MSCI vs. SPGI: MSCI vs. S&P Global Stock Comparison
How do MSCI (MSCI) and S&P Global (SPGI) 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
MSCI (MSCI) and S&P Global (SPGI) are both classified in the Financial Exchanges & Data sub-industry within the broader Capital Markets industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | MSCI | SPGI |
|---|---|---|
| Name | MSCI Inc. | S&P Global Inc. |
| 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 | Financial Exchanges & Data | Financial Exchanges & Data |
| Market Capitalization | 46.60 billion USD | 135.62 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| Listing Date | November 15, 2007 | February 21, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | MSCI | SPGI |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 12.76% | 1.66% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 9.86% | 9.75% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 1.00% | 2.47% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | MSCI | SPGI |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 29.82% | 31.02% |
| Beta (5Y) | 1.17 | 1.02 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -43.74% | -39.76% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 590.34K | 1.86M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | MSCI | SPGI |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.28 | -0.08 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.40 | -0.11 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Capital efficiency shows on one side only: S&P Global (SPGI) earns 17.88% on shareholders’ equity, ranked against its industry; MSCI (MSCI) has no ROE this period.
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
--
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
- MSCI
- --
SPGI
Financial Services industry group
17.88%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- SPGI
- 17.88%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both MSCI (MSCI) at 40.31% and S&P Global (SPGI) at 30.60% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
40.31%
- Max
- 62.84%
- MSCI
- 40.31%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
SPGI
Financial Services industry group
30.60%
- Max
- 62.84%
- SPGI
- 30.60%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
MSCI (MSCI) at 56.41% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of S&P Global (SPGI) at 48.21%, which runs around its industry’s norm.
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
56.41%
- Max
- 107.33%
- MSCI
- 56.41%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
SPGI
Financial Services industry group
48.21%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- SPGI
- 48.21%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | MSCI | SPGI |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | -- | 17.88% |
| ROA (TTM) | 21.75% | 8.33% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 40.31% | 30.60% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 56.41% | 48.21% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both MSCI (MSCI) at 9.75% and S&P Global (SPGI) at 7.94% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Both MSCI (MSCI) at 11.67% and S&P Global (SPGI) at 18.70% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | MSCI | SPGI |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 9.75% | 7.94% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 11.71% | 11.11% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 11.67% | 18.70% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 13.54% | 12.85% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: MSCI (MSCI) in Financial Services and S&P Global (SPGI) 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: MSCI (MSCI) in Financial Services and S&P Global (SPGI) 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 | MSCI | SPGI |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both MSCI (MSCI) at 1.21% and S&P Global (SPGI) at 0.82% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
1.21%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- MSCI
- 1.21%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SPGI
Financial Services industry group
0.82%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- SPGI
- 0.82%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both MSCI (MSCI) at 42.04% and S&P Global (SPGI) at 22.06% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
42.04%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- MSCI
- 42.04%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
SPGI
Financial Services industry group
22.06%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- Median
- 25.77%
- SPGI
- 22.06%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | MSCI | SPGI |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.21% | 0.82% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 42.04% | 22.06% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Both MSCI (MSCI) at 33.90 and S&P Global (SPGI) at 27.95 sit in the richer earnings-multiple quartile for P/E ratio, so investors are paying more for TTM earnings than they pay for typical peers.
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
33.90
- Max
- 45.85
- MSCI
- 33.90
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
SPGI
Financial Services industry group
27.95
- Max
- 45.85
- SPGI
- 27.95
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: S&P Global (SPGI) at 8.32 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and MSCI (MSCI) at 13.58 prices even higher, above its industry range.
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
13.58
- MSCI
- 13.58
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
SPGI
Financial Services industry group
8.32
- Max
- 9.23
- SPGI
- 8.32
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
MSCI (MSCI) reports a negative P/B ratio of -15.24, meaning negative book equity — the multiple itself is not meaningful for valuation. Meanwhile S&P Global (SPGI) reports 6.88, ranking against industry peers normally.
MSCI
Financial Services industry group
-15.24
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
- MSCI
- -15.24
SPGI
Financial Services industry group
6.88
- Max
- 7.79
- SPGI
- 6.88
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | MSCI | SPGI |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 33.90 | 27.95 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 13.58 | 8.32 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | -15.24 | 6.88 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |