MSI vs. STX: Motorola vs. Seagate Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX) 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

Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX) both fall under the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group, but MSI is classified in Communications Equipment while STX is classified in Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals.

Company profile comparison for Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX)
Profile Item	MSI	STX
Name	Motorola Solutions, Inc.	Seagate Technology Holdings plc
Country/Region	United States	Singapore
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Information Technology
GICS Industry Group	Technology Hardware & Equipment	Technology Hardware & Equipment
GICS Industry	Communications Equipment	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
GICS Sub-Industry	Communications Equipment	Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
Market Capitalization	85.07 billion USD	105.83 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	January 2, 1962	December 11, 2002
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

MSI

STX

GSPC

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX)
Metric	MSI	STX
Total Return (1Y)	35.63%	83.77%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	20.55%	95.95%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	17.37%	42.73%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

MSI

STX

GSPC

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Seagate (STX) carries a highly aggressive beta of 2.24, indicating much higher sensitivity to broad-market moves, whereas Motorola (MSI) is closer to market-like at 0.84 — a noticeable difference in market-sensitivity profile.

Risk profile metrics for Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX)
Metric	MSI	STX
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	25.11%	76.96%
Beta (5Y)	0.84	2.24
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-27.23%	-57.80%
Avg. Volume (3M)	973.41K	4.72M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

MSI and STX are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX)
Metric	MSI	STX
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.25	1.03
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.90	1.51

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Motorola (MSI) at 76.98% and Seagate (STX) at 259.35% turn shareholders’ equity into profit at rates above their industry benchmark ranges for ROE. That is a strong capital-efficiency signal, though leverage and the equity base still matter.

MSI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

76.98%

MSI: 76.98%
Max: 42.47%
Q3: 19.13%
Median: 11.00%
Q1: 1.63%
Min: -20.62%

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

259.35%

STX: 259.35%
Max: 42.47%
Q3: 19.13%
Median: 11.00%
Q1: 1.63%
Min: -20.62%

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX): A comparison of their ROE against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Seagate (STX) at 31.86% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Motorola (MSI) at 16.54% also retains a top-quartile share.

MSI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

16.54%

Max: 27.60%
MSI: 16.54%
Q3: 11.66%
Median: 4.08%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -11.02%

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

31.86%

STX: 31.86%
Max: 27.60%
Q3: 11.66%
Median: 4.08%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: -11.02%

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX): A comparison of their net margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Seagate (STX) at 48.85% shows unusually strong operating efficiency — above its industry’s operating margin range — and Motorola (MSI) at 24.62% also operates in the top quartile.

MSI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

24.62%

Max: 36.27%
MSI: 24.62%
Q3: 18.36%
Median: 8.84%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -21.39%

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

48.85%

STX: 48.85%
Max: 36.27%
Q3: 18.36%
Median: 8.84%
Q1: 1.46%
Min: -21.39%

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX): A comparison of their operating margin against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX)
Metric	MSI	STX
ROE (TTM)	76.98%	259.35%
ROA (TTM)	9.64%	37.21%
Net Margin (TTM)	16.54%	31.86%
Operating Margin (TTM)	24.62%	48.85%
Gross Margin (TTM)	51.75%	50.35%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Seagate (STX) at 34.06% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Motorola (MSI) at 8.00% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for STX.

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Seagate (STX) at 105.32% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Motorola (MSI) at 38.14% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for STX.

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX)
Metric	MSI	STX
Revenue Growth (YoY)	8.00%	34.06%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	8.63%	18.20%
EPS Growth (YoY)	38.14%	105.32%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	17.15%	--

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Seagate (STX) at 1.82 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Motorola (MSI) at 1.10 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for MSI.

MSI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.10

Max: 5.34
Q3: 3.02
Median: 1.95
Q1: 1.32
MSI: 1.10
Min: 0.17

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

1.82

Max: 5.34
Q3: 3.02
Median: 1.95
STX: 1.82
Q1: 1.32
Min: 0.17

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX): A comparison of their current ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Seagate (STX) at 0.77 is near its industry mid-range for debt-to-equity ratio, while Motorola (MSI) at 3.46 sits above its benchmark range, pointing to a heavier debt load relative to equity.

MSI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

3.46

MSI: 3.46
Max: 1.76
Q3: 0.78
Median: 0.24
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.01

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.77

Max: 1.76
Q3: 0.78
STX: 0.77
Median: 0.24
Q1: 0.04
Min: 0.01

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX)
Metric	MSI	STX
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.10	1.82
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	3.46	0.77
Net Debt / EBITDA	2.70	0.24

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Seagate (STX) at 0.63% earns its spot in the top quartile of its industry’s yields; Motorola (MSI) at 0.94% is past the top of its own peer range — territory where a dividend-safety check matters more than the headline number.

MSI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.94%

MSI: 0.94%
Max: 0.73%
Q3: 0.31%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

0.63%

Max: 0.73%
STX: 0.63%
Q3: 0.31%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both pay out more than their industries’ typical bands, and MSI more so: Seagate (STX) at 15.52% sits above the band, while Motorola (MSI) at 38.94% exceeds every peer in its group.

MSI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

38.94%

MSI: 38.94%
Max: 32.27%
Q3: 14.48%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

15.52%

Max: 32.27%
STX: 15.52%
Q3: 14.48%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX)
Metric	MSI	STX
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.94%	0.63%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	38.94%	15.52%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Seagate (STX) at 24.17 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Motorola (MSI) at 41.39 sits in the richer quartile — MSI needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

MSI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

41.39

Max: 69.48
MSI: 41.39
Q3: 41.02
Median: 26.39
Q1: 19.36
Min: 6.07

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

24.17

Max: 69.48
Q3: 41.02
Median: 26.39
STX: 24.17
Q1: 19.36
Min: 6.07

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both Motorola (MSI) at 6.75 and Seagate (STX) at 7.67 command a richer price per dollar of sales than most peers, sitting in the upper P/S ratio quartile of their industries.

MSI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

6.75

Max: 11.30
MSI: 6.75
Q3: 5.82
Median: 2.56
Q1: 1.05
Min: 0.00

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

7.67

Max: 11.30
STX: 7.67
Q3: 5.82
Median: 2.56
Q1: 1.05
Min: 0.00

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Motorola (MSI) at 27.75 and Seagate (STX) at 30.67 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

MSI

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

27.75

MSI: 27.75
Max: 10.75
Q3: 5.52
Median: 3.17
Q1: 1.79
Min: 0.33

STX

Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group

30.67

STX: 30.67
Max: 10.75
Q3: 5.52
Median: 3.17
Q1: 1.79
Min: 0.33

Motorola (MSI) vs. Seagate (STX): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Technology Hardware & Equipment industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Motorola (MSI) and Seagate (STX)
Metric	MSI	STX
P/E Ratio (TTM)	41.39	24.17
P/S Ratio (TTM)	6.75	7.67
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	27.75	30.67
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	2.24%	2.17%