MS vs. SCHW: Morgan Stanley vs. Charles Schwab Stock Comparison
How do Morgan Stanley (MS) and Charles Schwab (SCHW) 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 Charles Schwab (SCHW) are both classified in the Investment Banking & Brokerage sub-industry within the broader Capital Markets industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | MS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Morgan Stanley | Charles Schwab Corporation |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Market Capitalization | 341.69 billion USD | 192.11 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 23, 1993 | September 22, 1987 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 49.68% | 15.06% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 39.74% | 23.29% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 19.65% | 9.92% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 27.83% | 24.96% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.22 | 0.76 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -32.38% | -49.70% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.83M | 10.24M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 1.64 | 0.44 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 2.43 | 0.59 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 17.97% and Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 20.27% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
MS
Financial Services industry group
17.97%
- Max
- 48.53%
- Q3
- 22.22%
- MS
- 17.97%
- Median
- 12.75%
- Q1
- 4.09%
- Min
- -22.61%
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
20.27%
- Max
- 48.53%
- Q3
- 22.22%
- SCHW
- 20.27%
- Median
- 12.75%
- Q1
- 4.09%
- Min
- -22.61%
Net Margin (TTM)
Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 38.79% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Morgan Stanley (MS) at 25.90%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
MS
Financial Services industry group
25.90%
- Max
- 66.61%
- Q3
- 29.41%
- MS
- 25.90%
- Median
- 16.08%
- Q1
- 4.44%
- Min
- -30.54%
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
38.79%
- Max
- 66.61%
- SCHW
- 38.79%
- Q3
- 29.41%
- Median
- 16.08%
- Q1
- 4.44%
- Min
- -30.54%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 41.57% and Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 52.28% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
MS
Financial Services industry group
41.57%
- Max
- 96.23%
- Q3
- 53.97%
- MS
- 41.57%
- Median
- 28.94%
- Q1
- 11.79%
- Min
- -46.79%
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
52.28%
- Max
- 96.23%
- Q3
- 53.97%
- SCHW
- 52.28%
- Median
- 28.94%
- Q1
- 11.79%
- Min
- -46.79%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 17.97% | 20.27% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.35% | 2.07% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 25.90% | 38.79% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 41.57% | 52.28% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 14.48% and Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 22.01% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 55.52% 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 SCHW.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 14.48% | 22.01% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.52% | 4.83% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 28.43% | 55.52% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.41% | 9.93% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Morgan Stanley (MS) in Financial Services and Charles Schwab (SCHW) 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 Charles Schwab (SCHW) 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 | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 1.90% and Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 1.08% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
MS
Financial Services industry group
1.90%
- Max
- 17.41%
- Q3
- 7.19%
- MS
- 1.90%
- Median
- 1.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
1.08%
- Max
- 17.41%
- Q3
- 7.19%
- Median
- 1.49%
- SCHW
- 1.08%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 32.31% and Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 21.49% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
MS
Financial Services industry group
32.31%
- Max
- 223.44%
- Q3
- 89.87%
- MS
- 32.31%
- Median
- 25.19%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
21.49%
- Max
- 223.44%
- Q3
- 89.87%
- Median
- 25.19%
- SCHW
- 21.49%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.90% | 1.08% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 32.31% | 21.49% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 17.54 and Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 20.23 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
17.54
- Max
- 50.93
- Q3
- 26.65
- MS
- 17.54
- Median
- 16.33
- Q1
- 10.01
- Min
- 2.15
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
20.23
- Max
- 50.93
- Q3
- 26.65
- SCHW
- 20.23
- Median
- 16.33
- Q1
- 10.01
- Min
- 2.15
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Morgan Stanley (MS) at 4.39 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 7.38 sits in the pricier quartile — SCHW costs more per dollar of sales.
MS
Financial Services industry group
4.39
- Max
- 9.98
- Q3
- 4.93
- MS
- 4.39
- Median
- 2.98
- Q1
- 1.55
- Min
- -1.13
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
7.38
- Max
- 9.98
- SCHW
- 7.38
- Q3
- 4.93
- Median
- 2.98
- Q1
- 1.55
- Min
- -1.13
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Morgan Stanley (MS) at 3.21 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Charles Schwab (SCHW) at 4.37 carries an above-peer premium to book — SCHW is pricier on assets.
MS
Financial Services industry group
3.21
- Max
- 7.91
- Q3
- 3.71
- MS
- 3.21
- Median
- 1.60
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- -0.34
SCHW
Financial Services industry group
4.37
- Max
- 7.91
- SCHW
- 4.37
- Q3
- 3.71
- Median
- 1.60
- Q1
- 0.85
- Min
- -0.34
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MS | SCHW |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 17.54 | 20.23 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 4.39 | 7.38 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.21 | 4.37 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |