Compare StocksHD vs MS

The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) vs Morgan Stanley (MS)

HD
The Home Depot, Inc.
$328.21
VS
MS
Morgan Stanley
$158.55

Rewards

HD
  • The Home Depot, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • The Home Depot, Inc. scores 87/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with margin stability as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Dividend yield of 2.84% with a consistent or growing payout over the past 4 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

HD
  • FCF yield of 2.6% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • High leverage (5.14x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
  • Insiders have sold $2.6M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.
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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HD
MS
Valuation
$8.62B
Free Cash Flow
N/A
2.64%
FCF Yield
N/A
23.05
Trailing P/E
15.53
20.12
Forward P/E
12.89
Quality & Moat
16.65%
ROIC
3.43%
110.48%
ROE
14.42%
33.32%
Gross Margin
87.06%
N/A
PEG Ratio
0.75
Balance Sheet Safety
5.14
Debt / Equity
4.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
2.58
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
2.84%
Dividend Yield
2.52%
HD: 3Ties: 1MS: 4
HDMS

Historical Fundamentals

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HD

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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HD
$0.69
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Mediocre Allocator
Σ Retained
$21.95B
Δ Market Cap
+$15.12B
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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HD
156.8% Overvalued
Price is 156.8% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $328.21
Fair Value: $127.81
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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HD

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $328?

+18.9%
Market-Implied FCF Growth Rate

Market pricing in significantly higher growth than history — aggressive.

MS

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

Economic Moat Score

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HD
87/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. Margin Stability 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 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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HD
-1.89
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.
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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HD
Insiders 0.1%Institutions 74.6%Retail & Other 25.4%
No. of Institutional Holders5,084
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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HD
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
BRENNEMAN GREGORY D
Director
$999,767
@ $346.66 · 2025-03-14
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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HD
3
Sells (3M)
14
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $29.80M
DEATON JOHN A.
Officer
$661,617
@ $369.00 · 2026-03-04
MCPHAIL RICHARD V
Chief Financial Officer
$940,670
@ $368.89 · 2026-03-04
ROSEBOROUGH TERESA WYNN
General Counsel
$1.00M
@ $348.52 · 2025-12-26
BROWN ANGIE
Chief Technology Officer
$695,948
@ $357.63 · 2025-12-12
BASTEK WILLIAM D
Officer
$974,445
@ $423.12 · 2025-09-12
ROSEBOROUGH TERESA WYNN
General Counsel
$2.27M
@ $413.23 · 2025-08-22
BASTEK WILLIAM D
Officer
$1.55M
@ $410.23 · 2025-08-22
DECKER EDWARD P.
Chief Executive Officer
$13.07M
@ $397.22 · 2025-08-21
PADILLA HECTOR A
Officer
$640,609
@ $404.17 · 2025-08-20
BROWN ANGIE
Chief Technology Officer
$404,070
@ $404.07 · 2025-08-20
MCPHAIL RICHARD V
Chief Financial Officer
$1.36M
@ $403.66 · 2025-08-20
DEATON JOHN A.
Officer
$3.29M
@ $369.99 · 2025-06-03
ROSEBOROUGH TERESA WYNN
General Counsel
$2.00M
@ $369.28 · 2025-05-28
SIDDIQUI FAHIM
Chief Technology Officer
$954,564
@ $367.14 · 2025-05-22
BASTEK WILLIAM D
Officer
$1.24M
@ $416.61 · 2024-11-22
HOURIGAN TIMOTHY A
Officer
$6.55M
@ $409.52 · 2024-11-18
ROSEBOROUGH TERESA WYNN
General Counsel
$9.03M
@ $408.91 · 2024-11-14
CAMPBELL ANN-MARIE
Officer
$12.24M
@ $408.40 · 2024-11-14
PADILLA HECTOR A
Officer
$1.48M
@ $408.96 · 2024-11-14
MCPHAIL RICHARD V
Chief Financial Officer
$2.65M
@ $408.45 · 2024-11-13
SCARDINO KIMBERLY R.
Officer
$617,100
@ $363.00 · 2024-08-19
ROSEBOROUGH TERESA WYNN
General Counsel
$1.87M
@ $359.32 · 2024-08-15
CAREY MATTHEW A
Officer
$19.33M
@ $345.18 · 2024-05-16
SIDDIQUI FAHIM
Chief Technology Officer
$1.03M
@ $343.79 · 2024-05-16
PADILLA HECTOR A
Officer
$28,619
@ $349.01 · 2024-05-15
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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HD
FearGreed
😨Fear(35/100)

"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
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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HD
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 (35)
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 HD Full AnalysisView MS Full Analysis
The Home Depot, Inc. (HD) vs Morgan Stanley (MS) Stock Comparison | SafetyMargin.io