Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) Stock Price Target Lowered at BMO Capital Markets

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) had its target price trimmed by BMO Capital Markets from $250.00 to $215.00 in a report issued on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an outperform rating on the financial services provider’s stock.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on MS. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on Morgan Stanley from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, July 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Morgan Stanley from $187.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Zacks Research downgraded Morgan Stanley from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 30th. Bank of America lifted their target price on Morgan Stanley from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Morgan Stanley from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $219.90.

Morgan Stanley Price Performance

NYSE MS opened at $190.87 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $301.05 billion, a PE ratio of 15.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 1.22. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $208.67 and its 200-day moving average price is $202.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.65, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79. Morgan Stanley has a 52-week low of $151.84 and a 52-week high of $232.25.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 15th. The financial services provider reported $3.46 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.89 by $0.57. The company had revenue of $21.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.67 billion. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 15.65% and a return on equity of 19.31%. Morgan Stanley’s revenue for the quarter was up 27.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.13 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that Morgan Stanley will post 12.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Morgan Stanley Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 31st were issued a dividend of $1.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, July 31st. This represents a $4.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. This is a boost from Morgan Stanley’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.00. Morgan Stanley’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 37.19%.

Morgan Stanley announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, June 24th that allows the company to buyback $20.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to buy up to 5.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. purchased a new stake in Morgan Stanley during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $78,825,883,310. Bank of New York Mellon Corp purchased a new position in shares of Morgan Stanley in the second quarter worth $2,040,227,000. Corient Private Wealth LLC raised its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 142.4% in the fourth quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 3,122,060 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $511,723,000 after buying an additional 1,833,844 shares during the last quarter. Cullen Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley during the second quarter worth $295,482,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley during the first quarter valued at $110,938,000. 84.19% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about Morgan Stanley

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

• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley was selected as one of six joint lead managers for the U.K.’s first digitally native government bond. The planned Digital Gilt Instrument, expected in the first quarter of 2027, could generate underwriting, distribution and advisory revenue while strengthening the firm’s position in digital-asset and blockchain-related capital markets. UK names 6 banks to lead first digitally native government bond
• Positive Sentiment: An investment research article highlighted Morgan Stanley’s integrated banking, wealth-management and asset-management model as a potential long-term earnings driver. The thesis is supported by recovering deal activity and expanding client assets, although it is not a new company forecast or earnings announcement. Can Morgan Stanley’s Integrated Model Drive Long-Term Earnings Growth?
• Neutral Sentiment: Morgan Stanley’s broader market calls included a lower 2026 Saudi Arabia GDP forecast because of prolonged oil-supply disruption and a recommendation to short the British pound ahead of the U.K. budget. These developments may affect client trading and advisory conditions, but they do not directly change Morgan Stanley’s earnings outlook. Morgan Stanley lowers Saudi Arabia 2026 GDP forecast
• Negative Sentiment: BMO Capital Markets lowered its Morgan Stanley price target from $250 to $215 while maintaining an “Outperform” rating. The revised target still implies meaningful upside from the current trading level, but the cut may weigh on sentiment by signaling more limited near-term upside than previously expected. BMO Capital Markets Cuts Morgan Stanley Price Target to $215

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm serving corporations, governments, financial institutions, individuals and other investors. The company provides investment banking and advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions advice, equity and debt underwriting, securities sales and trading, and corporate lending.

Through its Wealth Management business, Morgan Stanley offers financial planning, brokerage, investment advisory and banking services to individual investors, businesses and institutions.