MRX vs MS vs GS vs SF

For growth investors, Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares (MRX) is the stronger pick with 25.

4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 9% for Stifel Financial Corp. (SF). Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) offers the better valuation at 13. 0x trailing P/E (12. 1x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares (MRX) a "Buy" — based on 6 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, Stifel Financial Corp.

(SF) is the cheapest at 13. 0x versus Morgan Stanley at 23. 9x. On forward P/E, Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares is actually cheaper at 10. 6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares wins at 0. 27x versus Morgan Stanley's 1. 80x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares (MRX) delivered a total return of +178.

6%, compared to +76. 3% for Stifel Financial Corp. (SF). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MS returned +732. 3% versus MRX's +178. 6%. 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), Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares (MRX) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

74β versus The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. 's 1. 47β — meaning GS is approximately 98% more volatile than MRX relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 36% versus 8% for Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares (MRX) is pulling ahead at 25.

4% versus 6. 9% for Stifel Financial Corp. (SF). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. grew EPS 77. 3% year-over-year, compared to -5. 9% for Stifel Financial Corp.. 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.

Morgan Stanley (MS) is the more profitable company, earning 13.

0% net margin versus 8. 5% for Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares — meaning it keeps 13. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: MRX leads at 32. 0% versus 13. 8% for SF. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — SF leads at 86. 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, Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares (MRX) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 27x versus Morgan Stanley's 1. 80x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares (MRX) trades at 10. 6x forward P/E versus 16. 0x for Morgan Stanley — 5. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for SF: 22. 7% to $93. 44.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) offers the highest yield at 2. 5%, versus 1. 4% for Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares (MRX).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares (MRX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

74), 1. 4% yield, +178. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (MRX: +178. 6%, GS: +534. 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.

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: MRX is a small-cap high-growth stock; MS is a large-cap high-growth stock; GS is a large-cap high-growth stock; SF is a mid-cap deep-value 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.