ALF
Centurion Acquisition Corp.
Shell Companies
Market Cap$254M
5Y Perf.+8.2%
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Stock Comparison
ALF vs MS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MS
Morgan Stanley
Financial - Capital Markets
Market Cap$302.59B
5Y Perf.+83.6%
ALF vs MS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ALF | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Shell Companies | Financial - Capital Markets |
| Market Cap | $254M | $302.59B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $103.14B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $12M | $16.18B |
| Gross Margin | — | 55.6% |
| Operating Margin | — | 17.1% |
| Forward P/E | 32.7x | 16.0x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $360.49B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $665K | $75.74B |
ALF vs MS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
ALF
MS
| Stock | Aug 24 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centurion Acquisiti… (ALF) | 100 | 108.2 | +8.2% |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | 100 | 183.6 | +83.6% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: ALF vs MS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: MS leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for valuation and capital efficiency and profitability and margin quality. Centurion Acquisition Corp. is the stronger pick specifically for growth and revenue expansion and capital preservation and lower volatility. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
ALF
Centurion Acquisition Corp.
The Banking Pick
ALF is the clearest fit if your priority is income & stability and growth exposure.
- beta 0.01
- EPS growth 100.0%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.01, current ratio 6.39x
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
MS
Morgan Stanley
The Banking Pick
MS carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for long-term compounding.
- 7.3% 10Y total return vs ALF's 8.2%
- Lower P/E (16.0x vs 32.7x)
- 13.0% margin vs ALF's 2.8%
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ALF | 100.1% NII/revenue growth vs MS's 16.8% |
| Value | MS | Lower P/E (16.0x vs 32.7x) |
| Quality / Margins | MS | 13.0% margin vs ALF's 2.8% |
| Stability / Safety | ALF | Beta 0.01 vs MS's 1.37 |
| Dividends | MS | 2.0% yield; 11-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | MS | +63.0% vs ALF's +4.4% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ALF | 4.0% ROA vs MS's 1.2%, ROIC -0.2% vs 2.9% |
ALF vs MS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2024
ALF vs MS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLMSLAGGINGALF
ALFCenturion Acquisition…
1leads
MSMorgan Stanley
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs ALFMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MS1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
Tied
—
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
MS4/7
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
MS6/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
ALF2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
—
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MS and ALF operate at a comparable scale, with $103.1B and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | ALFCenturion Acquisi… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $103.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$648,137 | $26.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $12M | $16.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$555,016 | -$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 | -27.3% | +48.9% |
MS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
Evenly matched — ALF and MS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 23.9x trailing earnings, MS trades at a 27% valuation discount to ALF's 32.7x P/E.
| Metric | ALFCenturion Acquisi… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $254M | $302.6B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $253M | $587.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 32.73x | 23.92x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 16.01x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.69x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 25.81x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 2.93x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.90x | 2.91x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Evenly matched — ALF and MS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MS leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MS delivers a 14.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $4 for ALF. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MS scores 5/9 vs ALF's 2/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ALFCenturion Acquisi… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +3.8% | +14.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +4.0% | +1.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -0.2% | +2.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -0.3% | +3.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 2 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 3.42x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$665,430 | $284.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $665,430 | $75.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $360.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 0.44x |
MS leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
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 $10,800 for ALF. Over the past 12 months, MS leads with a +63.0% total return vs ALF's +4.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MS at 33.6% vs ALF's 2.6% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ALFCenturion Acquisi… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.5% | +5.7% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +4.4% | +63.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +8.0% | +138.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +8.0% | +136.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +8.2% | +732.3% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +2.6% | +33.6% |
MS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ALF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ALF is the less volatile stock with a 0.01 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MS's 1.37 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | ALFCenturion Acquisi… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.01x | 1.37x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $10.84 | $194.83 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $10.34 | $118.20 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.6% | +97.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 63.5 | 66.0 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 36K | 5.4M |
ALF leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
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 | ALFCenturion Acquisi… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
MS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). ALF leads in 1 (Risk & Volatility). 1 tied.
Best OverallMorgan Stanley (MS)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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ALF vs MS: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is ALF or MS a better buy right now?
Morgan Stanley (MS) offers the better valuation at 23.
9x trailing P/E (16. 0x forward), 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 — ALF or MS?
On trailing P/E, Morgan Stanley (MS) is the cheapest at 23.
9x versus Centurion Acquisition Corp. at 32. 7x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — ALF or MS?
Over the past 5 years, Morgan Stanley (MS) delivered a total return of +136.
2%, compared to +8. 0% for Centurion Acquisition Corp. (ALF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MS returned +732. 3% versus ALF's +8. 2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — ALF or MS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Centurion Acquisition Corp.
(ALF) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 01β versus Morgan Stanley's 1. 37β — meaning MS is approximately 20346% more volatile than ALF relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — ALF or MS?
Morgan Stanley (MS) is the more profitable company, earning 13.
0% net margin versus 0. 0% for Centurion Acquisition Corp. — 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 ALF. 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.
06Which pays a better dividend — ALF or MS?
In this comparison, MS (2.
0% yield) pays a dividend. ALF does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is ALF or MS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Centurion Acquisition Corp.
(ALF) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 01)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ALF: +8. 2%, MS: +732. 3%), 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.
08What are the main differences between ALF 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: ALF is a small-cap quality compounder stock; MS is a large-cap high-growth stock. MS pays a dividend while ALF 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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