Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) vs Morgan Stanley (MS) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | RIOT | 34.2% revenue growth vs MS's 16.8% |
| Value | MS | Lower P/E (14.8x vs 47.9x) |
| Quality / Margins | RIOT | 29.0% net margin vs MS's 13.0% |
| Stability / Safety | MS | Beta 1.35 vs RIOT's 2.35 |
| Dividends | MS | 2.3% yield; 11-year raise streak; RIOT pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | RIOT | +75.5% vs MS's +28.0% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | RIOT | 3.7% ROA vs MS's 1.2%, ROIC 4.1% vs 2.9% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Riot Platforms is a Bitcoin mining company that operates large-scale mining facilities in Texas and Kentucky. It generates revenue primarily from Bitcoin mining rewards (the majority of income) and secondarily from engineering services — designing and manufacturing power distribution equipment for data centers and industrial clients. The company's competitive advantage lies in its vertically integrated operations — owning its mining facilities and power infrastructure — which provides cost control and operational efficiency in the energy-intensive mining business.
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
RIOT leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). MS leads in 2 (Risk & Volatility, Analyst Outlook). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
MS is the larger business by revenue, generating $103.1B annually — 273.8x RIOT's $377M. RIOT is the more profitable business, keeping 29.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to MS's 13.0%.
| Metric | RIOTRiot Platforms, I… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $377M | $103.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $577M | $26.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $164M | $16.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$1.5B | -$6.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +30.2% | +55.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +40.8% | +17.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +29.0% | +13.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -4.0% | -2.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +148.1% | +48.9% |
Valuation Metrics
At 20.9x trailing earnings, MS trades at a 56% valuation discount to RIOT's 47.9x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, RIOT's 17.5x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MS's 24.2x.
| Metric | RIOTRiot Platforms, I… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $6.0B | $264.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $6.4B | $549.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 47.91x | 20.94x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 14.79x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.35x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 17.45x | 24.15x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 16.05x | 2.57x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.65x | 2.54x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
MS delivers a 14.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $5 for RIOT. RIOT carries lower financial leverage with a 0.20x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MS's 3.42x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), MS scores 5/9 vs RIOT's 3/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | RIOTRiot Platforms, I… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +4.7% | +14.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +3.7% | +1.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.1% | +2.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.4% | +3.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 3 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.20x | 3.42x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $335M | $284.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $278M | $75.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $613M | $360.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 20.48x | 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 $3,039 for RIOT. Over the past 12 months, RIOT leads with a +75.5% total return vs MS's +28.0%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors RIOT at 37.6% vs MS's 22.5% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | RIOTRiot Platforms, I… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +15.0% | -7.9% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +75.5% | +28.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +160.6% | +83.8% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -69.6% | +131.0% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +540.4% | +662.8% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +37.6% | +22.5% |
Risk & Volatility
MS is the less volatile stock with a 1.35 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than RIOT's 2.35 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MS currently trades 86.4% from its 52-week high vs RIOT's 68.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | RIOTRiot Platforms, I… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 2.35x | 1.35x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $23.94 | $192.68 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $6.19 | $94.33 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +68.0% | +86.4% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 58.2 | 51.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 16.2M | 5.8M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RIOT as "Buy" and MS as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 71.9% upside for RIOT (target: $28) vs 17.7% for MS (target: $196). MS is the only dividend payer here at 2.29% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | RIOTRiot Platforms, I… | MSMorgan Stanley |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $28.00 | $196.00 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 18 | 50 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | +2.3% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 3 | 11 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | $3.81 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +0.2% | +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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) | 100 | 1,343.86 | +1243.9% |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | 100 | 416.89 | +316.9% |
Morgan Stanley (MS) returned +131% over 5 years vs Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT)'s -70%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) | $198086.00 | $377M | +190048.7% |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | $36.0B | $103.1B | +186.5% |
Riot Platforms, Inc.'s revenue grew from $0M (2015) to $377M (2024) — a 131.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) | -44.2% | 29.0% | +165.7% |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | 17.0% | 13.0% | -23.7% |
Riot Platforms, Inc.'s net margin went from -44% (2015) to 29% (2024). Morgan Stanley's net margin went from 17% (2015) to 13% (2024).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | 17 | 15.8 | -7.1% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) | -2.26 | 0.34 | +115.0% |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | 2.91 | 7.95 | +173.2% |
Riot Platforms, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-2.26 (2015) to $0.34 (2024). Morgan Stanley's EPS grew from $2.91 (2015) to $7.95 (2024) — a 12% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Riot Platforms, Inc. generated $-2B FCF in 2024 (-200% vs 2021). Morgan Stanley generated $-2B FCF in 2024 (-107% vs 2021).
RIOT vs MS: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RIOT or MS a better buy right now?
Morgan Stanley (MS) offers the better valuation at 20.9x trailing P/E (14.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) a "Buy" — based on 18 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 — RIOT or MS?
On trailing P/E, Morgan Stanley (MS) is the cheapest at 20.9x versus Riot Platforms, Inc. at 47.9x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — RIOT or MS?
Over the past 5 years, Morgan Stanley (MS) delivered a total return of +131.0%, compared to -69.6% for Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT). 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 RIOT's +540.4%. 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 — RIOT or MS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Morgan Stanley (MS) is the lower-risk stock at 1.35β versus Riot Platforms, Inc.'s 2.35β — meaning RIOT is approximately 74% more volatile than MS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 20% versus 3% for Morgan Stanley — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — RIOT or MS?
Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) is the more profitable company, earning 29.0% net margin versus 13.0% for Morgan Stanley — meaning it keeps 29.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RIOT leads at 40.8% 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.
06Is RIOT or MS more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RIOT: 71.9% to $28.00.
07Which pays a better dividend — RIOT or MS?
In this comparison, MS (2.3% yield) pays a dividend. RIOT does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
08Is RIOT 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). Riot Platforms, Inc. (RIOT) carries a higher beta of 2.35 — 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%, RIOT: +540.4%), 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.
09What are the main differences between RIOT 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. MS pays a dividend while RIOT 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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