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CHARR vs MS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Financial - Capital Markets
CHARR vs MS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Asset Management | Financial - Capital Markets |
| Market Cap | $791K | $302.59B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $103.14B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $3M | $16.18B |
| Gross Margin | — | 55.6% |
| Operating Margin | — | 17.1% |
| Forward P/E | 3.0x | 16.0x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $360.49B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $447K | $75.74B |
Quick Verdict: CHARR vs MS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
CHARR is the clearest fit if your priority is sleep-well-at-night and defensive.
- current ratio 9.20x
- NIM 0.8% vs MS's 0.7%
- Lower P/E (3.0x vs 16.0x)
MS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding.
- 7.3% 10Y total return vs CHARR's -54.9%
- 13.0% margin vs CHARR's 0.8%
- 2.0% yield; 11-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Lower P/E (3.0x vs 16.0x) | |
| Quality / Margins | 13.0% margin vs CHARR's 0.8% | |
| Dividends | 2.0% yield; 11-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +63.0% vs CHARR's -54.9% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | 3.3% ROA vs MS's 1.2% |
CHARR vs MS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
CHARR vs MS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MS and CHARR operate at a comparable scale, with $103.1B and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $103.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $1M | $26.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $3M | $16.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$607,934 | -$6.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +55.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | +17.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | +13.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | -2.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | +48.9% |
Valuation Metrics
CHARR leads this category, winning 3 of 3 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 3.0x trailing earnings, CHARR trades at a 88% valuation discount to MS's 23.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, CHARR's 1.3x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MS's 25.8x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $790,577 | $302.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $343,158 | $587.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 2.97x | 23.92x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 16.01x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.69x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 1.29x | 25.81x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 2.93x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.01x | 2.91x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
Evenly matched — CHARR and MS each lead in 3 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MS delivers a 14.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $0 for CHARR. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MS scores 5/9 vs CHARR's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +0.3% | +14.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.3% | +1.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | — | +2.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.7% | +3.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 3.42x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$447,419 | $284.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $447,419 | $75.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $360.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 0.44x |
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
MS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in MS five years ago would be worth $23,624 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $4,506 for CHARR. Over the past 12 months, MS leads with a +63.0% total return vs CHARR's -54.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MS at 33.6% vs CHARR's -23.3% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -62.0% | +5.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -54.9% | +63.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -54.9% | +138.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -54.9% | +136.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -54.9% | +732.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -23.3% | +33.6% |
Risk & Volatility
MS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Risk & Volatility
MS currently trades 97.6% from its 52-week high vs CHARR's 27.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | — | 1.37x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $0.26 | $194.83 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $0.03 | $118.20 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +27.7% | +97.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.6 | 66.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 20K | 5.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Analyst Outlook
MS is the only dividend payer here at 2.00% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $205.75 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 52 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 11 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $3.81 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.4% |
MS leads in 2 of 6 categories (Total Returns, Risk & Volatility). CHARR leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
CHARR vs MS: Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is CHARR or MS a better buy right now?
Charlton Aria Acquisition Corporation (CHARR) offers the better valuation at 3.
0x trailing P/E, making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Morgan Stanley (MS) a "Buy" — based on 52 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — CHARR or MS?
On trailing P/E, Charlton Aria Acquisition Corporation (CHARR) is the cheapest at 3.
0x versus Morgan Stanley at 23. 9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — CHARR or MS?
Over the past 5 years, Morgan Stanley (MS) delivered a total return of +136.
2%, compared to -54. 9% for Charlton Aria Acquisition Corporation (CHARR). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MS returned +732. 3% versus CHARR's -54. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which has better profit margins — CHARR or MS?
Morgan Stanley (MS) is the more profitable company, earning 13.
0% net margin versus 0. 0% for Charlton Aria Acquisition Corporation — meaning it keeps 13. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MS leads at 17. 1% versus 0. 0% for CHARR. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MS leads at 55. 6%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
05Which pays a better dividend — CHARR or MS?
In this comparison, MS (2.
0% yield) pays a dividend. CHARR does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
06Is CHARR or MS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Morgan Stanley (MS) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (2.
0% yield, +732. 3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MS: +732. 3%, CHARR: -54. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
07What are the main differences between CHARR and MS?
Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
In terms of investment character: CHARR is a small-cap deep-value stock; MS is a large-cap high-growth stock. MS pays a dividend while CHARR does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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