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

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MS

Morgan Stanley

(NYSE:MS)

Rating:77Outperform
Price Target:
$160.00
▲(13.90%Upside)
Morgan Stanley demonstrates strong financial performance and technical momentum, highlighted by robust profitability and strategic growth in Wealth Management. While cash flow challenges exist, the firm's valuation remains reasonable, and the positive sentiment from the latest earnings call underscores investor confidence. Overall, Morgan Stanley is well-positioned, though attention to cash flow improvements could further enhance its financial standing.
Positive Factors
Financial Performance
Morgan Stanley's equity revenue performance is strong with a 23% year-over-year increase to $3.7 billion.
Shareholder Value
Strong shareholder returns fueled by solid capital position, leading to a progressive increase in dividend payout.
Wealth Management
Morgan Stanley has capitalized on the boom of global wealth during the last decade and doubled the profit contribution from wealth and investment management from 26% of total profit in 2010 to 62% in 2023.
Negative Factors
Capital Reserves
The company's CET1 decreased 30bps as a result of repurchasing $1.0bn of stock, reflecting a reduction in capital reserves.
Earnings
Morgan Stanley shares reacted negatively after reporting 2Q25 EPS of $2.13 vs. $1.96/$1.97 our/cons estimates.
Investment Banking
Investment Banking Division revenues decreased by 5% year-over-year, with lower Advisory and Debt Underwriting contributing to the decline.

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

Morgan Stanley Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionMorgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments. The Institutional Securities segment offers capital raising and financial advisory services, including services related to the underwriting of debt, equity, and other securities, as well as advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, real estate, and project finance. This segment also provides sales and trading services, such as sales, financing, prime brokerage, and market-making services in equity and fixed income products consisting of foreign exchange and commodities; corporate and commercial real estate loans, which provides secured lending facilities and financing for sales and trading customers, and asset-backed and mortgage lending; and wealth management services, investment, and research services. The Wealth Management segment offers financial advisor-led brokerage and investment advisory services; self-directed brokerage services; financial and wealth planning services; workplace services, including stock plan administration; annuity and insurance products; securities-based lending, residential real estate loans, and other lending products; banking; and retirement plan services to individual investors and small to medium-sized businesses and institutions. The Investment Management segment provides equity, fixed income, liquidity, and alternative/other products to benefit/defined contribution plans, foundations, endowments, government entities, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, and third-party fund sponsors and corporations through institutional and intermediary channels. Morgan Stanley was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
How the Company Makes MoneyMorgan Stanley makes money through its three primary business segments. The Institutional Securities segment generates revenue by providing financial advisory services, underwriting, and trading in equities and fixed income securities. This segment serves corporate clients, governments, and institutions. The Wealth Management segment earns income through fees and commissions from managing wealth and providing financial advisory services to individual investors and small- to medium-sized businesses. Lastly, the Investment Management segment generates revenue by managing assets on behalf of institutional and retail clients, earning management and performance fees. Key revenue streams for Morgan Stanley include advisory and underwriting fees, trading commissions, asset management fees, and net interest income. Partnerships with other financial institutions and strategic acquisitions also contribute to its earnings, enhancing its service offerings and expanding its market reach.

Morgan Stanley Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Total Client Assets
Total Client Assets
Indicates the total value of assets held by clients, reflecting the firm's ability to attract and retain wealth.
Chart InsightsMorgan Stanley's Total Client Assets have shown a consistent upward trajectory, reaching $6.015 trillion by Q1 2025. This growth aligns with the firm's successful addition of $94 billion in net new assets, as highlighted in their earnings call. Despite market volatility, Morgan Stanley's robust performance in wealth management and institutional securities, particularly in equities, has driven asset growth. However, potential challenges such as geopolitical risks and a slowdown in IPO and M&A activities could impact future asset accumulation.
Data provided by:Main Street Data

Morgan Stanley Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jul 16, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: -0.79%|
Next Earnings Date:Oct 15, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a generally positive outlook, with strong performance in Wealth and Investment Management, record client assets, and robust equity and fixed income markets. However, challenges remain in certain areas such as slower investment banking activity and declines in fixed income underwriting.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Revenue and EPS Growth
Morgan Stanley reported $16.8 billion in revenue and $2.13 in EPS for the second quarter, completing a strong first half of 2025 with $34.5 billion in revenue and $4.73 in EPS.
Wealth Management Achievements
Total client assets in Wealth and Investment Management climbed to over $8.2 trillion. Wealth Management profits before tax reached a record $2.2 billion on margins of over 28%, with net new assets of $59 billion.
Investment Management Growth
Investment Management generated a positive $11 billion in long-term inflows for the second quarter, with total AUM reaching a record $1.7 trillion.
Institutional Securities Performance
The Institutional franchise delivered revenues of $7.6 billion, supported by the equities markets business with $3.7 billion in revenue.
Strong Equity Underwriting
Equity underwriting revenues improved meaningfully versus the prior year, driven by broad-based strength across products.
Negative Updates
Slower Investment Banking Activity
Investment Banking revenues were $1.5 billion, with a slowdown in strategic and capital markets activity for half of the quarter.
Decline in Fixed Income Underwriting
Fixed income underwriting revenues were $532 million, a decline from the strong comparative period due to lower noninvestment grade issuance.
Provisions for ISG Lending
ISG lending provisions were $168 million, driven by portfolio growth and a moderately weaker macroeconomic outlook.
Challenges in Commodity Revenues
Commodity results primarily reflected lower revenues in power and gas, and fewer structured trades compared to the previous period.
Company Guidance
During Morgan Stanley's second quarter 2025 earnings call, the firm reported $16.8 billion in revenue, $2.13 in EPS, and an 18.2% return on tangible equity. The firm achieved a record pretax profit of $2.2 billion in Wealth Management, with a pretax margin of 28.3%. Total client assets across Wealth and Investment Management reached over $8.2 trillion, and strong fee-based flows of $43 billion were noted. The Institutional Securities group generated $7.6 billion in revenue, driven by robust performance in equities and fixed income. Investment Management revenues increased 12% year-over-year to $1.6 billion, with total AUM reaching $1.7 trillion. The firm highlighted its strategic focus on deploying incremental capital, maintaining a CET1 ratio of 15%, and increasing its quarterly dividend per share to $1 while emphasizing the potential for regulatory reform and ongoing investment in core businesses.

Morgan Stanley Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Morgan Stanley exhibits solid profitability with strong margins and efficient operations. The high Debt-to-Equity Ratio indicates typical industry leverage, yet the company's profitability somewhat mitigates this risk. Cash flow challenges are notable with negative free cash flow, highlighting a need for improved cash conversion. Overall, the company maintains a robust financial profile but faces areas for improvement in cash flow management.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Morgan Stanley's income statement reveals a healthy financial performance with a Gross Profit Margin of 56.3% and a Net Profit Margin of 13.5% for TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), indicating strong profitability. The EBIT Margin and EBITDA Margin stand at 17.7% and 22.5% respectively, reflecting efficient operations. Revenue growth has been modest, with a TTM revenue increase of 2.5% from the previous year, suggesting steady business expansion. Overall, the company demonstrates solid profitability with room for revenue growth improvement.
Balance Sheet
72
Positive
The balance sheet shows a stable financial position with a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 3.71, indicating a high leverage typical for the capital markets industry. The Return on Equity (ROE) is 13.4%, reflecting efficient use of shareholder funds. The Equity Ratio is 8.2%, suggesting a moderate level of equity financing. While the high leverage could present risks, the company's ability to generate profit mitigates some concerns.
Cash Flow
65
Positive
Cash flow analysis indicates challenges, with a negative Free Cash Flow of -$30.3 billion in TTM, reflecting substantial cash outflows. The Operating Cash Flow to Net Income Ratio is negative, implying issues in converting profits into cash. Despite negatives, the company has been managing financing activities effectively with positive cash flow from financing. Measures to improve cash generation are crucial for future stability.
BreakdownDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue103.14B53.61B62.48B57.78B49.68B
Gross Profit57.36B50.13B49.93B56.41B45.07B
EBITDA22.76B16.07B18.09B23.88B18.19B
Net Income13.39B9.09B11.03B15.03B11.00B
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.22T1.19T1.18T1.19T1.12T
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments401.59B461.89B467.86B500.35B474.23B
Total Debt360.49B339.04B308.75B305.36B283.53B
Total Liabilities1.11T1.09T1.08T1.08T1.01T
Stockholders Equity104.51B99.04B100.14B105.44B101.78B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-2.10B-36.95B-9.47B31.66B-26.68B
Operating Cash Flow1.36B-33.54B-6.40B33.97B-25.23B
Investing Cash Flow-29.46B-3.08B-11.63B-49.90B-37.90B
Financing Cash Flow46.76B-2.73B22.71B41.55B83.78B

Morgan Stanley Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price140.47
Price Trends
50DMA
133.87
Positive
100DMA
124.53
Positive
200DMA
124.93
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
2.40
Positive
RSI
57.00
Neutral
STOCH
59.82
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 140.47 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 140.82, above the 50-day MA of 133.87, and above the 200-day MA of 124.93, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 2.40 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 57.00 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 59.82 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 (67)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
80
Outperform
$27.92B33.5519.15%0.92%12.25%20.76%
80
Outperform
$31.46B27.2240.36%0.32%26.32%8.63%
78
Outperform
$174.07B25.7915.59%1.08%4.64%54.26%
MSMS
77
Outperform
$225.05B15.9614.13%2.63%6.31%45.50%
RJRJF
77
Outperform
$32.41B15.4818.84%1.22%11.78%25.68%
GSGS
71
Outperform
$217.32B15.6112.78%1.70%-0.34%45.85%
67
Neutral
¥722.67B10.847.55%3.37%7.81%14.63%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
MS
Morgan Stanley
140.47
40.17
40.05%
IBKR
Interactive Brokers
62.00
31.67
104.42%
LPLA
LPL Financial
379.59
160.02
72.88%
RJF
Raymond James Financial
159.38
49.10
44.52%
SCHW
Charles Schwab
96.25
32.01
49.83%
GS
Goldman Sachs Group
706.00
223.96
46.46%

Morgan Stanley Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Morgan Stanley Reports Record Revenues for 2024
Positive
Jan 16, 2025

On January 16, 2025, Morgan Stanley announced its financial results for Q4 and the full year of 2024, reporting significant increases in net revenues and income compared to the previous year. The firm achieved record net revenues of $61.8 billion and a 20.2% ROTCE in Q4, with strong performances across Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management, highlighting its strategic execution and market resilience.

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: Jul 18, 2025