APAM vs MS

For growth investors, Morgan Stanley (MS) is the stronger pick with 16.

8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 7. 6% for Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (APAM). Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (APAM) offers the better valuation at 9. 3x trailing P/E (9. 8x 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.

On trailing P/E, Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc.

(APAM) is the cheapest at 9. 3x versus Morgan Stanley at 23. 8x. On forward P/E, Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. is actually cheaper at 9. 8x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Morgan Stanley wins at 1. 79x versus Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. 's 2. 76x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Morgan Stanley (MS) delivered a total return of +144.

0%, compared to +1. 5% for Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (APAM). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MS returned +726. 4% versus APAM's +127. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc.

(APAM) is the lower-risk stock at 1. 17β versus Morgan Stanley's 1. 37β — meaning MS is approximately 17% more volatile than APAM relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (APAM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 52% versus 3% for Morgan Stanley — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Morgan Stanley (MS) is pulling ahead at 16.

8% versus 7. 6% for Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (APAM). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Morgan Stanley grew EPS 53. 5% year-over-year, compared to 10. 7% for Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc.

(APAM) is the more profitable company, earning 24. 3% net margin versus 13. 0% for Morgan Stanley — meaning it keeps 24. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: APAM leads at 33. 4% versus 17. 1% for MS. 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.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Morgan Stanley (MS) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 79x versus Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. 's 2. 76x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (APAM) trades at 9. 8x forward P/E versus 15. 9x for Morgan Stanley — 6. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MS: 8. 7% to $205. 75.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Artisan Partners Asset Management Inc. (APAM) offers the highest yield at 10. 4%, versus 2. 0% for Morgan Stanley (MS).

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, +726. 4% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MS: +726. 4%, APAM: +127. 8%), 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.

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: APAM is a small-cap deep-value stock; MS is a large-cap high-growth stock. 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.