American Express vs Morgan Stanley: Fair Value & Quality
Both stocks run through our valuation models. Here is how American Express (AXP) and Morgan Stanley (MS) compare, as of Oct 30, 2026.
Head-to-head numbers
Green is the better side of a row, red the weaker one (for valuation multiples: lower = cheaper). Grey rows are for reference only and are not scored.
betterweakerfor reference, not scored
American Express leads: 9 to 7 metric wins.
n/a = not meaningfully computable, for example with negative equity.
Quality in detail
The quality score, broken down into the same factor families as on the stock page, 0 to 100 per family.
What the models say
How far the median fair value (base case) per model family sits from the current price, in percent. The amount in the currency of the trading venue is shown underneath.
▲above the price, more than 15% above ●close to the price, 85% to 115% of the price ▼below the price, more than 15% below
| Model family | American ExpressPrice $319 | Morgan StanleyPrice $184 |
|---|---|---|
| DCF Models | ●+14.3%close to the price$365 | ▲+111.0%above the price$389 |
| Earnings-Based | ▼−27.9%below the price$230 | ▲+16.4%above the price$215 |
| Dividend Discount | ▼−81.5%below the price$59.10 | ▼−61.1%below the price$71.64 |
| Multiples | ▼−57.8%below the price$135 | ▼−40.6%below the price$109 |
| Asset-Based | ▼−91.1%below the price$28.49 | ▼−79.4%below the price$37.92 |
| Growth DCF | ▲+43.1%above the price$457 | ▲+214.7%above the price$580 |
| Economic Profit | ▼−63.2%below the price$117 | ▼−50.3%below the price$91.53 |
| Matching families | 7 of 7 | |
| Minimum | ▼−91.1%below the price$28.49 | ▼−79.4%below the price$37.92 |
| Maximum | ▲+43.1%above the price$457 | ▲+214.7%above the price$580 |
| Median | ▼−57.8%below the price$135 | ▼−40.6%below the price$109 |
| Geometric mean | ▼−56.3%below the price$139 | ▼−21.6%below the price$145 |
| Ahead family by family | 0 of 7 | 7 of 7 |
Minimum, maximum, median and geometric mean only use the families both stocks have (matching families: 7 of 7), so a family without a value on one side does not distort the comparison. Ahead in a family is the stock whose fair value there sits higher relative to its price. Geometric because deviations are ratios: half the price and twice the price average to 100%, not 125%.
Family by family: Morgan Stanley is ahead in 7 of 7 shared families, American Express in none.
American Express: 8 of 13 models see the stock below the current price.
Morgan Stanley: 7 of 13 models see the stock below the current price.
Scenario ranges
From our cautious bear scenario to the optimistic bull scenario. The white tick is the current price (value above it), the green tick the fair value (value below it): if the price sits left of the fair value, there is room to rise.
Compare two other stocks
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Ranked within their sector
Where each stock sits within its sector peer group. Band = middle 50% of peers, tick = median, dot = this stock.
American Express · Financials
Morgan Stanley · Financials
Bottom line
As of Oct 30, 2026, Fair Value Calculator sees Morgan Stanley as the more attractively valued of the two: American Express trades at $319 versus a fair value of $210 (−34.2%), while Morgan Stanley trades at $184 versus $314 (+70.4%).
American Express has the higher quality score (69/100).
Open Morgan Stanley live analysis →More comparisons
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A model-based valuation snapshot from 26 models. Values change with price and fundamentals; the date shown above applies.