MS vs. XYZ: Morgan Stanley vs. Block Stock Comparison
How do Morgan Stanley (MS) and Block (XYZ) 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 Block (XYZ) both fall under the Financial Services industry group, but MS is classified in Capital Markets while XYZ is classified in Financial Services.
| Profile Item | MS | XYZ |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Morgan Stanley Common Stock | Block Inc. Class A Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Financial Services |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage | Transaction & Payment Processing Services |
| Market Capitalization | 283.60 billion USD | 51.67 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | February 23, 1993 | November 19, 2015 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MS | XYZ |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 19.44% | 35.34% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 40.69% | 20.17% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 17.38% | -17.43% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
Block (XYZ) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.48, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Morgan Stanley (MS) is closer to market-like at 1.21 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.
| Metric | MS | XYZ |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.73% | 48.01% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.21 | 2.48 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -32.38% | -83.55% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 5.37M | 4.73M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MS | XYZ |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.51 | 0.65 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.73 | 1.03 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Morgan Stanley (MS) at 18.04% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Block (XYZ) at 2.02% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.
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%
XYZ
Financial Services industry group
2.02%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- XYZ
- 2.02%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
Morgan Stanley (MS) at 25.63% keeps about the industry-typical share of revenue as profit, while Block (XYZ) at 1.80% retains only a bottom-quartile 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%
XYZ
Financial Services industry group
1.80%
- Max
- 62.84%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- XYZ
- 1.80%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Morgan Stanley (MS) at 39.00% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Block (XYZ) at 6.65% operates in the bottom quartile.
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%
XYZ
Financial Services industry group
6.65%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- XYZ
- 6.65%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MS | XYZ |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 18.04% | 2.02% |
| ROA (TTM) | 1.35% | 1.94% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 25.63% | 1.80% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 39.00% | 6.65% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Morgan Stanley (MS) at 14.48% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while Block (XYZ) at 0.30% 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 Block (XYZ) at -53.95% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MS | XYZ |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 14.48% | 0.30% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.52% | 11.33% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 28.43% | -53.95% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 18.41% | -- |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Morgan Stanley (MS) in Financial Services and Block (XYZ) 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 Block (XYZ) 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 | XYZ |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Block (XYZ) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Morgan Stanley (MS) reports a yield of 2.40%, ranking against industry peers normally.
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%
XYZ
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- XYZ
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Block (XYZ) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Morgan Stanley (MS) reports a payout of 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%
XYZ
Financial Services industry group
0.00%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- XYZ
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MS | XYZ |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.40% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 32.91% | 0.00% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Morgan Stanley (MS) at 14.39 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Block (XYZ) at 112.47 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for XYZ’s trailing earnings.
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
XYZ
Financial Services industry group
112.47
- XYZ
- 112.47
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
On P/S ratio, both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 3.55 and Block (XYZ) at 2.01 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
XYZ
Financial Services industry group
2.01
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- XYZ
- 2.01
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
On P/B ratio, both Morgan Stanley (MS) at 2.65 and Block (XYZ) at 2.26 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
XYZ
Financial Services industry group
2.26
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- XYZ
- 2.26
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MS | XYZ |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 14.39 | 112.47 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 3.55 | 2.01 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 2.65 | 2.26 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |