Compare Stocks › FDS vs MS
FactSet Research Systems Inc. (FDS) vs Morgan Stanley (MS)
FDS
FactSet Research Systems Inc.
$208.84
VS
MS
Morgan Stanley
$158.55
Rewards
FDS
- ★FactSet Research Systems Inc. has maintained ROIC above 10% for 4 consecutive years, suggesting solid business economics.
- ★FactSet Research Systems Inc. scores 95/100 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
FDS
- ⚠FCF yield of 7.0% suggests reasonable valuation assuming continued moderate growth.
- ⚠PEG ratio of 3.02 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
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 →FDS
MS
Valuation
$545.51M
Free Cash Flow
N/A
6.98%
FCF Yield
N/A
13.28
Trailing P/E
15.53
11.01
Forward P/E
12.89
Quality & Moat
16.32%
ROIC
3.43%
27.54%
ROE
14.42%
52.26%
Gross Margin
87.06%
3.02
PEG Ratio
0.75
Balance Sheet Safety
0.72
Debt / Equity
4.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
1.38
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
2.11%
Dividend Yield
2.52%
FDS: 5Ties: 1MS: 3
FDSMS
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →FDS
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 →FDS
$-3.76
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Market Cap Declined
Σ Retained
$1.15B
Δ Market Cap
$-4.34B
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 →FDS
36.0% Margin of Safety
Price is 36.0% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $208.84
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $326.13
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 →FDS
What growth rate is the market pricing in at $209?
+4.0%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +5.2%
The market implies +4.0% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.
Standard FCF implies a more demanding +5.2%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.
MS
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →FDS
95/100
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 →FDS
-2.40
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 →FDS
Insiders 0.4%Institutions 102.4%
No. of Institutional Holders1,081
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 →FDS
0
Buys (3M)
3
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $328,394
SKOKO GORAN
Officer
$126,465
@ $252.93 · 2025-11-06
SHAN HELEN L
Chief Financial Officer
$101,928
@ $275.48 · 2025-10-06
MCLOUGHLIN CHRISTOPHER
Officer
$100,001
@ $296.74 · 2025-09-23
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 →FDS
2
Sells (3M)
12
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $13.60M
FRANK MALCOLM
Director
$760,547
@ $295.70 · 2026-01-12
SIEGEL LAURIE A
Director
$761,944
@ $296.25 · 2026-01-08
EILAM BARAK
Director
$283.00
@ $283.00 · 2025-10-03
MCGONIGLE JAMES J. III
Director
$1.32M
@ $451.39 · 2025-07-14
MOSKOFF GREGORY T
Officer
$1.11M
@ $442.60 · 2025-07-09
ELLIS CHRISTOPHER R
Officer
$3.40M
@ $446.84 · 2025-07-08
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.34M
@ $445.12 · 2025-07-01
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.36M
@ $454.58 · 2025-06-02
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.29M
@ $431.09 · 2025-05-01
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.36M
@ $454.86 · 2025-04-01
MOSKOFF GREGORY T
Officer
$157,604
@ $434.17 · 2025-03-24
STEPP KATHERINE M
Chief Technology Officer
$733,561
@ $425.25 · 2025-03-21
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.39M
@ $464.79 · 2025-03-03
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.41M
@ $469.14 · 2025-02-03
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.45M
@ $484.33 · 2025-01-02
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.47M
@ $489.18 · 2024-12-02
ROBIE ROBERT J
Officer
$1.94M
@ $484.96 · 2024-11-12
COSTIGAN JOHN
Officer
$780,174
@ $481.00 · 2024-11-11
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.36M
@ $453.68 · 2024-11-01
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.37M
@ $455.09 · 2024-10-01
SIEGEL LAURIE A
Director
$615,277
@ $459.85 · 2024-09-26
ELLIS CHRISTOPHER R
Officer
$6.36M
@ $456.15 · 2024-09-26
FRANK MALCOLM
Director
$1.30M
@ $457.85 · 2024-09-26
MCGONIGLE JAMES J. III
Director
$2.47M
@ $456.83 · 2024-09-26
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.25M
@ $416.59 · 2024-09-03
HARDING CATRINA
Officer
$184,806
@ $407.96 · 2024-08-05
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.24M
@ $412.75 · 2024-08-01
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.23M
@ $408.98 · 2024-07-01
ABRAMS ROBIN ANN
Director
$999,186
@ $420.71 · 2024-06-25
STEPP KATHERINE M
Chief Technology Officer
$452,840
@ $428.42 · 2024-06-24
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.20M
@ $400.00 · 2024-06-03
SKOKO GORAN
Officer
$668,715
@ $445.81 · 2024-05-15
SKOKO GORAN
Officer
$2.71M
@ $436.40 · 2024-05-10
ROBIE ROBERT J
Officer
$1.87M
@ $431.48 · 2024-05-06
SKOKO GORAN
Officer
$1.76M
@ $428.57 · 2024-05-03
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.25M
@ $415.26 · 2024-05-01
MOSKOFF GREGORY T
Officer
$138,435
@ $419.50 · 2024-04-30
SNOW FREDERICK PHILIP
Chief Executive Officer
$1.36M
@ $452.10 · 2024-04-01
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 →FDS
😨Fear(25/100)
"Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"
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 →FDS
⚪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: Fear (25)
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)