Morgan Stanley $MS Stock: Hosking Partners LLP Reduces Position

Hosking Partners LLP cut its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 178,289 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 9,997 shares during the period. Hosking Partners LLP’s holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $33,533,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of MS. Marquette Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley by 143.4% during the second quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC now owns 129 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares during the period. Atlatl Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of Morgan Stanley in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC grew its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 55.7% during the 2nd quarter. Hughes Financial Services LLC now owns 137 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Bayban grew its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 72.5% during the 1st quarter. Bayban now owns 188 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Security National Bank of SO Dak acquired a new stake in Morgan Stanley during the 2nd quarter valued at $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.19% of the company’s stock.

Morgan Stanley Trading Up 3.6%

MS opened at $186.83 on Thursday. Morgan Stanley has a 12-month low of $152.80 and a 12-month high of $232.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.65, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $294.69 billion, a PE ratio of 14.83, a P/E/G ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.22. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $202.37 and its 200 day moving average price is $204.15.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 14th. The financial services provider reported $3.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.93 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $20.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.93 billion. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 15.63% and a return on equity of 19.40%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.80 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Morgan Stanley will post 12.81 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, October 30th will be paid a $1.15 dividend. This represents a $4.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, October 30th. Morgan Stanley’s dividend payout ratio is 36.51%.

Morgan Stanley announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, June 24th that permits the company to repurchase $20.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to reacquire up to 5.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Share repurchase plans are typically a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MS has been the topic of several analyst reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $230.00 price target (down from $250.00) on shares of Morgan Stanley in a research note on Thursday, October 15th. TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $210.00 to $205.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 15th. Barclays raised their target price on Morgan Stanley from $230.00 to $262.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Morgan Stanley from $223.00 to $217.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 15th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on Morgan Stanley from $215.00 to $210.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $214.62.

Morgan Stanley News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley, along with Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, reportedly captured nearly 80% of the top five banks’ equity-trading revenue so far in 2026, generating a combined $52 billion. Demand from hedge funds for leveraged artificial-intelligence and semiconductor trades has been a major growth driver for the firm’s markets business. Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley are dominating the AI stock boom
• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley’s chief U.S. equity strategist, Mike Wilson, said the market correction is nearing its end and projected the S&P 500 could reach 8,500 by mid-2027. A more optimistic market outlook could support wealth-management assets, investment banking activity and trading volumes. Morgan Stanley’s Mike Wilson Says Market Correction Nearly Over
• Positive Sentiment: The firm named Howmet Aerospace its top aerospace-sector pick, replacing FTAI Aviation, signaling continued confidence in aerospace investment-banking and research activity ahead of third-quarter earnings. Morgan Stanley Names Top Aerospace Pick to Replace FTAI
• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley Wealth Management’s Single Advisory Platform won the 2026 MMI/Barron’s Wealth Management Advisory Platform of the Year award, reinforcing the strength of its advisory franchise and brand. Morgan Stanley Named 2026 Wealth Management Advisory Platform of the Year
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent coverage describes Morgan Stanley as one of the more oversold financial stocks, which may attract bargain hunters but also underscores ongoing concerns about valuation and sector volatility. Top 3 Financial Stocks Which Could Rescue Your Portfolio In Q4
• Negative Sentiment: Exchange-traded funds were reported as net sellers of Morgan Stanley shares on October 19, creating a potential source of near-term selling pressure. ETFs Are Net Sellers of Morgan Stanley
• Negative Sentiment: A report questioning the yield offered by Morgan Stanley’s Series A preferred securities may weigh on income-oriented investor sentiment, although the issue relates primarily to the preferred stock rather than the common shares. Morgan Stanley Series A Preferreds: Yield Falls Short

Morgan Stanley Company Profile

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a global financial services company that provides investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services to corporations, institutions, governments and individual investors. Founded in 1935, the company is headquartered in New York City and serves clients through operations across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and other international markets.

Through its Institutional Securities segment, Morgan Stanley offers investment banking, equity and fixed-income sales and trading, research, lending and related capital-markets services.