Compare StocksMS vs STX

Morgan Stanley (MS) vs Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX)

MS
Morgan Stanley
$158.55
VS
STX
Seagate Technology Holdings plc
$434.60

Rewards

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.
STX
  • PEG ratio of 0.72 suggests the stock is undervalued relative to its growth rate — paying less than 1x for each unit of earnings growth.
  • Altman Z-Score of 4.80 indicates very low bankruptcy risk — the company is firmly in the safe zone.

Risks

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.
STX
  • FCF yield of 1.1% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • Trailing P/E of 49.0x is 80% above the historical average of 27.3x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
  • High leverage (10.47x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.

Key Valuation Metrics

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MS
STX
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$1.10B
N/A
FCF Yield
1.13%
15.53
Trailing P/E
49.00
12.89
Forward P/E
21.91
Quality & Moat
3.43%
ROIC
45.21%
14.42%
ROE
320.04%
87.06%
Gross Margin
38.78%
0.75
PEG Ratio
0.72
Balance Sheet Safety
4.56
Debt / Equity
10.47
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
1.32
2.52%
Dividend Yield
0.68%
MS: 5Ties: 2STX: 2
MSSTX

Historical Fundamentals

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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.

STX

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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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
STX
N/A
Net losses over 3 years — test not applicable
Company had negative cumulative retained earnings
Σ Retained
$-492.0M
Δ Market Cap
+$47.53B
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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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
STX
5.5% Margin of Safety
Price is 5.5% below estimated fair value
Current Price: $434.60
Fair Value: $459.97
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued

Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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MS

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

STX

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $435?

+24.6%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +28.8%

The market implies +24.6% Owner Earnings growth, above historical trends.

Standard FCF implies a demanding +28.8%, reflecting heavy growth investment.

Economic Moat Score

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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.
STX
32/100
No Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

No durable moat detected, though reinvestment efficiency 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 5 years of fundamental data.

Forensic Accounting

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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.
STX
-1.47
Likely 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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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.
STX
Insiders 0.3%Institutions 89.8%Retail & Other 9.9%
No. of Institutional Holders1,736
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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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
STX
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
No open market insider purchases found.
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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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
STX
11
Sells (3M)
56
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $146.19M
MORRIS JOHN CHRISTOPHER
Chief Technology Officer
$42,273
@ $377.44 · 2026-03-13
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$7.70M
@ $384.76 · 2026-03-02
CONYERS YOLANDA LEE
Director
$295,192
@ $393.59 · 2026-03-02
MORRIS JOHN CHRISTOPHER
Chief Technology Officer
$98,400
@ $410.00 · 2026-02-24
CHONG KIAN FATT
Officer
$2.43M
@ $416.48 · 2026-02-23
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$8.59M
@ $429.27 · 2026-02-02
GELDMACHER JAY L
Director
$414,423
@ $448.02 · 2026-01-30
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$8.93M
@ $442.29 · 2026-01-29
LEE JAMES CI
Officer
$234,776
@ $348.85 · 2026-01-26
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$422,626
@ $299.31 · 2026-01-12
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$5.71M
@ $285.56 · 2026-01-02
MORRIS JOHN CHRISTOPHER
Chief Technology Officer
$32,984
@ $291.89 · 2025-12-15
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$594,759
@ $295.90 · 2025-12-11
CONYERS YOLANDA LEE
Director
$204,682
@ $272.91 · 2025-12-02
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$5.42M
@ $271.03 · 2025-12-01
ROMANO GIANLUCA
Chief Financial Officer
$2.13M
@ $266.69 · 2025-11-13
ROMANO GIANLUCA
Chief Financial Officer
$15.40M
@ $285.16 · 2025-11-12
LEE JAMES CI
Officer
$201,419
@ $288.98 · 2025-11-11
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$408,040
@ $288.98 · 2025-11-11
ARUMUGAVELU SHANKAR
Director
$1.47M
@ $294.56 · 2025-11-10
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$1.62M
@ $270.00 · 2025-11-05
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$5.26M
@ $262.82 · 2025-11-03
TILENIUS STEPHANIE SCHEAR
Director
$545,084
@ $266.41 · 2025-11-03
GELDMACHER JAY L
Director
$336,375
@ $269.10 · 2025-10-31
CHONG KIAN FATT
Officer
$1.93M
@ $272.14 · 2025-10-30
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$318,040
@ $225.56 · 2025-10-13
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$5.00M
@ $249.90 · 2025-10-01
MORRIS JOHN CHRISTOPHER
Chief Technology Officer
$79,645
@ $211.26 · 2025-09-16
MORRIS JOHN CHRISTOPHER
Chief Technology Officer
$3.00M
@ $195.80 · 2025-09-12
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$721,396
@ $193.30 · 2025-09-11
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$1.30M
@ $191.53 · 2025-09-10
CONYERS YOLANDA LEE
Director
$126,599
@ $168.80 · 2025-09-02
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$3.38M
@ $168.97 · 2025-09-02
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$261,376
@ $151.61 · 2025-08-11
GELDMACHER JAY L
Director
$376,250
@ $150.50 · 2025-08-06
LEE JAMES CI
Officer
$714,145
@ $154.41 · 2025-08-01
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$915,275
@ $155.00 · 2025-08-01
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$3.07M
@ $153.75 · 2025-08-01
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$248,400
@ $144.00 · 2025-07-11
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$2.89M
@ $144.66 · 2025-07-01
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$77,870
@ $130.00 · 2025-06-16
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$222,353
@ $129.05 · 2025-06-11
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$222,353
@ $129.05 · 2025-06-11
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$467,220
@ $130.00 · 2025-06-09
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$7.08M
@ $130.19 · 2025-06-09
TILENIUS STEPHANIE SCHEAR
Director
$344,801
@ $128.04 · 2025-06-05
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$9.28M
@ $124.24 · 2025-06-04
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$8.39M
@ $119.87 · 2025-06-03
CONYERS YOLANDA LEE
Director
$87,758
@ $117.01 · 2025-06-02
CANNON MICHAEL REYE
Director
$2.88M
@ $119.00 · 2025-06-02
ROMANO GIANLUCA
Chief Financial Officer
$6.09M
@ $117.45 · 2025-05-30
TEH BAN-SENG
Officer
$483,115
@ $115.00 · 2025-05-27
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$7.66M
@ $109.47 · 2025-05-22
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$7.66M
@ $109.47 · 2025-05-22
CHONG KIAN FATT
Officer
$713,148
@ $111.26 · 2025-05-22
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$1.69M
@ $84.56 · 2025-04-01
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$2.03M
@ $101.57 · 2025-03-03
CONYERS YOLANDA LEE
Director
$77,212
@ $102.95 · 2025-03-03
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$1.88M
@ $94.13 · 2025-02-03
MOSLEY WILLIAM D
Chief Executive Officer
$1.73M
@ $86.65 · 2025-01-02
MORRIS JOHN CHRISTOPHER
Chief Technology Officer
$13,883
@ $98.46 · 2024-12-12
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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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.
STX
FearGreed
😐Neutral(59/100)

"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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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)
STX
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 (59)
View MS Full AnalysisView STX Full Analysis
Morgan Stanley (MS) vs Seagate Technology Holdings plc (STX) Stock Comparison | SafetyMargin.io