MSI vs. SONY: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on August 28, 2025

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

Company Profile

MSI is a standard domestic listing, while SONY trades as an American Depositary Receipt (ADR), offering U.S. investors access to its foreign-listed shares.

Symbol	MSI	SONY
Company Name	Motorola Solutions, Inc.	Sony Group Corporation
Country	United States	Japan
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Consumer Discretionary
GICS Industry	Communications Equipment	Household Durables
Market Capitalization	76.75 billion USD	169.87 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	ADR

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of MSI and SONY 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.

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

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	MSI	SONY
5-Day Price Return	0.06%	0.91%
13-Week Price Return	9.24%	15.52%
26-Week Price Return	4.92%	23.78%
52-Week Price Return	8.53%	13.72%
Month-to-Date Return	4.94%	14.64%
Year-to-Date Return	-0.34%	25.29%
10-Day Avg. Volume	0.94M	16.47M
3-Month Avg. Volume	0.93M	14.24M
3-Month Volatility	14.56%	30.48%
Beta	0.99	1.34

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

MSI

127.51%

Communications Equipment Industry

Max: 32.05%
Q3: 19.58%
Median: 11.77%
Q1: 2.23%
Min: -11.93%

MSI’s Return on Equity of 127.51% is exceptionally high, placing it well beyond the typical range for the Communications Equipment industry. This demonstrates a superior ability to generate profit from shareholder investments, though it could also be inflated by high financial leverage.

SONY

14.17%

Household Durables Industry

Max: 26.99%
Q3: 17.28%
Median: 12.66%
Q1: 7.34%
Min: 0.07%

SONY’s Return on Equity of 14.17% is on par with the norm for the Household Durables industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

MSI vs. SONY: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Communications Equipment and Household Durables industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

MSI

19.08%

Communications Equipment Industry

Max: 23.65%
Q3: 14.32%
Median: 5.31%
Q1: 1.45%
Min: -12.72%

A Net Profit Margin of 19.08% places MSI in the upper quartile for the Communications Equipment industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

SONY

9.13%

Household Durables Industry

Max: 15.50%
Q3: 8.99%
Median: 6.57%
Q1: 4.33%
Min: -0.49%

A Net Profit Margin of 9.13% places SONY in the upper quartile for the Household Durables industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.

MSI vs. SONY: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Communications Equipment and Household Durables industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

MSI

25.23%

Communications Equipment Industry

Max: 42.27%
Q3: 18.90%
Median: 6.21%
Q1: 2.97%
Min: -20.72%

An Operating Profit Margin of 25.23% places MSI in the upper quartile for the Communications Equipment industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.

SONY

11.68%

Household Durables Industry

Max: 20.22%
Q3: 12.29%
Median: 9.54%
Q1: 6.30%
Min: -1.92%

SONY’s Operating Profit Margin of 11.68% is around the midpoint for the Household Durables industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

MSI vs. SONY: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Communications Equipment and Household Durables industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	MSI	SONY
Return on Equity (TTM)	127.51%	14.17%
Return on Assets (TTM)	14.27%	3.26%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	19.08%	9.13%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	25.23%	11.68%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	51.34%	31.29%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

MSI

1.73

Communications Equipment Industry

Max: 1.72
Q3: 1.72
Median: 1.46
Q1: 1.18
Min: 0.93

MSI’s Current Ratio of 1.73 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Communications Equipment industry. This indicates a very strong liquidity position, though such a high ratio may also suggest that the company is not using its assets efficiently to generate profits.

SONY

1.09

Household Durables Industry

Max: 9.23
Q3: 4.50
Median: 2.35
Q1: 1.29
Min: 0.70

SONY’s Current Ratio of 1.09 falls into the lower quartile for the Household Durables industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.

MSI vs. SONY: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Communications Equipment and Household Durables industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

MSI

3.93

Communications Equipment Industry

Max: 1.55
Q3: 0.92
Median: 0.55
Q1: 0.30
Min: 0.00

With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 3.93, MSI operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Communications Equipment industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.

SONY

0.19

Household Durables Industry

Max: 1.84
Q3: 0.90
Median: 0.34
Q1: 0.19
Min: 0.00

SONY’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.19 is typical for the Household Durables industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

MSI vs. SONY: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Communications Equipment and Household Durables industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

MSI

8.92

Communications Equipment Industry

Max: 181.73
Q3: 113.63
Median: 7.59
Q1: 3.82
Min: -5.39

MSI’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 8.92 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Communications Equipment industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

SONY

104.18

Household Durables Industry

Max: 140.40
Q3: 77.14
Median: 24.53
Q1: 5.69
Min: -17.01

SONY’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 104.18 is in the upper quartile for the Household Durables industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.

MSI vs. SONY: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Communications Equipment and Household Durables industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	MSI	SONY
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.73	1.09
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	1.54	1.03
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	3.93	0.19
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	8.92	104.18

Growth

Revenue Growth

MSI vs. SONY: 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

MSI vs. SONY: 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)

MSI

0.90%

Communications Equipment Industry

Max: 3.88%
Q3: 2.75%
Median: 0.93%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MSI’s Dividend Yield of 0.90% is consistent with its peers in the Communications Equipment industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

SONY

0.47%

Household Durables Industry

Max: 8.95%
Q3: 4.19%
Median: 1.88%
Q1: 0.03%
Min: 0.00%

SONY’s Dividend Yield of 0.47% is consistent with its peers in the Household Durables industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

MSI vs. SONY: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Communications Equipment and Household Durables industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

MSI

32.70%

Communications Equipment Industry

Max: 111.16%
Q3: 55.91%
Median: 28.42%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

MSI’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 32.70% is within the typical range for the Communications Equipment industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

SONY

10.52%

Household Durables Industry

Max: 125.12%
Q3: 62.43%
Median: 39.18%
Q1: 5.55%
Min: 0.00%

SONY’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 10.52% is within the typical range for the Household Durables industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

MSI vs. SONY: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Communications Equipment and Household Durables industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	MSI	SONY
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.90%	0.47%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	32.70%	10.52%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

MSI

36.30

Communications Equipment Industry

Max: 57.30
Q3: 47.92
Median: 27.50
Q1: 17.89
Min: 13.89

MSI’s P/E Ratio of 36.30 is within the middle range for the Communications Equipment industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

SONY

22.21

Household Durables Industry

Max: 29.75
Q3: 18.88
Median: 13.25
Q1: 9.26
Min: 6.32

A P/E Ratio of 22.21 places SONY in the upper quartile for the Household Durables industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.

MSI vs. SONY: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Communications Equipment and Household Durables industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

MSI

6.93

Communications Equipment Industry

Max: 11.03
Q3: 5.53
Median: 2.20
Q1: 0.99
Min: 0.40

MSI’s P/S Ratio of 6.93 is in the upper echelon for the Communications Equipment industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

SONY

2.03

Household Durables Industry

Max: 2.12
Q3: 1.21
Median: 0.83
Q1: 0.51
Min: 0.18

SONY’s P/S Ratio of 2.03 is in the upper echelon for the Household Durables industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

MSI vs. SONY: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Communications Equipment and Household Durables industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

MSI

35.66

Communications Equipment Industry

Max: 9.66
Q3: 5.60
Median: 3.73
Q1: 2.67
Min: 0.30

At 35.66, MSI’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Communications Equipment 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.

SONY

2.77

Household Durables Industry

Max: 4.21
Q3: 2.29
Median: 1.34
Q1: 0.98
Min: 0.59

SONY’s P/B Ratio of 2.77 is in the upper tier for the Household Durables industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

MSI vs. SONY: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Communications Equipment and Household Durables industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	MSI	SONY
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	36.30	22.21
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	6.93	2.03
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	35.66	2.77
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	32.22	12.66