EQH vs. MS: Equitable vs. Morgan Stanley Stock Comparison
How do Equitable (EQH) 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
Equitable (EQH) and Morgan Stanley (MS) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but EQH is classified in Financial Services while MS is classified in Capital Markets.
| Profile Item | EQH | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Equitable Holdings Inc. | Morgan Stanley Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Financial Services | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Diversified Financial Services | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Market Capitalization | 14.04 billion USD | 283.60 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | May 10, 2018 | February 23, 1993 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | EQH | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 26.35% | 19.44% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 32.07% | 40.69% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 12.88% | 17.38% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | EQH | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 33.44% | 29.73% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.04 | 1.21 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -35.85% | -32.38% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 2.71M | 5.37M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | EQH | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.66 | 0.51 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.94 | 0.73 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Equitable (EQH) at 171.08% clears its industry range for ROE, a sharper capital-efficiency signal than Morgan Stanley (MS) at 18.04%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
171.08%
- EQH
- 171.08%
- Max
- 44.78%
- 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%
Net Margin (TTM)
Both Equitable (EQH) at 11.52% 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.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
11.52%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- EQH
- 11.52%
- 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%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Equitable (EQH) at 37.18% and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 39.00% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
37.18%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- EQH
- 37.18%
- 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%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | EQH | MS |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 171.08% | 18.04% |
| ROA (TTM) | 0.45% | 1.35% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 11.52% | 25.63% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 37.18% | 39.00% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Morgan Stanley (MS) at 14.48% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Equitable (EQH) at -6.12% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Morgan Stanley (MS) at 28.43% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while Equitable (EQH) at -227.78% falls below its industry range, a notably weak earnings reading.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | EQH | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | -6.12% | 14.48% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | -2.65% | 9.52% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | -227.78% | 28.43% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | -- | 18.41% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Equitable (EQH) 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: Equitable (EQH) 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
| Metric | EQH | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Equitable (EQH) at 0.51% and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 2.40% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
0.51%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- EQH
- 0.51%
- 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%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Equitable (EQH) at 22.49% and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 32.91% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
22.49%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- EQH
- 22.49%
- 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%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | EQH | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.51% | 2.40% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 22.49% | 32.91% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Equitable (EQH) at 10.39 and Morgan Stanley (MS) at 14.39 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
10.39
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- EQH
- 10.39
- 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
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Equitable (EQH) at 1.08 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Morgan Stanley (MS) at 3.55 prices around its industry’s middle — EQH costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
1.08
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- EQH
- 1.08
- 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
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Equitable (EQH) reports a negative P/B ratio of -4.92, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile Morgan Stanley (MS) reports 2.65, ranking against industry peers normally.
EQH
Financial Services industry group
-4.92
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
- EQH
- -4.92
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
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | EQH | MS |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 10.39 | 14.39 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 1.08 | 3.55 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -4.92 | 2.65 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |