JPM vs MS Stock Comparison
MS currently leads JPM in this stock comparison, with AIQ scores of 57 vs 52. The clearest difference is quality, while JPM has the stronger momentum profile.
What is the main difference between JPM and MS?
MS leads the current stock comparison as Morgan Stanley, with the clearest separation coming from quality and the broader AIQ evidence mix.
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
JPMorgan Chase & Co. vs Morgan Stanley
MS leads
MS leads by 5 AIQ points, primarily on Quality and Value, having only recently taken the lead back from JPM.
Fragile: 5 of 6 evidence groups support MS, the lead recently changed hands, and its current signal state is conflicted.
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Morgan Stanley
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors MS over JPM, 57 versus 52 as of Oct 21, 2026. MS's advantage is driven primarily by stronger quality and value, while JPM holds the stronger momentum profile. MS also shows the weaker technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 5 of 6 covered evidence groups favor MS today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. MS lead: Reversed — JPM led by 2 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; MS now leads by 5.
Compare JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley across the Algovestiq AIQ Score, valuation, quality, momentum, risk, technicals and analyst expectations.
Performance over time
Total return with distributions reinvested, from daily closes.
Total return comparison
Growth of $10,000, distributions reinvested
Split-adjusted closes; each distribution is reinvested at the close on its ex-dividend date. Taxes and trading costs are not modeled.
Compare JPM and MS against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Quality46 vs 82MS +36
- Momentum58 vs 27JPM +31
- Value44 vs 49MS +5
- Risk Resilience68 vs 72MS +4
5 of 6 evidence groups favor MS. MS’s edge is concentrated in quality and value; JPM keeps a meaningful momentum edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-10-20, compared against the prior scored session 2026-10-19.
Largest factor move: Momentum +8
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 2 active signals are unchanged.
Largest factor move: Momentum +4
No signal started or stopped since the prior session; its 2 active signals are unchanged.
MS's lead narrowed by 2 AIQ points in the latest session.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — JPM and MS both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
MS (Morgan Stanley): the stronger current systematic profile, led by quality and value.
JPM (JPMorgan Chase & Co.): the counter-case, on momentum, technicals.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
MSMS on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value most heavily.
Growth
MSMS on combined revenue and EPS growth.
Value
MSMS on the peer-relative Value factor, by 5 points.
Momentum
JPMJPM on the Momentum factor, by 31 points.
Lower downside
MSMS on Risk Resilience, by 4 points.
Analyst upside
MSMS on implied upside to the consensus price target.
AIQ vs Wall Street
Where the systematic read and the analyst consensus line up — and where they do not.
| Measure | JPM | MS | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Implied upside to target | +11.3% | +21.2% | MS has more room |
| Target dispersion | +32.2% | +33.1% | Lower is tighter analyst agreement |
| Consensus | Buy | Hold | Context, not a primary driver |
| Analysts covering | 11 | 4 | Higher coverage generally improves confidence |
Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions. Dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Dividend growth
| Dividend metric | JPM | MS |
|---|---|---|
| 5Y dividend CAGR | 9.04% | 22.42% |
| 2020 regular DPS | $3.600 | $1.400 |
| 2025 regular DPS | $5.550 | $3.850 |
| Years increased | 5 | 5 |
| No cut in window | Yes | Yes |
| Cohort rank | #120 | not ranked |
MS grew its split-adjusted regular dividend faster over 2020–2025 — 22.42% a year against JPM's 9.04%. Neither company reduced its regular dividend in any year of the window. They are ranked in different cohorts — US dividend-paying corporations and variable-dividend payers — so their ranks are not comparable with each other.
Yield and payout ratio shown elsewhere on this page are current values, not part of the study window.
Split-adjusted regular dividends per share, 2020–2025, excluding special dividends. Research as of Sep 19, 2026.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
5 of 6 covered evidence groups favor MS. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | MS | 52 vs 57 |
| Fundamentals | MSon balance | revenue growth -7.6% vs -3.5%; EPS growth -27.6% vs -11.3%; TTM ROE 17.9% vs 24.4%; gross margin 63.2% vs 60.6%; operating margin 28.2% vs 20.5% — MS takes 3 of 5 decided legs, not all of them |
| Valuation | MS | Value 44 vs 49 |
| Technicals | JPM | Price vs 50-day -3.4% vs -7.8%; vs 200-day 4% vs -7.1% |
| Risk Resilience | MS | Risk Resilience 68 vs 72 |
| Analyst expectations | MS | Target upside 11.3% vs 21.2% |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of JPM and MS and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- 5 of 6 covered evidence groups point the same way. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The lead has already changed hands inside the comparison window. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on MS.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Jun 21 – Oct 20MS lead: Reversed — JPM led by 2 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; MS now leads by 5.
- Today
- MS +5
- 52 vs 57
- 7 sessions ago
- JPM +6
- 47 vs 41
- 30 sessions ago
- JPM +2
- 43 vs 41
- 90 sessions ago
- Level
- 53 vs 53
The lead changed hands 2 times in this window, most recently on Oct 17 when MS moved ahead of JPM.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
2 bullish / 0 bearish
Only JPM
- MACD Bullish Crossover — bullish, momentum, short horizon
1 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted
Only MS
- MACD Bearish Crossover — bearish, momentum, short horizon
Both carry 1 more signal that do not separate them: Golden Cross Active.
MS leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price -0.02%, AIQ +3 points).
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +3.66%, AIQ +1 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1JPM closes the Quality gap — currently 36 points behind, the largest single contributor to MS's edge.
- 2JPM generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish or Uptrend Structure Active.
- 3MS's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Fundamentals
MS leads on balance| Metric | JPM | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -7.6% | -3.5% |
| EPS growth (YoY) | -27.6% | -11.3% |
| Gross margin | 63.2% | 60.6% |
| Operating margin | 28.2% | 20.5% |
| Return on equity (TTM) | 17.9% | 24.4% |
| Debt to equity | 3.32 | 0 |
Performance
JPM leads 5 of 6 windows| Metric | JPM | MS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 week (5 sessions) | 1.2% | -3.3% |
| 1 month (20 sessions) | -1.4% | -9.9% |
| 3 months (63 sessions) | -3.7% | -17.2% |
| 6 months (126 sessions) | 7.1% | -4.7% |
| Year to date | 4% | 1.6% |
| 1 year (252 sessions) | 12.3% | 12.7% |
Technicals
JPM has the stronger structure| Metric | JPM | MS |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 57.4 | 34.1 |
| ADX (14) | 20.5 | 41.5 |
| Price vs 50-day | -3.4% | -7.8% |
| Price vs 200-day | 4% | -7.1% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 14.8% | 17.9% |
Risk
MS is the more resilient| Metric | JPM | MS |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 0.75 | 1.41 |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.47 | 0.46 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.66 | 0.67 |
| Max drawdown | -15.5% | -21.9% |
| Current drawdown | -8.2% | -21.1% |
| Annualized volatility | 22.2% | 28.1% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -2.4% | -2.9% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, JPM or MS?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, MS is the stronger of the two as of Oct 21, 2026, scoring 57 against JPM's 52. The edge comes from quality and value. JPM is not without a case — it holds the better momentum profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is JPM or MS the better buy right now?
MS carries the stronger systematic profile as of Oct 21, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 5 of 6 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 5 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor MS over JPM?
The composite weights Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk Resilience. MS leads Quality by 36 points; JPM leads Momentum by 31 points; MS leads Value by 5 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which has more analyst upside, JPM or MS?
Analyst price targets imply +11.3% upside for JPM and +21.2% for MS, so the Street currently favors MS. The model and the Street agree here, which is a broader base of evidence than either alone. Analyst targets are expectations, not predictions, and dispersion matters as much as the midpoint.
Which is better value, JPM or MS?
MS is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. MS on the peer-relative Value factor, by 5 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, JPM or MS?
MS on combined revenue and EPS growth. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, JPM or MS?
JPM on the Momentum factor, by 31 points. Momentum is one of the four weighted factors in the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, JPM or MS?
MS is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. MS on Risk Resilience, by 4 points. Risk Resilience is a weighted factor in the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is JPM more profitable than MS?
The profitability evidence is mixed: gross margin 63.2% vs 60.6%; operating margin 28.2% vs 20.5%; ttm roe 17.9% vs 24.4%. JPM leads on two measures and MS on one measure, and there is no single profitability composite that resolves the split — which of the two reads as "more profitable" depends on whether you weight pricing power or operating leverage.
Is MS's lead over JPM getting stronger or weaker?
MS lead: Reversed — JPM led by 2 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; MS now leads by 5. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-06-21 and 2026-10-20. The lead has changed hands 2 times in that window, most recently on 2026-10-17, when MS moved ahead of JPM.
What would change the JPM vs MS verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: JPM closes the Quality gap — currently 36 points behind, the largest single contributor to MS's edge; JPM generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish or Uptrend Structure Active; MS's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 1 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — Quality and Value carry the heaviest weights in the composite, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about JPM and MS?
JPM: 2 bullish / 0 bearish. MS: 1 bullish / 1 bearish, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on JPM is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On MS it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare JPM and MS with others
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How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality, Value, Momentum and Risk, each carrying a fixed weight. Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.