Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.40 EPS

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The financial services provider reported $2.68 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.28 by $0.40, Zacks reports. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 13.85% and a return on equity of 16.40%. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.22 EPS.

Morgan Stanley Stock Performance

Shares of MS opened at $180.77 on Thursday. Morgan Stanley has a 1 year low of $94.33 and a 1 year high of $188.82. The company has a market cap of $287.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.18 and a beta of 1.20. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $174.13 and a 200-day moving average of $159.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.27, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79.

Trending Headlines about Morgan Stanley

Here are the key news stories impacting Morgan Stanley this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Earnings expectations are supportive — several previews say trading and investment‑banking strength should lift Q4 revenue and EPS, putting MS in the spotlight as banks report this week. Is MS Stock a Buy Ahead of Q4 Earnings?
• Positive Sentiment: Crypto ETF filing: Morgan Stanley filed spot Bitcoin and Solana ETF paperwork, signaling a move into crypto ETFs that could expand fee revenue and institutional product offerings if approved. This is being read as a strategic revenue/asset‑gathering positive. Get Ready for Crypto Exposure as Morgan Stanley Joins the ETF Race
• Positive Sentiment: Private‑equity activity: MS’s PE arm took majority control of engineering firm Olsson — a sign the firm is expanding alternative/PE investments that can boost fee and carry income over time. Morgan Stanley’s PE unit takes majority stake in engineering firm Olsson
• Positive Sentiment: Market commentary/flows: High‑profile endorsements of MS’s asset‑gathering performance (Jim Cramer and others) are reinforcing investor confidence in recurring fee businesses. Jim Cramer Says “The Asset Gathering in Morgan Stanley Has Been Extraordinary”
• Neutral Sentiment: Firm research activity — Morgan Stanley analysts continue coverage actions (e.g., Meesho initiation) and routine rating updates across sectors; useful for markets but not a direct MS‑earnings catalyst. Morgan Stanley starts Meesho coverage with equal-weight
• Negative Sentiment: Risk: analysts have recently revised expectations ahead of the print — if trading revenues or capital‑markets activity disappoint, MS shares can gap down given how much of the move depends on the quarterly beat and guidance. Coverage of bank results this week highlights the binary risk. US bank results live: Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to report earnings

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CEO Edward Pick sold 100,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $164.34, for a total value of $16,434,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 574,986 shares in the company, valued at $94,493,199.24. This represents a 14.82% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.19% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Morgan Stanley

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 10.2% during the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 12,782 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,607,000 after acquiring an additional 1,185 shares during the last quarter. Keebeck Wealth Management lifted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 8.7% during the third quarter. Keebeck Wealth Management now owns 1,971 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $313,000 after purchasing an additional 158 shares during the last quarter. CTC Alternative Strategies Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Morgan Stanley in the 2nd quarter valued at $299,000. Manhattan West Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Morgan Stanley by 14.4% in the 2nd quarter. Manhattan West Asset Management LLC now owns 2,067 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $291,000 after purchasing an additional 260 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Binnacle Investments Inc increased its stake in Morgan Stanley by 7.4% in the 2nd quarter. Binnacle Investments Inc now owns 2,063 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $291,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. 84.19% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on MS. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Morgan Stanley from $177.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $184.00 to $202.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $183.00 to $219.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, January 5th. Zacks Research upgraded Morgan Stanley from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. Finally, Dbs Bank upgraded Morgan Stanley to a “moderate buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 12th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have assigned a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $181.85.

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a global financial services firm headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1935 by Henry S. Morgan and Harold Stanley, the company provides a broad range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services to corporations, governments, institutions and individual investors. Leadership has been guided by a senior executive team and board of directors; James P. Gorman has served as the company’s chief executive and chairman in recent years.

The firm’s primary business activities are organized around three principal businesses: Institutional Securities, Wealth Management and Investment Management.