Asset Management
Compare Stocks
2 / 10Stock Comparison
SAMG vs MS
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
Financial - Capital Markets
SAMG vs MS — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | ||
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Asset Management | Financial - Capital Markets |
| Market Cap | $54M | $307.53B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $125M | $103.14B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $14M | $16.18B |
| Gross Margin | 33.0% | 55.6% |
| Operating Margin | 7.4% | 17.1% |
| Forward P/E | 11.4x | 16.3x |
| Total Debt | $24M | $360.49B |
| Cash & Equiv. | $44M | $75.74B |
SAMG vs MS — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silvercrest Asset M… (SAMG) | 100 | 116.9 | +16.9% |
| Morgan Stanley (MS) | 100 | 437.3 | +337.3% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: SAMG vs MS
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
SAMG carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and sleep-well-at-night.
- Dividend streak 8 yrs, beta 0.83, yield 6.1%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.83, Low D/E 28.2%, current ratio 13.97x
- Beta 0.83, yield 6.1%, current ratio 13.97x
MS is the clearest fit if your priority is growth exposure and long-term compounding.
- Rev growth 16.8%, EPS growth 53.5%
- 7.4% 10Y total return vs SAMG's 51.0%
- NIM 0.7% vs SAMG's 0.4%
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | 16.8% NII/revenue growth vs SAMG's 1.3% | |
| Value | Lower P/E (11.4x vs 16.3x) | |
| Quality / Margins | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs MS's 0.4% (lower = leaner) | |
| Stability / Safety | Beta 0.83 vs MS's 1.37, lower leverage | |
| Dividends | 6.1% yield, 8-year raise streak, vs MS's 2.0% | |
| Momentum (1Y) | +66.7% vs SAMG's -11.4% | |
| Efficiency (ROA) | Efficiency ratio 0.3% vs MS's 0.4% |
SAMG vs MS — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
SAMG vs MS — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MS leads this category, winning 4 of 5 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
MS is the larger business by revenue, generating $103.1B annually — 823.1x SAMG's $125M. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 13.0% (MS) to 11.2% (SAMG).
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $125M | $103.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $12M | $26.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $14M | $16.2B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $17M | -$6.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +33.0% | +55.6% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +7.4% | +17.1% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +11.2% | +13.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +14.8% | -2.0% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | — | — |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -108.8% | +48.9% |
Valuation Metrics
SAMG leads this category, winning 5 of 5 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 23.5x trailing earnings, SAMG trades at a 3% valuation discount to MS's 24.3x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, SAMG's 2.9x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than MS's 26.0x.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $54M | $307.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $34M | $592.3B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.54x | 24.31x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 11.43x | 16.28x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 2.73x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 2.91x | 26.03x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.43x | 2.98x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 1.37x | 2.95x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 2.92x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
SAMG leads this category, winning 8 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
MS delivers a 14.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $15 in annual profit, vs $14 for SAMG. SAMG carries lower financial leverage with a 0.28x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to MS's 3.42x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), SAMG scores 6/9 vs MS's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +14.2% | +14.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +8.8% | +1.2% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +5.6% | +2.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +5.3% | +3.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 6 | 5 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 0.28x | 3.42x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | -$20M | $284.7B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $44M | $75.7B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $24M | $360.5B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 83.82x | 0.44x |
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 $24,217 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $11,700 for SAMG. Over the past 12 months, MS leads with a +66.7% total return vs SAMG's -11.4%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors MS at 34.3% vs SAMG's -3.9% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -13.1% | +7.4% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | -11.4% | +66.7% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -11.3% | +142.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +17.0% | +142.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +51.0% | +739.4% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -3.9% | +34.3% |
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — SAMG and MS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
SAMG is the less volatile stock with a 0.83 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than MS's 1.37 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. MS currently trades 99.2% from its 52-week high vs SAMG's 77.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.83x | 1.37x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $16.99 | $194.83 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $12.79 | $117.21 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +77.6% | +99.2% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.7 | 61.2 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 31K | 5.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — SAMG and MS each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates SAMG as "Buy" and MS as "Buy". For income investors, SAMG offers the higher dividend yield at 6.10% vs MS's 1.97%.
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | — | $205.75 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 3 | 52 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +6.1% | +2.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 8 | 11 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $0.80 | $3.81 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +56.2% | +1.4% |
MS leads in 2 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Total Returns). SAMG leads in 2 (Valuation Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). 2 tied.
SAMG vs MS: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is SAMG or MS a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Morgan Stanley (MS) is the stronger pick with 16.
8% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 1. 3% for Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG). Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) offers the better valuation at 23. 5x trailing P/E (11. 4x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) a "Buy" — based on 3 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 — SAMG or MS?
On trailing P/E, Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.
(SAMG) is the cheapest at 23. 5x versus Morgan Stanley at 24. 3x. On forward P/E, Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. is actually cheaper at 11. 4x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — SAMG or MS?
Over the past 5 years, Morgan Stanley (MS) delivered a total return of +142.
2%, compared to +17. 0% for Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MS returned +739. 4% versus SAMG's +51. 0%. 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 — SAMG or MS?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.
(SAMG) is the lower-risk stock at 0. 83β versus Morgan Stanley's 1. 37β — meaning MS is approximately 65% more volatile than SAMG relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 28% versus 3% for Morgan Stanley — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — SAMG or MS?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Morgan Stanley (MS) is pulling ahead at 16.
8% versus 1. 3% for Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Morgan Stanley grew EPS 53. 5% year-over-year, compared to -44. 0% for Silvercrest Asset Management Group 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.
06Which has better profit margins — SAMG or MS?
Morgan Stanley (MS) is the more profitable company, earning 13.
0% net margin versus 11. 2% for Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. — 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 7. 4% for SAMG. 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.
07Is SAMG or MS more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.
(SAMG) trades at 11. 4x forward P/E versus 16. 3x for Morgan Stanley — 4. 8x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis.
08Which pays a better dividend — SAMG or MS?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc. (SAMG) offers the highest yield at 6. 1%, versus 2. 0% for Morgan Stanley (MS).
09Is SAMG or MS better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Silvercrest Asset Management Group Inc.
(SAMG) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 83), 6. 1% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (SAMG: +51. 0%, MS: +739. 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.
10What are the main differences between SAMG 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: SAMG is a small-cap income-oriented 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.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that outperform both.
You Might Also Compare
Based on how these companies actually compete and overlap — not just which sector they're filed under.