Stock of the Day

March 12, 2021

Morgan Stanley (MS)

$131.60
-$2.74 (-2.0%)
Market Cap: $216.43B

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan 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 equity and fixed income products comprising sales, financing, prime brokerage, and market-making services; foreign exchange and commodities; corporate and commercial real estate loans, commercial mortgage and 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, custody, administrative, 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, alternatives and solutions, and liquidity and overlay services to benefit/defined contribution plans, foundations, endowments, government entities, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, third-party fund sponsors, corporations, and individuals through institutional and intermediary channels. The company was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Morgan Stanley Bull Case

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Morgan Stanley:

  • The stock is currently trading at $140.70, which is near its one-year high of $142.03, indicating strong market performance and investor confidence.
  • Recent earnings results showed a significant earnings per share (EPS) of $2.22, surpassing analysts' expectations of $1.54, which reflects the company's robust financial health.
  • Analysts have a consensus target price of $131.27, suggesting potential upside for investors based on current trading levels.
  • Revenue for the latest quarter was reported at $16.23 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $15.03 billion, showcasing strong operational performance.
  • Morgan Stanley has received multiple upgrades from analysts, with price targets being raised, indicating positive sentiment and growth potential in the financial sector.

Morgan Stanley Bear Case

Investors should be bearish about investing in Morgan Stanley for these reasons:

  • Insider selling activity has been noted, with significant shares sold by executives, which may raise concerns about their confidence in the company's future performance.
  • The company has a high debt-to-equity ratio of 3.14, indicating that it relies heavily on debt financing, which can be risky in volatile market conditions.
  • Despite strong earnings, the stock has a P/E ratio of 17.72, which may suggest that it is overvalued compared to its earnings potential.
  • The current market conditions are uncertain, and financial services can be particularly sensitive to economic downturns, which could impact Morgan Stanley's performance.
  • Insider ownership is relatively low at 0.24%, which may indicate a lack of alignment between management and shareholder interests.

Recent News