MS vs. V: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on October 3, 2025

Here’s a clear look at MS and V, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Symbol	MS	V
Company Name	Morgan Stanley	Visa Inc.
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Financials	Financials
GICS Industry	Capital Markets	Financial Services
Market Capitalization	255.59 billion USD	654.82 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	February 23, 1993	March 19, 2008
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of MS and V by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

MS vs. V: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	MS	V
5-Day Price Return	-1.30%	0.80%
13-Week Price Return	11.21%	-3.85%
26-Week Price Return	31.84%	-0.81%
52-Week Price Return	50.51%	24.06%
Month-to-Date Return	-1.30%	-2.96%
Year-to-Date Return	24.79%	8.02%
10-Day Avg. Volume	6.01M	7.83M
3-Month Avg. Volume	5.26M	6.38M
3-Month Volatility	17.67%	16.67%
Beta	1.24	0.89

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

MS

13.95%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 38.97%
Q3: 22.24%
Median: 13.52%
Q1: 8.61%
Min: -4.25%

MS’s Return on Equity of 13.95% is on par with the norm for the Capital Markets industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

V

52.65%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 39.28%
Q3: 18.88%
Median: 9.97%
Q1: 4.03%
Min: -10.25%

V’s Return on Equity of 52.65% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Financial Services industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

MS vs. V: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Capital Markets and Financial Services industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

MS

13.06%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 69.91%
Q3: 37.24%
Median: 24.30%
Q1: 13.06%
Min: -15.18%

MS’s Net Profit Margin of 13.06% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Capital Markets industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

V

52.16%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 52.16%
Q3: 25.35%
Median: 12.68%
Q1: 6.11%
Min: -11.69%

A Net Profit Margin of 52.16% places V in the upper quartile for the Financial Services industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

MS vs. V: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Capital Markets and Financial Services industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

MS

17.07%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 84.86%
Q3: 47.16%
Median: 32.23%
Q1: 18.65%
Min: -21.87%

MS’s Operating Profit Margin of 17.07% is in the lower quartile for the Capital Markets industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.

V

62.21%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 75.57%
Q3: 37.78%
Median: 19.09%
Q1: 10.04%
Min: -19.42%

An Operating Profit Margin of 62.21% places V in the upper quartile for the Financial Services industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

MS vs. V: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Capital Markets and Financial Services industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	MS	V
Return on Equity (TTM)	13.95%	52.65%
Return on Assets (TTM)	1.15%	21.39%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	13.06%	52.16%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	17.07%	62.21%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	54.42%	80.23%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

MS

0.29

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 3.37
Q3: 1.81
Median: 1.01
Q1: 0.56
Min: 0.04

For the Capital Markets industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.

V

1.12

Financial Services Industry

Max: 4.83
Q3: 2.70
Median: 1.44
Q1: 0.86
Min: 0.01

For the Financial Services industry, the Current Ratio is often not the most suitable measure of short-term liquidity.

MS vs. V: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Capital Markets and Financial Services industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

MS

7.68

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 6.52
Q3: 2.79
Median: 0.96
Q1: 0.28
Min: 0.00

The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is often not the primary focus for assessing leverage in the Capital Markets industry.

V

0.65

Financial Services Industry

Max: 5.07
Q3: 2.14
Median: 0.66
Q1: 0.12
Min: 0.00

The Debt-to-Equity Ratio is often not the primary focus for assessing leverage in the Financial Services industry.

MS vs. V: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Capital Markets and Financial Services industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

MS

1.25

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 107.59
Q3: 48.41
Median: 10.85
Q1: 4.56
Min: -36.26

The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Capital Markets industry.

V

24.71

Financial Services Industry

Max: 136.23
Q3: 56.08
Median: 6.55
Q1: 2.01
Min: -33.27

The Interest Coverage Ratio is often not a primary indicator of debt servicing capacity in the Financial Services industry.

MS vs. V: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Capital Markets and Financial Services industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	MS	V
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.29	1.12
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.29	1.06
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	7.68	0.65
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	1.25	24.71

Growth

Revenue Growth

MS vs. V: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

MS vs. V: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

MS

2.53%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 9.02%
Q3: 4.54%
Median: 2.55%
Q1: 1.27%
Min: 0.00%

MS’s Dividend Yield of 2.53% is consistent with its peers in the Capital Markets industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

V

0.68%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 8.12%
Q3: 3.37%
Median: 1.70%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

V’s Dividend Yield of 0.68% is consistent with its peers in the Financial Services industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

MS vs. V: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Capital Markets and Financial Services industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

MS

43.20%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 199.38%
Q3: 99.28%
Median: 60.67%
Q1: 32.00%
Min: 0.00%

MS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 43.20% is within the typical range for the Capital Markets industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

V

22.33%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 132.10%
Q3: 64.32%
Median: 18.23%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

V’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 22.33% is within the typical range for the Financial Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

MS vs. V: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Capital Markets and Financial Services industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	MS	V
Dividend Yield (TTM)	2.53%	0.68%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	43.20%	22.33%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

MS

17.10

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 51.69
Q3: 29.42
Median: 17.58
Q1: 12.55
Min: 5.59

MS’s P/E Ratio of 17.10 is within the middle range for the Capital Markets industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

V

32.84

Financial Services Industry

Max: 45.81
Q3: 30.21
Median: 16.29
Q1: 10.14
Min: 0.70

A P/E Ratio of 32.84 places V in the upper quartile for the Financial Services industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.

MS vs. V: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Capital Markets and Financial Services industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

MS

2.23

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 14.65
Q3: 7.29
Median: 4.53
Q1: 2.26
Min: 0.04

In the lower quartile for the Capital Markets industry, MS’s P/S Ratio of 2.23 indicates its revenue is valued more conservatively than most of its peers. This could present a compelling opportunity if the market has overlooked its sales-generating capabilities.

V

17.13

Financial Services Industry

Max: 10.88
Q3: 5.34
Median: 2.64
Q1: 1.24
Min: 0.06

The P/S Ratio is often not a primary valuation tool in the Financial Services industry.

MS vs. V: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Capital Markets and Financial Services industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

MS

2.08

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 10.83
Q3: 5.12
Median: 2.66
Q1: 1.19
Min: 0.37

MS’s P/B Ratio of 2.08 is within the conventional range for the Capital Markets industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.

V

17.81

Financial Services Industry

Max: 7.93
Q3: 3.78
Median: 1.49
Q1: 0.88
Min: 0.08

At 17.81, V’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Financial Services industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.

MS vs. V: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Capital Markets and Financial Services industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	MS	V
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	17.10	32.84
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	2.23	17.13
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	2.08	17.81
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	11.47	30.17