Compare StocksKO vs MS

The Coca-Cola Company (KO) vs Morgan Stanley (MS)

KO
The Coca-Cola Company
$78.58
VS
MS
Morgan Stanley
$190.17

Rewards

KO
  • The Coca-Cola Company has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • Gross margin of 61.7% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • The Coca-Cola Company scores 94/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with margin stability as the strongest competitive dimension.
MS
  • Gross margin of 87.4% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • Morgan Stanley scores 80/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with revenue predictability as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $3.11 of earning power — management is an exceptional capital allocator.

Risks

KO
  • FCF yield of 1.6% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • 9 insider sales totaling $45.9M with no purchases in the past 3 months — insiders are reducing their exposure.
  • Free cash flow has declined at a 17.8% CAGR over the past 4 years — a concerning trend.
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.
  • Insiders have sold $17.7M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.

Key Valuation Metrics

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KO
MS
Valuation
$5.30B
Free Cash Flow
N/A
1.57%
FCF Yield
N/A
24.71
Trailing P/E
17.21
22.59
Forward P/E
15.02
Quality & Moat
16.98%
ROIC
3.75%
36.68%
ROE
14.42%
61.74%
Gross Margin
87.39%
1.36
PEG Ratio
0.54
Balance Sheet Safety
1.25
Debt / Equity
4.56
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
1.84
Net Debt / EBITDA
N/A
2.70%
Dividend Yield
2.10%
KO: 4Ties: 1MS: 4
KOMS

Historical Fundamentals

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KO

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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KO
$2.72
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$9.36B
Δ Market Cap
+$25.42B
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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KO
44.9% Overvalued
Price is 44.9% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $78.58
Fair Value: $54.21
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
MS
31.0% Margin of Safety
Price is 31.0% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $190.17
Fair Value: $275.48
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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KO

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $79?

+12.4%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +24.8%

The market implies +12.4% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

Standard FCF implies +24.8%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

MS

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

Economic Moat Score

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KO
94/100
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 4 years of fundamental data.
MS
80/100
Wide Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Wide moat driven primarily by revenue predictability. Margin Stability is the area most vulnerable to competitive pressure.

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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KO
-2.38
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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KO
Insiders 9.9%Institutions 66.8%Retail & Other 23.3%
No. of Institutional Holders4,434
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 24.3%Institutions 63.0%Retail & Other 12.8%
No. of Institutional Holders3,167
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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KO
0
Buys (3M)
1
Buys (12M)
Total value (12M): $998,676
LEVCHIN MAX R
Director
$998,676
@ $70.00 · 2025-10-24
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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KO
9
Sells (3M)
19
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $122.47M
DOUGLAS MONICA HOWARD
Officer
$1.85M
@ $77.37 · 2026-03-09
QUAN NANCY W
Officer
$1.87M
@ $79.50 · 2026-03-03
PIETRACCI BRUNO
Divisional Officer
$2.28M
@ $79.41 · 2026-03-03
QUINCEY JAMES R.
Chief Executive Officer
$19.84M
@ $79.14 · 2026-03-03
MURPHY JOHN
President
$5.83M
@ $80.52 · 2026-03-02
PEREZ BEATRIZ R
Officer
$1.73M
@ $81.00 · 2026-02-27
PEREZ BEATRIZ R
Officer
$2.93M
@ $80.69 · 2026-02-26
DOUGLAS MONICA HOWARD
Officer
$1.60M
@ $80.16 · 2026-02-25
MURPHY JOHN
President
$8.00M
@ $80.42 · 2026-02-25
QUINCEY JAMES R.
Chief Executive Officer
$26.05M
@ $77.10 · 2026-02-03
QUAN NANCY W
Officer
$2.25M
@ $71.17 · 2025-11-17
ARROYO MANUEL
Officer
$9.89M
@ $70.80 · 2025-11-14
BRAUN HENRIQUE GNANI
Chief Operating Officer
$2.86M
@ $70.93 · 2025-11-11
DOUGLAS MONICA HOWARD
Officer
$947,464
@ $69.93 · 2025-10-24
KOUMETTIS NIKOLAOS
Divisional Officer
$2.58M
@ $69.10 · 2025-08-05
QUINCEY JAMES R.
Chief Executive Officer
$19.20M
@ $72.06 · 2025-05-30
QUAN NANCY W
Officer
$2.02M
@ $70.81 · 2025-05-09
PEREZ BEATRIZ R
Officer
$4.34M
@ $71.87 · 2025-05-08
MURPHY JOHN
President
$6.39M
@ $72.09 · 2025-05-07
BRAUN HENRIQUE GNANI
Chief Operating Officer
$1.81M
@ $71.47 · 2025-03-11
KOUMETTIS NIKOLAOS
Divisional Officer
$3.94M
@ $71.01 · 2025-03-07
DOUGLAS MONICA HOWARD
Officer
$394,231
@ $70.84 · 2025-02-26
KOUMETTIS NIKOLAOS
Divisional Officer
$3.88M
@ $70.96 · 2025-02-26
QUAN NANCY W
Officer
$3.92M
@ $71.36 · 2025-02-25
CHANG LISA VIRGINIA
Officer
$961,352
@ $71.50 · 2025-02-25
PIETRACCI BRUNO
Divisional Officer
$1.34M
@ $70.56 · 2025-02-24
DOUGLAS MONICA HOWARD
Officer
$697,673
@ $63.71 · 2024-11-22
QUINCEY JAMES R.
Chief Executive Officer
$6.40M
@ $64.03 · 2024-11-08
QUAN NANCY W
Officer
$1.32M
@ $71.50 · 2024-08-27
QUINCEY JAMES R.
Chief Executive Officer
$2.97M
@ $70.02 · 2024-08-26
MANN JENNIFER K
Officer
$8.99M
@ $69.52 · 2024-08-22
CHANG LISA VIRGINIA
Officer
$2.80M
@ $69.54 · 2024-08-21
QUINCEY JAMES R.
Chief Executive Officer
$7.18M
@ $70.02 · 2024-08-21
PEREZ BEATRIZ R
Officer
$2.43M
@ $68.62 · 2024-08-08
ARROYO MANUEL
Officer
$1.88M
@ $68.22 · 2024-08-07
CHANG LISA VIRGINIA
Officer
$3.98M
@ $68.51 · 2024-08-06
PIETRACCI BRUNO
Divisional Officer
$2.67M
@ $69.01 · 2024-08-02
QUAN NANCY W
Officer
$1.27M
@ $68.95 · 2024-08-02
QUAN NANCY W
Officer
$2.53M
@ $66.96 · 2024-07-26
QUAN NANCY W
Officer
$1.25M
@ $64.96 · 2024-07-17
KOUMETTIS NIKOLAOS
Divisional Officer
$5.04M
@ $62.34 · 2024-06-14
QUAN NANCY W
Officer
$1.22M
@ $63.44 · 2024-06-11
BRAUN HENRIQUE GNANI
Officer
$3.61M
@ $63.08 · 2024-05-15
DOUGLAS MONICA HOWARD
Officer
$561,801
@ $63.31 · 2024-05-10
MURPHY JOHN
President
$3.60M
@ $62.91 · 2024-05-09
RANDAZZA MARK
Officer
$1.28M
@ $62.29 · 2024-05-07
QUAN NANCY W
Officer
$2.33M
@ $62.28 · 2024-05-07
PEREZ BEATRIZ R
Officer
$3.55M
@ $61.99 · 2024-05-06
Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
MS
4
Sells (3M)
17
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $74.11M
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$2.12M
@ $190.75 · 2026-04-20
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$2.78M
@ $189.24 · 2026-04-17
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$3.04M
@ $188.22 · 2026-04-16
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$9.74M
@ $188.59 · 2026-04-16
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$6.02M
@ $182.61 · 2026-01-30
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
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$3.97M
@ $184.00 · 2026-01-20
PICK EDWARD N.
Chief Executive Officer
$16.43M
@ $164.34 · 2025-10-31
SMITH CHARLES AUBREY III
Officer
$2.81M
@ $140.30 · 2025-07-17
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.53M
@ $140.62 · 2025-07-17
GROSSMAN ERIC F
Officer
$1.69M
@ $141.12 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.09M
@ $141.13 · 2025-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$3.70M
@ $127.37 · 2025-05-12
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.80M
@ $120.00 · 2025-05-02
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$95,459
@ $119.32 · 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
PIZZI MICHAEL A
Officer
$2.52M
@ $136.92 · 2025-01-21
SAPERSTEIN ANDREW MICHAEL
President
$4.20M
@ $136.43 · 2025-01-21
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
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$368,375
@ $105.25 · 2024-07-26
AKRAM RAJA
Officer
$797,764
@ $106.37 · 2024-07-18
HERZ ROBERT H
Director
$106,621
@ $106.62 · 2024-07-17
SIMKOWITZ DANIEL A
President
$4.26M
@ $106.54 · 2024-07-17
CRAWLEY MANDELL L.
Officer
$692,663
@ $99.61 · 2024-05-14
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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KO
FearGreed
😏Greed(67/100)

"Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"

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
😏Greed(71/100)

"Market is optimistic — be cautious and ensure you have a margin of safety"

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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KO
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: Greed (67)
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: Greed (71)
View KO Full AnalysisView MS Full Analysis
KO vs MS: Which Is the Better Buy? | SafetyMargin.io