MS vs. SYF: Morgan Stanley vs. Synchrony Financial Stock Comparison
How do Morgan Stanley (MS) and Synchrony Financial (SYF) 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 Synchrony Financial (SYF) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but MS is classified in Capital Markets while SYF is classified in Consumer Finance.
| Profile Item | MS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Morgan Stanley Common Stock | Synchrony Financial |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Consumer Finance |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage | Consumer Finance |
| Market Capitalization | 283.60 billion USD | 23.99 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 23, 1993 | July 31, 2014 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 19.44% | 2.84% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 40.69% | 39.02% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 17.38% | 10.89% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.73% | 31.32% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.21 | 1.40 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -32.38% | -44.60% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.37M | 3.37M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.51 | -0.05 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.73 | -0.06 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 18.04% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 19.83% 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%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
19.83%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- SYF
- 19.83%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 34.07% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of Morgan Stanley (MS) at 25.63%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.
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%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
34.07%
- Max
- 62.84%
- SYF
- 34.07%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 39.00% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 49.84% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
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%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
49.84%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- SYF
- 49.84%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 18.04% | 19.83% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.35% | 2.78% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 25.63% | 34.07% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 39.00% | 49.84% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Morgan Stanley (MS) at 14.48% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Synchrony Financial (SYF) at -0.50% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.
EPS Growth
Both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 28.43% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 8.54% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 14.48% | -0.50% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.52% | 8.67% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 28.43% | 8.54% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.41% | 14.70% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Morgan Stanley (MS) in Financial Services and Synchrony Financial (SYF) 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 Synchrony Financial (SYF) 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 | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 2.40% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.67% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
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%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
1.67%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- SYF
- 1.67%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 32.91% and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 12.94% 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
32.91%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- MS
- 32.91%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SYF
Financial Services industry group
12.94%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- SYF
- 12.94%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.40% | 1.67% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 32.91% | 12.94% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 7.70 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Morgan Stanley (MS) at 14.39 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SYF, though growth and earnings durability still matter.
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
SYF
Financial Services industry group
7.70
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- SYF
- 7.70
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 3.55 and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 2.45 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.
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
SYF
Financial Services industry group
2.45
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- SYF
- 2.45
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 2.65 and Synchrony Financial (SYF) at 1.55 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
SYF
Financial Services industry group
1.55
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- SYF
- 1.55
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MS | SYF |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 14.39 | 7.70 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.55 | 2.45 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.65 | 1.55 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |