Compare StocksMS vs VTR

Morgan Stanley (MS) vs Ventas, Inc. (VTR)

MS
Morgan Stanley
$158.55
VS
VTR
Ventas, Inc.
$85.55

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.
VTR
  • Free cash flow has grown at a 14.6% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.

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.
VTR
  • FCF yield of 3.0% is below 3%, meaning the market is pricing in substantial future growth to justify the current price.
  • PEG ratio of 15.69 indicates the stock is expensive relative to its expected growth — the market may be pricing in more growth than analysts project.
  • Net debt/EBITDA of 5.6x indicates heavy leverage — it would take over 4 years of EBITDA to pay off net debt.

Key Valuation Metrics

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MS
VTR
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$1.21B
N/A
FCF Yield
2.99%
15.53
Trailing P/E
158.43
12.89
Forward P/E
89.42
Quality & Moat
3.43%
ROIC
3.57%
14.42%
ROE
1.94%
87.06%
Gross Margin
41.21%
0.75
PEG Ratio
15.69
Balance Sheet Safety
4.56
Debt / Equity
1.02
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
5.64
2.52%
Dividend Yield
2.43%
MS: 5Ties: 3VTR: 1
MSVTR

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.

VTR

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
VTR
N/A
Net losses over 3 years — test not applicable
Company had negative cumulative retained earnings
Σ Retained
$-2.03B
Δ Market Cap
+$18.74B
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
VTR
600.8% Overvalued
Price is 600.8% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $85.55
Fair Value: $12.21
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.

VTR

What growth rate is the market pricing in at $86?

+40.8%
Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
Standard FCF implies +18.4%

The market implies +40.8% Owner Earnings growth, below historical trends — potential opportunity.

Standard FCF implies a more demanding +18.4%, reflecting heavy growth investment expected to generate future returns.

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.
VTR
49/100
Narrow Moat
70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

Narrow moat with revenue predictability as the key competitive advantage. Improving roic consistency 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 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.
VTR
-2.45
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

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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.
VTR
Insiders 0.5%Institutions 105.6%
No. of Institutional Holders1,348
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
VTR
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
VTR
5
Sells (3M)
32
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $88.73M
ROBERTS CAREY SHEA
General Counsel
$3.02M
@ $85.00 · 2026-02-11
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$848,751
@ $82.23 · 2026-02-06
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$801,605
@ $77.66 · 2026-02-02
PROBST ROBERT F.
Chief Financial Officer
$2.31M
@ $77.25 · 2026-01-02
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$797,475
@ $77.26 · 2026-01-02
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$831,419
@ $80.55 · 2025-12-01
BULGARELLI PETER J
Officer
$400,205
@ $80.04 · 2025-11-19
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$3.26M
@ $79.01 · 2025-11-17
PROBST ROBERT F.
Chief Financial Officer
$2.58M
@ $76.77 · 2025-11-12
BULGARELLI PETER J
Officer
$3,028
@ $75.70 · 2025-11-07
BULGARELLI PETER J
Officer
$372,256
@ $75.05 · 2025-11-06
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$2.33M
@ $75.19 · 2025-11-06
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$25.08M
@ $74.22 · 2025-11-03
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$15.66M
@ $71.32 · 2025-10-20
BULGARELLI PETER J
Officer
$322,215
@ $70.14 · 2025-10-01
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$724,986
@ $70.24 · 2025-10-01
BULGARELLI PETER J
Officer
$28,419
@ $70.00 · 2025-09-15
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$699,864
@ $67.80 · 2025-09-02
PROBST ROBERT F.
Chief Financial Officer
$2.03M
@ $68.49 · 2025-08-04
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$695,722
@ $67.40 · 2025-08-01
PROBST ROBERT F.
Chief Financial Officer
$266,960
@ $68.45 · 2025-07-31
PROBST ROBERT F.
Chief Financial Officer
$1.95M
@ $66.29 · 2025-07-21
PROBST ROBERT F.
Chief Financial Officer
$271,454
@ $66.24 · 2025-07-18
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$287,976
@ $65.82 · 2025-07-18
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$1.07M
@ $65.60 · 2025-07-16
PROBST ROBERT F.
Chief Financial Officer
$11.00M
@ $65.36 · 2025-07-14
ROBERTS CAREY SHEA
General Counsel
$1.51M
@ $64.23 · 2025-05-30
PROBST ROBERT F.
Chief Financial Officer
$1.13M
@ $65.22 · 2025-05-27
PROBST ROBERT F.
Chief Financial Officer
$4.50M
@ $64.59 · 2025-05-21
RAKOWICH WALTER C.
Director
$93,026
@ $63.76 · 2025-05-14
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$682,135
@ $66.09 · 2025-05-02
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$3.17M
@ $71.06 · 2025-04-03
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$2.97M
@ $69.15 · 2025-03-04
CAFARO DEBRA A
Chief Executive Officer
$15.30M
@ $68.21 · 2025-02-25
LIEBBE GREGORY R
Officer
$243,558
@ $63.00 · 2025-02-13
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

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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.
VTR
FearGreed
😏Greed(62/100)

"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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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)
VTR
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 (62)
View MS Full AnalysisView VTR Full Analysis