Compare Stocks › MS vs VST
Morgan Stanley (MS) vs Vistra Corp. (VST)
MS
Morgan Stanley
$158.55
VS
VST
Vistra Corp.
$167.37
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.
VST
- ★Share count has been reduced by 13% over the past 4 years through buybacks, increasing each share's claim on earnings.
- ★Each dollar of retained earnings has created $12.44 of market value — management is an exceptional capital allocator.
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.
VST
- ⚠Trailing P/E of 76.8x is 127% above the historical average of 33.9x — the stock trades at a premium to its own history.
- ⚠High leverage (4.00x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
- ⚠Altman Z-Score of 1.42 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.
Key Valuation Metrics
Learn more →MS
VST
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$-459.25M
N/A
FCF Yield
-0.81%
15.53
Trailing P/E
76.78
12.89
Forward P/E
14.71
Quality & Moat
3.43%
ROIC
7.26%
14.42%
ROE
14.72%
87.06%
Gross Margin
33.24%
0.75
PEG Ratio
N/A
Balance Sheet Safety
4.56
Debt / Equity
4.00
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
3.75
2.52%
Dividend Yield
0.54%
MS: 4Ties: 2VST: 2
MSVST
Historical Fundamentals
Learn more →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.
VST
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 →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
VST
$12.44
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$3.66B
Δ Market Cap
+$45.50B
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 →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
VST
15.7% Overvalued
Price is 15.7% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $167.37
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Fair Value: $144.65
Strongly undervalued
Undervalued
Fairly valued
Overvalued
Strongly overvalued
Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth
Learn more →MS
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
VST
Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.
Economic Moat Score
Learn more →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.
VST
44/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None
Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving margin stability would strengthen the moat.
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 →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.
VST
-2.54
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.
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 →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.
VST
Insiders 0.8%Institutions 93.0%Retail & Other 6.2%
No. of Institutional Holders1,759
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 →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
VST
0
Buys (3M)
0
Buys (12M)
PITESA JOHN WILLIAM
Director
$190,125
@ $126.75 · 2025-03-12
CRUTCHFIELD LISA
Director
$29,969
@ $89.46 · 2024-06-10
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 →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
VST
1
Sells (3M)
35
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $255.87M
MOORE STEPHANIE ZAPATA
General Counsel
$1.60M
@ $160.31 · 2026-03-09
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$3.61M
@ $162.05 · 2025-12-11
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$3.61M
@ $162.05 · 2025-12-11
MOORE STEPHANIE ZAPATA
General Counsel
$1.42M
@ $173.35 · 2025-11-24
HUDSON SCOTT A
Officer
$9.46M
@ $168.86 · 2025-11-14
KIRBY CARRIE LEE
Officer
$10.18M
@ $174.75 · 2025-11-14
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$4.09M
@ $186.53 · 2025-11-11
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$1.85M
@ $192.30 · 2025-10-29
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$4.17M
@ $203.64 · 2025-10-27
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$7.52M
@ $191.79 · 2025-10-24
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$4.08M
@ $188.75 · 2025-10-22
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.81M
@ $206.11 · 2025-10-20
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$9.07M
@ $212.28 · 2025-10-16
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$17.21M
@ $204.51 · 2025-10-14
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.38M
@ $204.62 · 2025-10-09
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.73M
@ $204.21 · 2025-10-07
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.74M
@ $204.44 · 2025-10-03
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$7.72M
@ $197.04 · 2025-10-01
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.62M
@ $201.56 · 2025-09-29
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.63M
@ $201.86 · 2025-09-25
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.99M
@ $210.52 · 2025-09-23
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$9.07M
@ $212.34 · 2025-09-19
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$9.11M
@ $213.17 · 2025-09-17
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$8.82M
@ $206.32 · 2025-09-15
BURKE JAMES A.
Chief Executive Officer
$12.93M
@ $206.26 · 2025-09-11
MOLDOVAN KRISTOPHER E.
Chief Financial Officer
$6.29M
@ $180.00 · 2025-06-17
SULT JOHN R
Director
$4.29M
@ $171.67 · 2025-06-06
HELM SCOTT BRADFORD
Director
$8.64M
@ $172.75 · 2025-06-05
MOLDOVAN KRISTOPHER E.
Chief Financial Officer
$7.20M
@ $160.00 · 2025-05-27
MOORE STEPHANIE ZAPATA
General Counsel
$5.65M
@ $161.44 · 2025-05-27
HUDSON SCOTT A
Officer
$8.79M
@ $157.00 · 2025-05-20
HELM SCOTT BRADFORD
Director
$3.14M
@ $156.80 · 2025-05-19
KIRBY CARRIE LEE
Officer
$16.95M
@ $156.98 · 2025-05-19
MOLDOVAN KRISTOPHER E.
Chief Financial Officer
$1.55M
@ $150.00 · 2025-05-13
MOLDOVAN KRISTOPHER E.
Chief Financial Officer
$6.95M
@ $140.00 · 2025-05-01
HELM SCOTT BRADFORD
Director
$2.80M
@ $139.77 · 2024-12-10
HUDSON SCOTT A
Officer
$18.88M
@ $164.16 · 2024-11-25
KIRBY CARRIE LEE
Officer
$13.79M
@ $162.28 · 2024-11-22
MOORE STEPHANIE ZAPATA
General Counsel
$6.18M
@ $161.94 · 2024-11-22
MUSCATO STEPHEN J
Officer
$33.41M
@ $161.34 · 2024-11-22
MOORE STEPHANIE ZAPATA
General Counsel
$2.79M
@ $80.37 · 2024-08-13
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 →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.
VST
😐Neutral(47/100)
"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 →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)
VST
⚪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 (47)