Compare Stocks › DRI vs MS
Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) vs Morgan Stanley (MS)
DRI
Darden Restaurants, Inc.
$204.42
VS
MS
Morgan Stanley
$158.55
Rewards
DRI
- ★Darden Restaurants, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
- ★Darden Restaurants, Inc. scores 91/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
- ★Return on equity has consistently exceeded 20% over 4 years, indicating efficient use of shareholder capital.
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
DRI
- ⚠Gross margin of 21.6% is low, suggesting a competitive or commodity-like market with limited pricing power.
- ⚠High leverage (4.01x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
- ⚠Net debt/EBITDA of 4.1x indicates heavy leverage — it would take over 4 years of EBITDA to pay off net debt.
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
Learn more →DRI
MS
Valuation
$1.03B
Free Cash Flow
N/A
4.32%
FCF Yield
N/A
21.41
Trailing P/E
15.53
17.95
Forward P/E
12.89
Quality & Moat
9.90%
ROIC
3.43%
50.45%
ROE
14.42%
21.55%
Gross Margin
87.06%
1.81
PEG Ratio
0.75
Balance Sheet Safety
4.01
Debt / Equity
4.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
4.09
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
2.94%
Dividend Yield
2.52%
DRI: 4Ties: 1MS: 4
DRIMS
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →DRI
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
Learn more →DRI
$3.71
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$1.18B
Δ Market Cap
+$4.39B
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
> $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
> $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
Learn more →DRI
65.5% Overvalued
Price is 65.5% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $204.42
Strongly undervalued
Fairly valued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $123.52
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
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $290.92
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →DRI
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $204?
+13.4%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +13.7%
The market implies +13.4% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.
Standard FCF implies a demanding +13.7%, reflecting heavy growth investment.
MS
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →DRI
91/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Revenue Predictability is the standout factor.
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.
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
Learn more →DRI
-2.72
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
Learn more →DRI
Insiders 0.3%Institutions 100.0%
No. of Institutional Holders1,363
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 Holders3,181
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
Learn more →DRI
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
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
Learn more →DRI
7
Sells (3M)
22
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $32.36M
SONSTEBY CHARLES M
Director
$641,210
@ $205.32 · 2026-01-23
KING SARAH H
Officer
$951,636
@ $206.65 · 2026-01-22
WILKERSON JOHN
Officer
$480,954
@ $213.00 · 2026-01-16
VENNAM RAJESH
Chief Financial Officer
$1.45M
@ $214.12 · 2026-01-15
CONNELLY SUSAN M.
Officer
$546,394
@ $207.36 · 2026-01-14
BURROWES TODD
Officer
$1.47M
@ $207.12 · 2026-01-13
MARTIN MELVIN JOHN
Officer
$236,964
@ $197.47 · 2026-01-06
MARTIN MELVIN JOHN
Officer
$313,786
@ $184.58 · 2025-10-14
BROAD MATTHEW R
General Counsel
$1.09M
@ $193.40 · 2025-10-06
ATKINS MARGARET SHAN
Director
$223,411
@ $220.33 · 2025-07-01
BROAD MATTHEW R
General Counsel
$1.68M
@ $218.05 · 2025-07-01
BURROWES TODD
Officer
$2.94M
@ $216.45 · 2025-06-30
MARTIN MELVIN JOHN
Officer
$2.67M
@ $218.71 · 2025-06-25
MILANES DOUGLAS J
Officer
$2.65M
@ $222.08 · 2025-06-24
CONNELLY SUSAN M.
Officer
$1.06M
@ $223.78 · 2025-06-24
VENNAM RAJESH
Chief Financial Officer
$1.28M
@ $222.22 · 2025-06-24
SONSTEBY CHARLES M
Director
$1.64M
@ $204.56 · 2025-03-28
KING SARAH H
Officer
$1.80M
@ $207.27 · 2025-03-25
KIERNAN DANIEL J
Officer
$3.52M
@ $206.51 · 2025-03-25
MARTIN MELVIN JOHN
Officer
$1.06M
@ $208.69 · 2025-03-25
MADONNA JOHN W.
Officer
$375,434
@ $207.88 · 2025-03-24
CARDENAS RICARDO
Chief Executive Officer
$4.27M
@ $208.19 · 2025-03-24
MILANES DOUGLAS J
Officer
$1.55M
@ $195.95 · 2025-01-30
BROAD MATTHEW R
General Counsel
$2.39M
@ $187.37 · 2025-01-21
ATKINS MARGARET SHAN
Director
$199,217
@ $181.11 · 2025-01-15
BURROWES TODD
Officer
$2.89M
@ $183.03 · 2025-01-14
CONNELLY SUSAN M.
Officer
$1.71M
@ $184.68 · 2025-01-06
MARTIN MELVIN JOHN
Officer
$1.78M
@ $188.07 · 2024-12-26
VENNAM RAJESH
Chief Financial Officer
$1.31M
@ $181.71 · 2024-12-23
MARTIN MELVIN JOHN
Officer
$489,895
@ $163.30 · 2024-10-04
CONNELLY SUSAN M.
Officer
$542,576
@ $163.43 · 2024-10-01
MARTIN MELVIN JOHN
Officer
$334,453
@ $167.23 · 2024-09-27
MADONNA JOHN W.
Officer
$818,960
@ $172.96 · 2024-09-24
WILLIAMSON LAURA B
Officer
$1.11M
@ $173.07 · 2024-09-24
MENSAH NANA
Director
$201,292
@ $171.90 · 2024-09-23
BROAD MATTHEW R
General Counsel
$749,824
@ $171.98 · 2024-09-23
MILANES DOUGLAS J
Officer
$981,496
@ $172.04 · 2024-09-23
KIERNAN DANIEL J
Officer
$3.55M
@ $171.90 · 2024-09-23
CARDENAS RICARDO
Chief Executive Officer
$7.28M
@ $171.68 · 2024-09-23
KING SARAH H
Officer
$2.34M
@ $147.06 · 2024-07-30
BROAD MATTHEW R
General Counsel
$757,428
@ $146.48 · 2024-07-29
MARTIN MELVIN JOHN
Officer
$352,727
@ $141.09 · 2024-07-25
BROAD MATTHEW R
General Counsel
$735,011
@ $156.15 · 2024-04-25
SIMON WILLIAM S. JR.
Director
$192,858
@ $158.21 · 2024-04-08
MARTIN MELVIN JOHN
Officer
$1.79M
@ $166.12 · 2024-03-28
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
Learn more →DRI
😐Neutral(50/100)
"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
😐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
Learn more →DRI
⚪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 (50)
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)