HCMA
HCM Acquisition Corp
Shell Companies
Market Cap$260M
5Y Perf.+2.9%
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Side-by-side financial analysisHCMA
MS
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Stock Comparison
HCMA vs MS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
MS
Morgan Stanley
Financial - Capital Markets
Market Cap$340.97B
5Y Perf.+144.9%
HCMA vs MS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot |  HCMA |  MS |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Shell Companies | Financial - Capital Markets |
| Market Cap | $260M | $340.97B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $0.00 | $114.98B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $5M | $16.86B |
| Gross Margin | — | 57.1% |
| Operating Margin | — | 19.1% |
| Forward P/E | 0.0x | 18.0x |
| Total Debt | $0.00 | $475.56B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $792K | $111.69B |
HCMA vs MS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
HCMA
MS
| Stock | Mar 22 | Jun 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCM Acquisition Corp (HCMA) | 100 | 102.9 | +2.9% |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | 100 | 244.9 | +144.9% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: HCMA vs MS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: HCMA and MS are tied at the top with 3 categories each — the right choice depends on your priorities. Morgan Stanley is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
HCMA
HCM Acquisition Corp
The Banking Pick
HCMA carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- beta 0.04
- Lower volatility, beta 0.04, current ratio 0.76x
- Beta 0.04, current ratio 0.76x
Best for: income & stability and sleep-well-at-night
MS
Morgan Stanley
The Banking Pick
MS is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding.
- 8.5% 10Y total return vs HCMA's 3.5%
- 14.7% margin vs HCMA's 1.4%
- 1.9% yield; 12-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend
Best for: long-term compounding
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Value |  HCMA | Lower P/E (0.0x vs 18.0x) |
| Quality / Margins |  MS | 14.7% margin vs HCMA's 1.4% |
| Stability / Safety | HCMA | Beta 0.04 vs MS's 1.40 |
| Dividends | MS | 1.9% yield; 12-year raise streak; the other pay no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | MS | +65.3% vs HCMA's +1.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | HCMA | 3.0% ROA vs MS's 1.2%, ROIC -1.0% vs 3.1% |
HCMA vs MS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Segment breakdown not available.
FY 2025
HCMA vs MS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLMSLAGGINGHCMA
HCMAHCM Acquisition Corp
2leads
MSMorgan Stanley
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs HCMAMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
MS1/1
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
HCMA2/2
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
HCMA2/2
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
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Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MS and HCMA operate at a comparable scale, with $115.0B and $0 in trailing revenue.
| Metric | HCMAHCM Acquisition C… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $0 | $115.0B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$6M | $26.6B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $5M | $16.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$1M | -$17.9B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | — | +57.1% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | — | +19.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | — | +14.7% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | — | -15.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -171.4% | +48.9% |
MS leads this category, winning 1 of 1 comparable metric.
Valuation Metrics
HCMA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 0.0x trailing earnings, HCMA trades at a 100% valuation discount to MS's 21.0x P/E.
| Metric | HCMAHCM Acquisition C… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $260M | $341.0B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $259M | $704.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 0.02x | 20.98x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 18.00x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.19x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 26.49x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | — | 2.97x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 0.98x | 3.03x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 7.40x |
HCMA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MS leads this category, winning 4 of 7 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MS delivers a 15.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $3 for HCMA. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MS scores 7/9 vs HCMA's 4/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | HCMAHCM Acquisition C… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +3.1% | +15.3% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.0% | +1.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -1.0% | +3.1% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -1.3% | +3.3% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 4 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 4.22x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$792,423 | $363.9B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $792,423 | $111.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $0 | $475.6B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | — | 0.45x |
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 $25,467 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $10,353 for HCMA. Over the past 12 months, MS leads with a +65.3% total return vs HCMA's +1.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MS at 37.1% vs HCMA's -1.8% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HCMAHCM Acquisition C… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +1.9% | +18.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +1.9% | +65.3% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -5.4% | +157.5% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +3.5% | +154.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +3.5% | +854.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -1.8% | +37.1% |
MS leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HCMA leads this category, winning 2 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
HCMA is the less volatile stock with a 0.04 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MS's 1.40 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | HCMAHCM Acquisition C… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.04x | 1.40x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $10.49 | $219.16 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $10.03 | $128.81 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +97.8% | +97.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 65.6 | 62.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 42K | 4.5M |
HCMA 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 1.93% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | HCMAHCM Acquisition C… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | — | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $201.25 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | — | 52 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +1.9% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | 12 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $4.14 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.7% |
Insufficient data to determine a leader in this category.
Key Takeaway
MS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Profitability & Efficiency). HCMA leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Risk & Volatility).
Best OverallMorgan Stanley (MS)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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HCMA vs MS: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HCMA or MS a better buy right now?
HCM Acquisition Corp (HCMA) offers the better valuation at 0.
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 — HCMA or MS?
On trailing P/E, HCM Acquisition Corp (HCMA) is the cheapest at 0.
0x versus Morgan Stanley at 21. 0x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — HCMA or MS?
Over the past 5 years, Morgan Stanley (MS) delivered a total return of +154.
7%, compared to +3. 5% for HCM Acquisition Corp (HCMA). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MS returned +854. 4% versus HCMA's +3. 5%. 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 — HCMA or MS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), HCM Acquisition Corp (HCMA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.
04β versus Morgan Stanley's 1. 40β — meaning MS is approximately 3572% more volatile than HCMA relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — HCMA or MS?
Morgan Stanley (MS) is the more profitable company, earning 14.
7% net margin versus 0. 0% for HCM Acquisition Corp — meaning it keeps 14. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MS leads at 19. 1% versus 0. 0% for HCMA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — MS leads at 57. 1%, 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 — HCMA or MS?
In this comparison, MS (1.
9% yield) pays a dividend. HCMA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is HCMA or MS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, HCM Acquisition Corp (HCMA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.
04)). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HCMA: +3. 5%, MS: +854. 4%), 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 HCMA 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: HCMA is a small-cap deep-value stock; MS is a large-cap quality compounder stock. MS pays a dividend while HCMA 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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