%
Min
-28.52%
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Blackstone (BX) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their net margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Blackstone (BX) at 48.86% and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 39.00% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

BX

Financial Services industry group

48.86%

Max
107.33%
Q3
55.90%
BX
48.86%
Median
30.09%
Q1
14.60%
Min
-44.34%

MS

Financial Services industry group

39.00%

Max
107.33%
Q3
55.90%
MS
39.00%
Median
30.09%
Q1
14.60%
Min
-44.34%
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Blackstone (BX) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their operating margin against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS)
MetricBXMS
ROE (TTM)32.38%18.04%
ROA (TTM)14.27%1.35%
Net Margin (TTM)22.99%25.63%
Operating Margin (TTM)48.86%39.00%
Gross Margin (TTM)----

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Blackstone (BX) at 13.54% and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 14.48% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Blackstone (BX) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both Blackstone (BX) at 6.91% and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 28.43% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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Blackstone (BX) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS)
MetricBXMS
Revenue Growth (YoY)13.54%14.48%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)20.27%9.52%
EPS Growth (YoY)6.91%28.43%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)17.92%18.41%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Blackstone (BX) in Financial Services and Morgan Stanley (MS) in Financial Services both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Blackstone (BX) in Financial Services and Morgan Stanley (MS) in Financial Services run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS)
MetricBXMS
Current Ratio (MRQ)----
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA----

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Blackstone (BX) at 4.22% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Morgan Stanley (MS) at 2.40% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, BX the richer one.

BX

Financial Services industry group

4.22%

Max
9.77%
BX
4.22%
Q3
3.92%
Median
1.09%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MS

Financial Services industry group

2.40%

Max
9.77%
Q3
3.92%
MS
2.40%
Median
1.09%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Blackstone (BX) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Blackstone (BX) reports payout ratio above 100% at 111.19%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Morgan Stanley (MS) reports 32.91%, ranking against industry peers normally.

BX

Financial Services industry group

111.19%

Max
241.07%
BX
111.19%
Q3
97.36%
Median
25.77%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MS

Financial Services industry group

32.91%

Max
241.07%
Q3
97.36%
MS
32.91%
Median
25.77%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Blackstone (BX) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS)
MetricBXMS
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.22%2.40%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)111.19%32.91%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Morgan Stanley (MS) at 14.39 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Blackstone (BX) at 26.61 sits in the richer quartile — BX needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

BX

Financial Services industry group

26.61

Max
45.85
BX
26.61
Q3
24.64
Median
15.37
Q1
9.68
Min
0.16

MS

Financial Services industry group

14.39

Max
45.85
Q3
24.64
Median
15.37
MS
14.39
Q1
9.68
Min
0.16
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Blackstone (BX) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Morgan Stanley (MS) at 3.55 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Blackstone (BX) at 9.61 clears its benchmark range — BX looks notably rich on sales.

BX

Financial Services industry group

9.61

BX
9.61
Max
9.23
Q3
4.57
Median
2.72
Q1
1.28
Min
-0.55

MS

Financial Services industry group

3.55

Max
9.23
Q3
4.57
MS
3.55
Median
2.72
Q1
1.28
Min
-0.55
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Blackstone (BX) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Morgan Stanley (MS) at 2.65 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Blackstone (BX) at 10.81 prices above its benchmark range — BX looks rich relative to book.

BX

Financial Services industry group

10.81

BX
10.81
Max
7.79
Q3
3.63
Median
1.57
Q1
0.81
Min
-0.39

MS

Financial Services industry group

2.65

Max
7.79
Q3
3.63
MS
2.65
Median
1.57
Q1
0.81
Min
-0.39
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Blackstone (BX) vs. Morgan Stanley (MS): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Financial Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Blackstone (BX) and Morgan Stanley (MS)
MetricBXMS
P/E Ratio (TTM)26.6114.39
P/S Ratio (TTM)9.613.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)10.812.65
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)----