Compare StocksMS vs WEC

Morgan Stanley (MS) vs WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC)

MS
Morgan Stanley
$190.17
VS
WEC
WEC Energy Group, Inc.
$117.46

Rewards

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.
WEC
  • Each dollar of retained earnings has created $1.35 of earning power — management is creating shareholder value.

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.
  • Insiders have sold $17.7M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.
WEC
  • PEG ratio of 2.61 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 5.8x indicates heavy leverage — it would take over 4 years of EBITDA to pay off net debt.
  • Altman Z-Score of 1.07 places the company in the distress zone — financial patterns resemble those of companies that experienced bankruptcy.

Key Valuation Metrics

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MS
WEC
Valuation
N/A
Free Cash Flow
$-2.14B
N/A
FCF Yield
-5.59%
17.21
Trailing P/E
24.37
15.02
Forward P/E
19.56
Quality & Moat
3.75%
ROIC
4.53%
14.42%
ROE
11.08%
87.39%
Gross Margin
42.38%
0.54
PEG Ratio
2.61
Balance Sheet Safety
4.56
Debt / Equity
1.59
N/A
Interest Coverage
N/A
N/A
Net Debt / EBITDA
5.78
2.10%
Dividend Yield
3.24%
MS: 5Ties: 1WEC: 3
MSWEC

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.

WEC

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
WEC
$3.85
created per $1 retained over 3 years
Exceptional Value Creator
Σ Retained
$1.23B
Δ Market Cap
+$4.75B
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
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
WEC
273.7% Overvalued
Price is 273.7% above estimated fair value
Current Price: $117.46
Fair Value: $31.43
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.

WEC

Requires positive FCF to compute implied growth rate.

Economic Moat Score

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

No durable moat detected, though margin stability 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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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.
WEC
-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 24.3%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.
WEC
Insiders 0.2%Institutions 84.5%Retail & Other 15.3%
No. of Institutional Holders1,703
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
WEC
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
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
WEC
5
Sells (3M)
16
Sells (12M)
Total value (12M): $14.64M
PAYNE ULICE JR.
Director
$166,166
@ $114.60 · 2026-02-24
KLAPPA GALE E
Director
$367,099
@ $115.44 · 2026-02-23
KLAPPA GALE E
Director
$3.47M
@ $115.63 · 2026-02-17
STRAKA MARY BETH
Officer
$325,131
@ $115.50 · 2026-02-13
LAUBER SCOTT J
Chief Executive Officer
$895,462
@ $110.70 · 2026-02-09
ERICKSON JOSHUA M
Officer
$11,247
@ $112.47 · 2025-11-07
GARVIN ROBERT M
Officer
$1.53M
@ $108.11 · 2025-08-19
LAUBER SCOTT J
Chief Executive Officer
$1.02M
@ $110.88 · 2025-08-08
PAYNE ULICE JR.
Director
$179,814
@ $111.00 · 2025-08-07
KRUEGER DANIEL P
Officer
$659,032
@ $111.14 · 2025-08-04
KLAPPA GALE E
Director
$4.54M
@ $110.77 · 2025-08-04
REESE ANTHONY
Officer and Treasurer
$460,743
@ $110.30 · 2025-08-01
MULROY MOLLY A
Officer
$444,611
@ $110.33 · 2025-08-01
STRAKA MARY BETH
Officer
$276,362
@ $110.54 · 2025-08-01
ERICKSON JOSHUA M
General Counsel
$232,242
@ $107.77 · 2025-05-20
GARCIA-THOMAS CRISTINA A
Director
$54,446
@ $103.71 · 2025-05-13
KLAPPA GALE E
Director
$8.10M
@ $108.03 · 2025-03-04
PAYNE ULICE JR.
Director
$119,791
@ $104.17 · 2025-02-24
LAUBER SCOTT J
Chief Executive Officer
$677,998
@ $100.89 · 2024-11-21
KLAPPA GALE E
Director
$4.41M
@ $99.53 · 2024-11-21
PAYNE ULICE JR.
Director
$49,490
@ $98.98 · 2024-11-19
REESE ANTHONY
Officer and Treasurer
$360,910
@ $97.97 · 2024-11-18
KLAPPA GALE E
Director
$179,421
@ $99.40 · 2024-11-18
STRAKA MARY BETH
Officer
$301,435
@ $93.04 · 2024-08-30
GUC WILLIAM J
Officer
$557,918
@ $92.99 · 2024-08-28
PAYNE ULICE JR.
Director
$66,340
@ $88.45 · 2024-08-08
REESE ANTHONY
Officer and Treasurer
$120,924
@ $88.78 · 2024-08-07
ERICKSON JOSHUA M
General Counsel
$31,412
@ $89.75 · 2024-08-05
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
😏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.
WEC
FearGreed
😏Greed(64/100)

"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: Greed (71)
WEC
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 (64)
View MS Full AnalysisView WEC Full Analysis
MS vs WEC: Which Is the Better Buy? | SafetyMargin.io