Morgan Stanley (MS)

In the past six months, Morgan Stanley's stock has experienced several notable events. MS shares had climbed 8.8% year-to-date as of February 5, 2025. On January 16, 2025, the stock price jumped 4% following the release of its fourth-quarter and fiscal 2024 earnings report. Morgan Stanley reported its second-quarter 2025 earnings results on July 16, 2025, with profits surpassing expectations. The stock reached an all-time high of $145.16 on July 6, 2025. As of July 18, 2025, the share price was $140.83, marking a 37.48% increase from July 22, 2024. A Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Pulse Survey on July 18, 2025, indicated a surge in bullishness. On July 9, 2025, Morgan Stanley Investment Management closed its North Haven Venture Capital Opportunities Fund I with over $280 million. The firm also expanded its industrials team by hiring Aftab Shahsingh from UBS. Morgan Stanley has noted that tariff-related cost pressures could emerge later in 2025 and anticipates seasonal weakness in the S&P 500 from mid-July through August.

Demand for Morgan Stanley's products and services is generally influenced more by economic cycles and market conditions than by strict calendar seasonality. The diversified nature of its business helps to mitigate some seasonal fluctuations. While certain market activities may experience periods of higher or lower volume, these are often tied to broader economic trends rather than predictable seasonal patterns. Morgan Stanley's analysis of the luxury goods sector noted a temporary improvement in April, partly attributed to seasonality and pent-up demand. The firm's strategists anticipate seasonal weakness in the S&P 500 from mid-July through August. The healthcare sector, where Morgan Stanley has investment interests, is characterized by non-discretionary demand, making it more resilient to economic conditions.

Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm headquartered in New York City, operating as a multinational investment bank and a component of the S&P 100 and S&P 500 indices. Its core business is structured around Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management. The company offers investment banking services such as capital raising and financial advisory services. It also provides sales and trading services in equity securities and fixed income products, as well as prime brokerage services. Wealth management services include brokerage, investment advisory, financial planning, and retirement plan services. Investment management provides asset management products and services across various investment types to institutional and retail clients.

Morgan Stanley has a significant global presence with offices in 42 countries and over 80,000 employees. It serves corporations, governments, institutions, and individuals across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific. Its headquarters are located in New York City.

Morgan Stanley maintains a strong brand reputation within the financial industry. It was named Euromoney's best investment bank in the world in 2021 and the world's best bank for financial institutions in 2025. Analysts generally hold a "Moderate Buy" consensus rating for MS stock. The firm is recognized for its robust performance in mergers and acquisitions advisory and capital raising. Morgan Stanley has also consistently exceeded Wall Street's earnings estimates in the past four quarters. In October 2023, Morgan Stanley launched an open-source tool with Stanford University to assess the environmental impact of business activities. In July 2023, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management announced a strategic shift to focus on high-net-worth clients.

Morgan Stanley is predominantly owned by institutional investors, who hold approximately 62% of the shares as of December 31, 2024. Major institutional shareholders include Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., State Street Corporation, The Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock, Inc., and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Individual owners (insiders) hold less than 1% of Morgan Stanley's stock.