MSCI vs. PYPL: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on August 23, 2025

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

Company Profile

Symbol	MSCI	PYPL
Company Name	MSCI Inc.	PayPal Holdings, Inc.
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Financials	Financials
GICS Industry	Capital Markets	Financial Services
Market Capitalization	44.43 billion USD	65.04 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NasdaqGS
Listing Date	November 15, 2007	July 6, 2015
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of MSCI and PYPL 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.

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

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	MSCI	PYPL
5-Day Price Return	1.51%	-1.87%
13-Week Price Return	0.28%	-5.86%
26-Week Price Return	0.34%	-11.11%
52-Week Price Return	2.45%	-1.94%
Month-to-Date Return	2.30%	-0.99%
Year-to-Date Return	-4.29%	-20.23%
10-Day Avg. Volume	0.55M	9.83M
3-Month Avg. Volume	0.62M	10.36M
3-Month Volatility	26.84%	32.89%
Beta	1.35	1.45

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

MSCI

108.67%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 38.97%
Q3: 21.61%
Median: 13.77%
Q1: 8.31%
Min: -4.25%

MSCI’s Return on Equity of 108.67% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Capital Markets industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

PYPL

23.09%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 40.58%
Q3: 20.06%
Median: 10.67%
Q1: 4.19%
Min: -10.31%

In the upper quartile for the Financial Services industry, PYPL’s Return on Equity of 23.09% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.

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

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

MSCI

39.46%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 66.67%
Q3: 35.11%
Median: 23.49%
Q1: 13.63%
Min: -15.18%

A Net Profit Margin of 39.46% places MSCI in the upper quartile for the Capital Markets industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

PYPL

14.49%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 52.86%
Q3: 25.58%
Median: 12.23%
Q1: 6.64%
Min: -9.92%

PYPL’s Net Profit Margin of 14.49% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Financial Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

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

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

MSCI

53.86%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 86.40%
Q3: 46.46%
Median: 32.80%
Q1: 18.32%
Min: -21.87%

An Operating Profit Margin of 53.86% places MSCI in the upper quartile for the Capital Markets industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

PYPL

18.17%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 77.28%
Q3: 37.68%
Median: 18.17%
Q1: 9.27%
Min: -8.19%

PYPL’s Operating Profit Margin of 18.17% is around the midpoint for the Financial Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

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

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	MSCI	PYPL
Return on Equity (TTM)	108.67%	23.09%
Return on Assets (TTM)	21.86%	5.74%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	39.46%	14.49%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	53.86%	18.17%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	82.18%	41.68%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

MSCI

0.86

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 3.76
Q3: 1.89
Median: 1.01
Q1: 0.54
Min: -0.41

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

PYPL

1.33

Financial Services Industry

Max: 4.58
Q3: 2.59
Median: 1.33
Q1: 0.69
Min: 0.01

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

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

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

MSCI

6.80

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 6.62
Q3: 2.84
Median: 1.02
Q1: 0.32
Min: 0.00

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

PYPL

0.56

Financial Services Industry

Max: 4.96
Q3: 2.10
Median: 0.57
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.

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

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

MSCI

9.26

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 126.03
Q3: 60.98
Median: 11.77
Q1: 4.95
Min: -36.26

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

PYPL

1,066.80

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.

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

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	MSCI	PYPL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.86	1.33
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.77	1.28
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	6.80	0.56
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	9.26	1,066.80

Growth

Revenue Growth

MSCI vs. PYPL: 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

MSCI vs. PYPL: 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)

MSCI

1.21%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 10.26%
Q3: 4.86%
Median: 2.78%
Q1: 1.22%
Min: 0.00%

MSCI’s Dividend Yield of 1.21% is in the lower quartile for the Capital Markets industry. This suggests the company’s strategy likely favors retaining earnings for growth over providing a high dividend income.

PYPL

0.00%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 8.18%
Q3: 3.60%
Median: 1.56%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

PYPL currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.

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

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

MSCI

45.34%

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 200.72%
Q3: 101.92%
Median: 57.97%
Q1: 32.36%
Min: 0.00%

MSCI’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 45.34% is within the typical range for the Capital Markets industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

PYPL

0.00%

Financial Services Industry

Max: 155.56%
Q3: 63.71%
Median: 18.08%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

PYPL has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.

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

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	MSCI	PYPL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.21%	0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	45.34%	0.00%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

MSCI

37.60

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 58.89
Q3: 31.00
Median: 18.54
Q1: 12.09
Min: 5.24

A P/E Ratio of 37.60 places MSCI in the upper quartile for the Capital Markets industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.

PYPL

13.89

Financial Services Industry

Max: 63.23
Q3: 32.10
Median: 14.41
Q1: 10.81
Min: 0.37

PYPL’s P/E Ratio of 13.89 is within the middle range for the Financial Services industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

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

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

MSCI

14.84

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 14.49
Q3: 7.41
Median: 4.68
Q1: 2.25
Min: 0.04

With a P/S Ratio of 14.84, MSCI trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Capital Markets industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.

PYPL

2.01

Financial Services Industry

Max: 11.16
Q3: 5.45
Median: 2.61
Q1: 1.25
Min: 0.04

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

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

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

MSCI

42.21

Capital Markets Industry

Max: 9.48
Q3: 4.94
Median: 2.42
Q1: 1.21
Min: 0.38

At 42.21, MSCI’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Capital Markets 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.

PYPL

3.58

Financial Services Industry

Max: 7.09
Q3: 3.79
Median: 1.46
Q1: 0.83
Min: 0.04

PYPL’s P/B Ratio of 3.58 is within the conventional range for the Financial Services 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.

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

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	MSCI	PYPL
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	37.60	13.89
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	14.84	2.01
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	42.21	3.58
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	32.60	12.29