MS vs. NLY: Morgan Stanley vs. Annaly Capital Management Stock Comparison
How do Morgan Stanley (MS) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 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
Morgan Stanley (MS) and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but MS is classified in Capital Markets while NLY is classified in Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).
Morgan Stanley (MS) is an ordinary operating company, while Annaly Capital Management (NLY) is a REIT — read its payout ratio and P/E alongside FFO (funds from operations) rather than comparing them directly to MS’s multiples.
| Profile Item | MS | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Morgan Stanley Common Stock | Annaly Capital Management, Inc. |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Mortgage Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage | Mortgage REITs |
| Market Capitalization | 283.60 billion USD | 14.77 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 23, 1993 | October 8, 1997 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | REIT |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MS | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 19.44% | -0.90% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 40.69% | 19.10% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 17.38% | 1.83% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MS | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.73% | 20.57% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.21 | 1.22 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -32.38% | -49.57% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.37M | 10.28M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MS | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.51 | -0.25 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.73 | -0.36 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 18.04% and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 7.35% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
7.35%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- NLY
- 7.35%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 80.27% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Morgan Stanley (MS) at 25.63% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.
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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
80.27%
- NLY
- 80.27%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 107.33% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Morgan Stanley (MS) at 39.00%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
107.33%
- NLY
- 107.33%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MS | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 18.04% | 7.35% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.35% | 0.84% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 25.63% | 80.27% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 39.00% | 107.33% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 87.29% clears its industry range for revenue growth, far stronger top-line momentum than Morgan Stanley (MS) at 14.48%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.
EPS Growth
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 80.25% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Morgan Stanley (MS) at 28.43% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for NLY.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MS | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 14.48% | 87.29% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.52% | 4.72% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 28.43% | 80.25% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.41% | -9.35% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Morgan Stanley (MS) in Financial Services and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 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: Morgan Stanley (MS) in Financial Services and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 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 | MS | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Morgan Stanley (MS) at 2.40% pays an industry-typical yield; Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 15.38% is above its entire peer range — the higher number, but one that calls for a look at payout sustainability before treating it as an advantage.
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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
15.38%
- NLY
- 15.38%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Annaly Capital Management (NLY) reports payout ratio above 100% at 201.39%, meaning dividends exceeded current-period earnings and sustainability needs extra context. Meanwhile Morgan Stanley (MS) reports 32.91%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
NLY
Financial Services industry group
201.39%
- Max
- 241.07%
- NLY
- 201.39%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MS | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.40% | 15.38% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 32.91% | 201.39% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 14.39 and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 13.02 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.
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
NLY
Financial Services industry group
13.02
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- NLY
- 13.02
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Morgan Stanley (MS) at 3.55 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 10.62 clears its benchmark range — NLY looks notably rich on sales.
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
NLY
Financial Services industry group
10.62
- NLY
- 10.62
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 2.65 and Annaly Capital Management (NLY) at 1.05 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.
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
NLY
Financial Services industry group
1.05
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- NLY
- 1.05
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MS | NLY |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 14.39 | 13.02 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.55 | 10.62 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.65 | 1.05 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |