Compare StocksDAL vs MS

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) vs Morgan Stanley (MS)

DAL
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
$65.01
VS
MS
Morgan Stanley
$158.55

Rewards

DAL
  • Return on equity has consistently exceeded 20% over 4 years, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $1.99 of market value — management is creating shareholder value.
  • Dividend yield of 1.15% with a consistent or growing payout over the past 3 years.
MS
  • Gross margin of 87.1% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $6.65 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
  • PEG ratio of 0.75 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to its growth rate — paying less than 1x for each unit of earnings growth.

Risks

DAL
  • Gross margin of 20.5% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
  • Altman Z-Score of 1.45 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
  • 15 insider sales totaling $77.9M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
MS
  • High leverage (4.56x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
  • Altman Z-Score of 0.29 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
  • 7 insider sales totaling $25.2M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.

Key Valuation Metrics

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DAL
MS
Valuation
$3.84B
Free Cash Flow
N/A
9.05%
FCF Yield
N/A
8.49
Trailing P/E
15.53
7.94
Forward P/E
12.89
Quality & Moat
10.59%
ROIC
3.43%
24.00%
ROE
14.42%
20.45%
Gross Margin
87.06%
0.19
PEG Ratio
0.75
Balance Sheet Safety
1.02
Debt / Equity
4.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
2.20
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
1.15%
Dividend Yield
2.52%
DAL: 6Ties: 1MS: 2
DALMS

Historical Fundamentals

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DAL

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

MS

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

$1 Retained Earnings Test

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DAL
$1.99
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Value Creator
Σ Retained
$12.18B
Δ Market Cap
+$24.26B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
MS
$6.65
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$20.84B
Δ Market Cap
+$138.59B
Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
> $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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DAL
82.2% Margin of Safety
Price is 82.2% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $65.01
Fair Value: $365.75
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MS
45.5% Margin of Safety
Price is 45.5% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $158.55
Fair Value: $290.92
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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DAL

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $65?

+0.6%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +4.2%

The market implies +0.6% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.

Standard FCF implies a more demanding +4.2%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.

MS

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

Economic Moat Score

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DAL
65/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency would strengthen the moat.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
MS
32/100
No Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

No durable moat detected, though revenue predictability shows some competitive positioning. The business lacks consistent evidence of sustainable advantages.

Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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DAL
-2.67
Unlikely Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
MS
-2.09
Possible Manipulator
Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

M-Score Trend

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

Ownership Breakdown

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DAL
Insiders 0.5%Institutions 86.5%Retail & Other 12.9%
No. of Institutional Holders1,715
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
MS
Insiders 24.0%Institutions 62.7%Retail & Other 13.3%
No. of Institutional Holders3,182
High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

Insider Buying Activity

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DAL
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
CHIANG WILFRED CW
Director
$438,967
@ $43.90 · 2024-07-12
CHIANG WILFRED CW
Director
$494,955
@ $49.50 · 2024-05-01
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
MS
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $5,630
PETERSON DOUGLAS L
Director
$5,630
@ $156.39 · 2025-10-17
Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

Insider Selling Activity

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DAL
15
Sells (3M)
23
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $87.44M
BASTIAN EDWARD H
Chief Executive Officer
$7.03M
@ $70.26 · 2026-02-26
HAUENSTEIN GLEN W
President
$31.37M
@ $73.47 · 2026-02-09
SEAR STEVEN M
Officer
$2.90M
@ $75.05 · 2026-02-09
BELLEMARE ALAIN
Officer
$2.65M
@ $75.20 · 2026-02-09
CARTER PETER W
Officer
$2.02M
@ $74.82 · 2026-02-06
HAUENSTEIN GLEN W
President
$963,896
@ $71.00 · 2026-02-05
SAMANT RAHUL D
Chief Technology Officer
$4.39M
@ $70.18 · 2026-02-05
CARROLL WILLIAM C
Officer
$406,329
@ $68.10 · 2026-02-02
SNELL ERIK STOREY
Officer
$2.80M
@ $71.01 · 2026-01-16
CARTER PETER W
Officer
$1.01M
@ $70.30 · 2026-01-15
BASTIAN EDWARD H
Chief Executive Officer
$12.30M
@ $71.00 · 2026-01-15
BELLEMARE ALAIN
Officer
$2.49M
@ $69.21 · 2026-01-15
HAUENSTEIN GLEN W
President
$1.40M
@ $70.00 · 2026-01-14
SEAR STEVEN M
Officer
$2.18M
@ $69.69 · 2026-01-14
SAMANT RAHUL D
Chief Technology Officer
$3.97M
@ $69.57 · 2026-01-14
LAUGHTER JOHN E.
Chief Operating Officer
$1.45M
@ $62.33 · 2025-10-21
CARROLL WILLIAM C
Officer
$858,070
@ $61.25 · 2025-10-15
HAUENSTEIN GLEN W
President
$613,070
@ $61.31 · 2025-08-27
HUERTA MICHAEL P
Director
$151,762
@ $60.70 · 2025-08-19
BASTIAN EDWARD H
Chief Executive Officer
$1.97M
@ $56.28 · 2025-07-23
CARTER PETER W
Officer
$1.00M
@ $57.19 · 2025-07-15
SEAR STEVEN M
Officer
$1.01M
@ $55.96 · 2025-07-15
BELLEMARE ALAIN
Officer
$2.52M
@ $55.56 · 2025-07-11
SAMANT RAHUL D
Officer
$2.47M
@ $64.89 · 2025-02-11
SAMANT RAHUL D
Chief Technology Officer
$1.24M
@ $69.08 · 2025-02-05
CARROLL WILLIAM C
Officer
$447,285
@ $65.94 · 2025-02-03
BASTIAN EDWARD H
Chief Executive Officer
$6.41M
@ $69.85 · 2025-01-22
CARROLL WILLIAM C
Officer
$554,534
@ $66.02 · 2025-01-17
SMITH JOANNE D
Officer
$1.53M
@ $64.00 · 2024-11-21
CARROLL WILLIAM C
Officer
$1.31M
@ $60.62 · 2024-11-08
SAMANT RAHUL D
Officer
$1.16M
@ $62.13 · 2024-11-07
HAUENSTEIN GLEN W
President
$2.50M
@ $62.56 · 2024-11-06
AUSBAND ALLISON C
Officer
$470,306
@ $62.62 · 2024-11-06
SEAR STEVEN M
Officer
$603,542
@ $58.72 · 2024-11-01
HAUENSTEIN GLEN W
President
$4.37M
@ $58.30 · 2024-10-31
SAMANT RAHUL D
Officer
$585,330
@ $58.53 · 2024-10-30
BASTIAN EDWARD H
Chief Executive Officer
$3.83M
@ $56.33 · 2024-10-28
SAMANT RAHUL D
Officer
$554,800
@ $55.48 · 2024-10-17
BELLEMARE ALAIN
Officer
$1.08M
@ $55.26 · 2024-10-17
CARTER PETER W
Officer
$1.01M
@ $55.78 · 2024-10-16
SMITH JOANNE D
Officer
$173,132
@ $50.46 · 2024-10-11
SMITH JOANNE D
Officer
$253,422
@ $52.30 · 2024-05-08
CARTER PETER W
Officer
$2.50M
@ $50.00 · 2024-04-29
SEAR STEVEN M
Officer
$757,028
@ $47.89 · 2024-04-24
BELLEMARE ALAIN
Officer
$1.18M
@ $48.86 · 2024-04-23
HAUENSTEIN GLEN W
President
$4.90M
@ $49.05 · 2024-04-22
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
MS
7
Sells (3M)
16
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $62.45M
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$6.02M
@ $182.61 · 2026-01-30
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$3.97M
@ $184.00 · 2026-01-20
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.44M
@ $183.45 · 2026-01-20
YESHAYA SHARON
Chief Financial Officer
$2.94M
@ $185.77 · 2026-01-20
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$1.55M
@ $182.08 · 2026-01-20
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$3.69M
@ $184.55 · 2026-01-20
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$5.57M
@ $183.62 · 2026-01-20
PICK EDWARD N.
Chief Executive Officer
$16.43M
@ $164.34 · 2025-10-31
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.69M
@ $141.12 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.09M
@ $141.13 · 2025-07-17
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$2.81M
@ $140.30 · 2025-07-17
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.53M
@ $140.62 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$3.70M
@ $127.37 · 2025-05-12
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$95,459
@ $119.32 · 2025-05-02
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.80M
@ $120.00 · 2025-05-02
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.12M
@ $111.65 · 2025-04-15
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$1.15M
@ $138.06 · 2025-01-22
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.78M
@ $136.20 · 2025-01-21
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$5.00M
@ $136.61 · 2025-01-21
AKRAM RAJA
Chief Financial Officer
$2.38M
@ $136.01 · 2025-01-21
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.52M
@ $136.92 · 2025-01-21
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.20M
@ $136.43 · 2025-01-21
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$368,375
@ $105.25 · 2024-07-26
AKRAM RAJA
Officer
$797,764
@ $106.37 · 2024-07-18
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.26M
@ $106.54 · 2024-07-17
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$106,621
@ $106.62 · 2024-07-17
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$692,663
@ $99.61 · 2024-05-14
GORMAN JAMES P
Officer and Director
$9.02M
@ $90.21 · 2024-04-18
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$1.01M
@ $90.09 · 2024-04-17
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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DAL
FearGreed
😐Neutral(52/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
MS
FearGreed
😐Neutral(48/100)

"Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

⚖️ Buffett Signal

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DAL
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (52)
MS
Awaiting DCF Data

The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (48)
View DAL Full AnalysisView MS Full Analysis