Morgan Stanley (MS)
NYSE:MS
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Morgan Stanley (MS) AI Stock Analysis

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MS

Morgan Stanley

(NYSE:MS)

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Outperform 76 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:76Outperform
Price Target:
$192.00
â–²(15.94% Upside)
Morgan Stanley's strong earnings call performance and positive technical indicators are significant strengths. However, high leverage and modest valuation metrics present risks. The firm's strategic focus on AI and digital innovations supports a positive outlook, but careful management of cash flow and debt levels is crucial.
Positive Factors
Strategic Investments in AI
Morgan Stanley's strategic investments in AI enhance productivity and client engagement, positioning the firm for sustained growth in a tech-driven future.
Wealth Management Growth
Strong growth in wealth management demonstrates effective client acquisition and retention, contributing to long-term revenue stability and market leadership.
Acquisition of EquityZen
Acquiring EquityZen expands Morgan Stanley's capabilities in private market transactions, enhancing its service offerings and competitive position in wealth management.
Negative Factors
High Leverage
High leverage indicates significant reliance on debt, which could pose risks to financial stability if market conditions deteriorate, affecting long-term resilience.
Negative Cash Flow Trends
Negative cash flow trends highlight potential liquidity issues, necessitating improved cash flow management to ensure long-term operational sustainability.
Regulatory Uncertainties
Regulatory uncertainties can affect capital deployment strategies, posing challenges to strategic planning and potentially impacting long-term growth prospects.

Morgan Stanley (MS) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Morgan Stanley Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMorgan Stanley (MS) is a leading global financial services firm that provides a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management, and investment management services. Founded in 1935 and headquartered in New York City, the company operates through three primary segments: Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management. Morgan Stanley serves a diverse client base, including corporations, governments, and individuals, offering solutions that include capital raising, mergers and acquisitions advisory, asset management, and financial planning.
How the Company Makes MoneyMorgan Stanley generates revenue through several key streams. The Institutional Securities segment earns income from capital markets activities, such as underwriting and trading of equity and debt securities, as well as advisory fees from mergers and acquisitions. The Wealth Management segment generates revenue primarily through fees for advisory services, commissions from the sale of financial products, and interest income from client loans and deposits. The Investment Management segment derives income from management fees on assets under management and performance fees from specific investment products. Significant partnerships with institutional investors and strategic alliances in various markets also contribute to its earnings, along with a strong focus on diversification across sectors and geographies.

Morgan Stanley Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Net Income Breakdown
Net Income Breakdown
Provides a detailed view of profit sources, illustrating how different operations contribute to the bottom line and financial health.
Chart InsightsMorgan Stanley's Institutional Securities segment shows volatility but recent recovery, while Wealth Management consistently strengthens, achieving record pretax profits and margins. Investment Management is gaining momentum with a 12% revenue increase year-over-year, supported by strong asset inflows. Despite robust equity and fixed income performance, challenges persist in investment banking and fixed income underwriting. The firm's strategic focus on capital deployment and dividend increases signals confidence, yet macroeconomic uncertainties and regulatory reforms could impact future performance.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Morgan Stanley Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 15, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jan 15, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
Morgan Stanley's earnings call reveals a strong performance with record revenues and client asset growth. The firm is capitalizing on a favorable investment banking environment and expanding its wealth management and AI capabilities. However, regulatory uncertainties and geopolitical risks present challenges. Overall, the positive aspects of growth and strategic advancements outweigh the concerns.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record Revenue and Client Assets
Morgan Stanley reported record revenues of $18.2 billion and total client assets reaching $8.9 trillion, showing robust growth and client engagement.
Strong EPS and Return on Tangible Equity
The firm reported an EPS of $2.80 and a return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) of 23.5%, reflecting strong profitability.
Investment Banking Recovery
Investment banking revenues increased to $2.1 billion, with equity underwriting revenues up 80% year-over-year, driven by IPO activity and strong advisory results.
Wealth Management Growth
Wealth Management reached a record $7 trillion in client assets, with $81 billion in net new assets and $42 billion in fee-based flows, demonstrating strong client acquisition and retention.
Expansion in AI and Digital Innovations
The firm is investing in AI initiatives like DevGen AI and LeadIQ, enhancing productivity and client engagement across its platforms.
Parametric Solutions and Global Reach
Investment Management continues to expand with Parametric Solutions, achieving $1.8 trillion in AUM and significant inflows from third-party partnerships.
Negative Updates
Regulatory Uncertainties
Continued uncertainty around regulatory frameworks, especially regarding SLR and Basel impacts, which affects capital deployment strategies.
Geopolitical and Economic Uncertainty
Market conditions remain uncertain due to geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic factors, which could impact future performance.
Company Guidance
During Morgan Stanley's Third Quarter 2025 earnings call, the firm reported record financial performance with revenues of $18.2 billion and earnings per share (EPS) of $2.80, alongside a return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) of 23.5%. Total client assets increased by $1.3 trillion over the past year, reaching $8.9 trillion, with the wealth management segment contributing $7 trillion and achieving a 30% margin. The investment banking sector saw revenues rise by 50%, driven by strong equity and fixed income underwriting results, supported by a favorable capital markets environment. The firm's institutional securities business delivered $8.5 billion in revenues, with significant contributions from equities and fixed income. Morgan Stanley also highlighted strategic investments in areas like AI and digital assets, positioning the firm for continued growth and earnings durability. The firm's capital strength was underscored by a CET1 ratio of 15.2% and excess capital of over 300 basis points. Looking forward, Morgan Stanley aims to exceed $10 trillion in total client assets while maintaining its focus on strategic capital allocation and shareholder returns.

Morgan Stanley Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Morgan Stanley shows strong profitability with robust revenue growth and efficient operations. However, high leverage and negative cash flow trends present potential risks, necessitating improved cash flow management.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Morgan Stanley's income statement shows strong revenue growth with a 3.43% increase in TTM, supported by a healthy gross profit margin of 57.35% and a net profit margin of 14.29%. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are robust at 18.63% and 22.00%, respectively, indicating efficient operational management. However, the revenue growth rate has slowed compared to previous years, which could be a concern if the trend continues.
Balance Sheet
70
Positive
The balance sheet reflects a high debt-to-equity ratio of 3.92, which is typical for the financial industry but indicates significant leverage. The return on equity is strong at 15.07%, showcasing effective use of equity to generate profits. The equity ratio is relatively low, suggesting a heavy reliance on debt financing, which could pose risks if market conditions change.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash flow analysis reveals challenges, with negative operating and free cash flows in the TTM period. The free cash flow to net income ratio is positive at 1.14, indicating some ability to cover net income with free cash flow. However, the negative growth in free cash flow and operating cash flow coverage ratio of 0.0 highlight potential liquidity issues that need addressing.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue112.10B103.14B88.29B62.48B57.78B49.68B
Gross Profit63.80B57.36B50.13B49.93B56.41B45.07B
EBITDA26.27B22.76B16.07B18.09B23.88B18.19B
Net Income16.18B13.39B9.09B11.03B15.03B11.00B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.36T1.22T1.19T1.18T1.19T1.12T
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments103.05B401.59B461.89B467.86B500.35B474.23B
Total Debt414.62B360.49B339.04B308.75B305.36B283.53B
Total Liabilities1.25T1.11T1.09T1.08T1.08T1.01T
Stockholders Equity109.96B104.51B99.04B100.14B105.44B101.78B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-18.13B-2.10B-36.95B-9.47B31.66B-26.68B
Operating Cash Flow-15.97B1.36B-33.54B-6.40B33.97B-25.23B
Investing Cash Flow-66.04B-29.46B-3.08B-11.63B-49.90B-37.90B
Financing Cash Flow93.70B46.76B-2.73B22.71B41.55B83.78B

Morgan Stanley Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price165.61
Price Trends
50DMA
158.75
Positive
100DMA
150.55
Positive
200DMA
136.24
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
2.53
Negative
RSI
57.09
Neutral
STOCH
78.66
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For MS, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 165.61 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 163.08, above the 50-day MA of 158.75, and above the 200-day MA of 136.24, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 2.53 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 57.09 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 78.66 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for MS.

Morgan Stanley Risk Analysis

Morgan Stanley disclosed 73 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Morgan Stanley reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Morgan Stanley Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
80
Outperform
$32.38B35.0219.82%0.43%11.88%28.96%
78
Outperform
$33.08B16.1117.72%1.24%6.55%5.90%
76
Outperform
$270.06B17.4415.15%2.32%7.22%48.18%
71
Outperform
$251.63B17.0413.57%1.61%2.31%44.49%
70
Outperform
$173.62B22.9217.05%1.13%5.90%66.60%
70
Outperform
$30.14B34.6621.32%0.32%35.19%-18.62%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MS
Morgan Stanley
165.61
35.20
26.99%
IBKR
Interactive Brokers
67.04
22.23
49.61%
LPLA
LPL Financial
372.44
59.48
19.01%
RJF
Raymond James Financial
161.17
2.57
1.62%
SCHW
Charles Schwab
95.36
15.47
19.36%
GS
Goldman Sachs Group
805.50
223.83
38.48%
Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Nov 13, 2025