COMPARE · Reviewed August 3, 2026
ADT vs MSA
Verdict: Side-by-side breakdown using the Bull Rankings model. ADT scored 54.9, MSA scored 76.5 — MSA leads.
Compare another set
ADT
ADT Inc.
54.9
$7.77 · $5.7B
fundamentals as of
Score gap
21.6
MSA leads
MSA
MSA Safety Incorporated
76.5
$192.17 · $7.4B
fundamentals as of
The model, pillar by pillar (0–100 each)
ADT
stronger →← stronger
MSA
69
Qualityreturns · margins · balance sheet
81
52
Growthrevenue & earnings expansion
73
46
Valuevaluation vs sector peers
76
MSA is stronger on 3 of 3 pillars.
Fundamentals, head-to-head
ADT
MSA
$2.0bC+
FCF
$354mC
+2.1%C
Rev
+6.5%C+
2.21D
D/E
0.46B+
10.8xA
P/E
23.9xB+
2.33C
PEG
0.99B+
Winner per row is the stronger grade in our model; a tie or a missing value shows no highlight.
Valuation · DCF cross-check
ADT
MSA
81% below
Price vs fair valuelower is cheaper
21% above
decline
Growth the price implies10-yr FCF · lower = less priced in
~10%/yr
+409%
1-yr DCF upside
-23%
+430%
5-yr DCF upside
-17%
+460%
10-yr DCF upside
-9%
The DCF is a cross-check on intrinsic value, separate from the quality-growth score above.
Model signals
ADT
Why this score
- Diluting shareholders
MSA
No notable signals flagged.
The companies
ADTADT Inc.
Why now
Security & Protection Services · market cap $5.7b. 13% off the 52-week high of $8.94. 5 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $8.23 (implying +6% upside).
Moat
ROE 18% sits above Buffett's preferred 15% threshold — the equity base is compounding at a rate the market struggles to discount accurately. Free cash flow runs well ahead of reported net income — non-cash charges (depreciation, intangible amortization) are holding down GAAP earnings while cash generation stays strong.
Risk
D/E 2.21 is elevated — limits strategic flexibility and raises refinancing exposure if rates stay higher for longer.
MSAMSA Safety Incorporated
Why now
Security & Protection Services · market cap $7.4b. 8% off the 52-week high of $208.92. PEG 0.99 — paying under fair value for the growth rate. 7 sell-side analysts rate this a Buy with a mean 1-yr target of $206.86 (implying +8% upside).
Moat
Net margin 16% beats the market median by a meaningful margin — the company is keeping more of every revenue dollar than the average S&P constituent. ROE 22% sits above Buffett's preferred 15% threshold — the equity base is compounding at a rate the market struggles to discount accurately. FCF converts 113% of net income — earnings translate cleanly into cash, a sign that working capital and capex are well-disciplined.
Risk
Value re-rating depends on a catalyst. Without one — analyst day, divestiture, margin recovery, capital return — the stock can stay cheap on these multiples for years.
Verdict — model-derived comparison
Generating verdict… typically 5–10 seconds
Not investment advice. The Bull Rankings publishes a quantitative ranking model and accompanying analysis for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security; nothing is personalized to your circumstances, risk tolerance, or tax situation. Investing carries the risk of loss — invest at your own risk and consider consulting a licensed financial professional before acting on anything you read here. See terms and methodology for full disclosures.