Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Lazard Ltd (LAZ) vs Morgan Stanley (MS) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | LAZ | 21.0% revenue growth vs MS's 16.8% |
| Value | LAZ | Lower P/E (13.9x vs 14.8x) |
| Quality / Margins | MS | 13.0% net margin vs LAZ's 9.1% |
| Stability / Safety | MS | Beta 1.35 vs LAZ's 1.72 |
| Dividends | LAZ | 3.5% yield, vs MS's 2.3% |
| Momentum (1Y) | MS | +28.0% vs LAZ's +4.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | LAZ | 5.9% ROA vs MS's 1.2%, ROIC 10.2% vs 2.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Valuation efficiency (growth/$)
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Lazard is a global financial advisory and asset management firm that provides strategic advice on mergers, restructurings, and capital markets while managing investment portfolios for institutional and private clients. It generates revenue primarily through advisory fees from its Financial Advisory segment (roughly 60% of revenue) and management fees from its Asset Management business (roughly 40%). The company's key advantage lies in its century-old brand reputation, deep client relationships across governments and corporations worldwide, and its elite advisory teams that command premium fees for complex transactions.
Morgan Stanley is a global investment bank and wealth management firm that provides financial services to institutions, corporations, and individuals. It generates revenue primarily through investment banking fees (~30%), wealth management fees (~40%), and trading & sales activities (~25%), with the remainder from investment management. The company's competitive advantage lies in its elite brand reputation, global institutional relationships, and integrated platform that connects investment banking with wealth management.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
MS leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Total Returns). LAZ leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
MS is the larger business by revenue, generating $103.1B annually — 33.4x LAZ's $3.1B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 13.0% (MS) to 9.1% (LAZ).
| Metric | LAZLazard Ltd | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $3.1B | $103.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $384M | $26.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $273M | $16.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $468M | -$6.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +35.1% | +55.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +12.5% | +17.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.1% | +13.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +22.6% | -2.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -34.3% | +48.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 18.9x trailing earnings, LAZ trades at a 10% valuation discount to MS's 20.9x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), MS offers better value at 2.35x vs LAZ's 9.97x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | LAZLazard Ltd | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $4.8B | $264.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $5.6B | $549.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.88x | 20.94x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 13.85x | 14.79x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 9.97x | 2.35x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 13.32x | 24.15x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.54x | 2.57x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 6.77x | 2.54x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 6.81x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
LAZ delivers a 28.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $29 in annual profit, vs $15 for MS. LAZ carries lower financial leverage with a 2.87x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MS's 3.42x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), LAZ scores 8/9 vs MS's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | LAZLazard Ltd | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +28.6% | +14.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +5.9% | +1.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +10.2% | +2.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +10.3% | +3.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 8 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 2.87x | 3.42x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $884M | $284.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.3B | $75.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $2.2B | $360.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.01x | 0.44x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in MS five years ago would be worth $23,095 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $14,919 for LAZ. Over the past 12 months, MS leads with a +28.0% total return vs LAZ's +4.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MS at 22.5% vs LAZ's 14.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | LAZLazard Ltd | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +2.7% | -7.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +4.9% | +28.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +51.5% | +83.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +49.2% | +131.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +103.8% | +662.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +14.9% | +22.5% |
Risk & Volatility
MS is the less volatile stock with a 1.35 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than LAZ's 1.72 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | LAZLazard Ltd | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.72x | 1.35x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $58.75 | $192.68 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $31.97 | $94.33 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +86.1% | +86.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 51.7 | 51.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 807K | 5.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates LAZ as "Buy" and MS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 17.7% upside for MS (target: $196) vs 8.0% for LAZ (target: $55). For income investors, LAZ offers the higher dividend yield at 3.46% vs MS's 2.29%.
| Metric | LAZLazard Ltd | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $54.67 | $196.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 50 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +3.5% | +2.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 0 | 11 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $1.75 | $3.81 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +1.3% | +1.6% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lazard Ltd (LAZ) | 100 | 141.77 | +41.8% |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | 100 | 398.24 | +298.2% |
Morgan Stanley (MS) returned +131% over 5 years vs Lazard Ltd (LAZ)'s +49%. A $10,000 investment in MS 5 years ago would be worth $23,095 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lazard Ltd (LAZ) | $2.4B | $3.1B | +28.6% |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | $36.0B | $103.1B | +186.5% |
Lazard Ltd's revenue grew from $2.4B (2015) to $3.1B (2024) — a 2.8% CAGR. Morgan Stanley's revenue grew from $36.0B (2015) to $103.1B (2024) — a 12.4% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lazard Ltd (LAZ) | 41.1% | 9.1% | -77.9% |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | 17.0% | 13.0% | -23.7% |
Lazard Ltd's net margin went from 41% (2015) to 9% (2024). Morgan Stanley's net margin went from 17% (2015) to 13% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lazard Ltd (LAZ) | 27.5 | 19.2 | -30.2% |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | 17 | 15.8 | -7.1% |
Lazard Ltd has traded in a 9x–28x P/E range over 7 years; current trailing P/E is ~19x. Morgan Stanley has traded in a 8x–18x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~21x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2015 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lazard Ltd (LAZ) | 7.4 | 2.68 | -63.8% |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | 2.91 | 7.95 | +173.2% |
Lazard Ltd's EPS grew from $7.40 (2015) to $2.68 (2024) — a -11% CAGR. Morgan Stanley's EPS grew from $2.91 (2015) to $7.95 (2024) — a 12% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Lazard Ltd generated $697M FCF in 2024 (-16% vs 2021). Morgan Stanley generated $-2B FCF in 2024 (-107% vs 2021).
LAZ vs MS: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is LAZ or MS a better buy right now?
Lazard Ltd (LAZ) offers the better valuation at 18.9x trailing P/E (13.9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Lazard Ltd (LAZ) a "Buy" — based on 28 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 — LAZ or MS?
On trailing P/E, Lazard Ltd (LAZ) is the cheapest at 18.9x versus Morgan Stanley at 20.9x. On forward P/E, Lazard Ltd is actually cheaper at 13.9x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Morgan Stanley wins at 1.66x versus Lazard Ltd's 7.31x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — LAZ or MS?
Over the past 5 years, Morgan Stanley (MS) delivered a total return of +131.0%, compared to +49.2% for Lazard Ltd (LAZ). A $10,000 investment in MS five years ago would be worth approximately $23K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MS returned +662.8% versus LAZ's +103.8%. 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 — LAZ or MS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Morgan Stanley (MS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.35β versus Lazard Ltd's 1.72β — meaning LAZ is approximately 27% more volatile than MS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Lazard Ltd (LAZ) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 3% versus 3% for Morgan Stanley — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — LAZ or MS?
Morgan Stanley (MS) is the more profitable company, earning 13.0% net margin versus 9.1% for Lazard Ltd — 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 12.5% for LAZ. 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.
06Is LAZ or MS more undervalued right now?
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 1.66x versus Lazard Ltd's 7.31x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Lazard Ltd (LAZ) trades at 13.9x forward P/E versus 14.8x for Morgan Stanley — 0.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for MS: 17.7% to $196.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — LAZ or MS?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Lazard Ltd (LAZ) offers the highest yield at 3.5%, versus 2.3% for Morgan Stanley (MS).
08Is LAZ 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 (2.3% yield, +662.8% 10Y return). Lazard Ltd (LAZ) carries a higher beta of 1.72 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (MS: +662.8%, LAZ: +103.8%), 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.
09What are the main differences between LAZ 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: LAZ is a small-cap income-oriented stock; MS is a large-cap quality compounder 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.