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SafetyMargin.io vs Simply Wall St — Free Buffett-Style Alternative

·SafetyMargin.io
comparisonSimply Wall Ststock analysisvalue investing

Simply Wall St is known for its visually rich infographics and snowflake charts that score stocks across five dimensions. SafetyMargin.io takes a different approach — it gives value investors the actual analytical tools Warren Buffett uses, with full control over every assumption.

Both platforms aim to make stock analysis more accessible. Here is how they compare.

Feature Comparison

FeatureSafetyMargin.ioSimply Wall St
DCF Intrinsic Value Calculator
Customizable DCF Assumptions
Multi-Scenario DCF (Bear/Base/Bull)
Margin of Safety DisplayPartial
Reverse DCF (Market-Implied Growth)
Buffett Signal (Buy/Hold/Sell)
Forensic Accounting (Beneish M-Score)
Altman Z-Score (Bankruptcy Risk)
Sloan Ratio (Earnings Quality)
Owner Earnings (Buffett FCF)
SBC-Adjusted Free Cash Flow
ROIIC (Incremental Capital Returns)
Retained Earnings $1 Test
Buyback Effectiveness Score
Mr. Market Sentiment Gauge
Insider Transaction Tracking
Investment Checklist & Notes
Historical Fundamentals Charts
Snowflake Score Visualization
Portfolio Tracking
Global Stock Coverage
100% Free Access

Where SafetyMargin.io Stands Out

Full Control Over Your Valuation

Simply Wall St runs a DCF model for every stock, but you cannot change the assumptions. The growth rate, discount rate, and terminal value are all chosen by their algorithm. If you disagree with their inputs, you are stuck with their output.

SafetyMargin.io lets you build the model yourself. Adjust growth rates for two separate periods, set your own discount rate, toggle between trailing and normalized FCF, and run bear/base/bull scenarios side by side. The football field chart shows exactly where the current price falls within your range of fair values.

Reverse DCF — The Question Nobody Else Asks

Before buying a stock, the most important question is: what growth rate is the market already pricing in? SafetyMargin.io answers this instantly with the Reverse DCF, which uses binary search to find the implied growth expectation and compares it against historical performance.

Simply Wall St does not offer this.

Forensic Accounting

Simply Wall St checks basic financial health but does not run rigorous forensic models. SafetyMargin.io automatically computes:

  • Beneish M-Score — detects potential earnings manipulation using 8 financial ratios
  • Altman Z-Score — quantifies bankruptcy risk
  • Sloan Ratio — reveals whether reported earnings are backed by real cash flow

These tests help you avoid value traps before committing capital.

Capital Allocation Depth

SafetyMargin.io tracks Owner Earnings, ROIIC, SBC-Adjusted FCF, the $1 Retained Earnings Test, and Buyback Effectiveness — metrics that reveal whether management is creating or destroying shareholder value. Simply Wall St does not provide these.

Where Simply Wall St Stands Out

Visual Storytelling

The snowflake chart is genuinely useful for getting a quick read on a stock across value, future growth, past performance, health, and dividends. For investors who prefer visual summaries over spreadsheet-style analysis, Simply Wall St does this well.

Global Coverage

Simply Wall St covers stocks across dozens of international exchanges. SafetyMargin.io currently focuses on S&P 500 stocks listed on US exchanges.

Portfolio Features

Simply Wall St offers portfolio tracking with diversification analysis and alerts. SafetyMargin.io does not have portfolio management tools.

Pricing

SafetyMargin.ioSimply Wall St
Free tierFull access to all featuresLimited to 5 companies/month
PremiumN/A (everything is free)~$10/month (billed annually)

Who Should Use Which?

Choose SafetyMargin.io if you want to:

  • Build your own DCF model with full control over assumptions
  • Run forensic accounting checks before investing
  • Analyze capital allocation and management quality
  • Use Buffett and Graham frameworks without paying for a subscription

Choose Simply Wall St if you need:

  • Quick visual summaries of global stocks
  • Portfolio tracking and diversification analysis
  • Broad international market coverage

Try It Yourself

Search for any stock on AAPL, MSFT, or KO and see the full analysis — completely free.