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MSMorgan StanleyHold6.5·$207.11-3.39%
HoldModerate Confidence
Investment thesis

Morgan Stanley has delivered 4 consecutive earnings beats averaging 16.7% positive surprise and earns strong margins of 25%, but trades above analyst targets with a negative asymmetry ratio and an earnings report due in 29 days that could serve as a catalyst in either direction.

Thesis pillars

  • Leverage Near 52 Week HighStable
  • Earnings Beat Streak CatalystStable
  • High Quality MarginsStable
  • +1 more pillar — see the Why tab for full reasoning

Full reasoning →

Open full analysis

Morgan Stanley (MS) Stock Analysis

HoldVALUE-TRAP 1/5GrowthQualityModerate Confidence

Financial Services · Capital Markets

Hold if already holding. Not a fresh buy at $207.11, but acceptable to hold if already in. Reasons: Thin upside margin: 3.4%; Leverage penalty (D/E 5.2): -1.5.

Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm serving corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals through three segments: Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management. The firm operates globally from New York headquarters and... Read more

$207.11+3.4% A.UpsideScore 6.5/10#11 of 50 Capital Markets
QualityF-score6 / 9FCF yield
IncomeYield2.15%(5y avg 2.98%)Payout32.31%sustainable
Stop $198.68Target $213.60(analyst − 10%)A.R:R 0.7:1
Analyst target$237.33+14.6%21 analysts
$213.60our TP
$207.11price
$237.33mean
$184
$262

Hold if already holding. Not a fresh buy at $207.11, but acceptable to hold if already in. Reasons: Thin upside margin: 3.4%; Leverage penalty (D/E 5.2): -1.5. Chart setup: No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed. Maintain position. Not compelling to add more. Score 6.5/10, moderate confidence.

Passes 6/8 gates (clean insider activity, no SEC red flags, news events none recent, earnings proximity 30d clear, semi cycle peak clear, materials cycle peak clear). Fails on weak momentum and favorable risk/reward ratio. Suitability: moderate.

news + 30-day 8-K events · 5-min refresh

Recent developments

updated 2026-09-15
TrendMatrix Research · upcoming catalyst calendar

Upcoming dated catalysts

Wed, Oct 14, 202630d to earnings· next earnings call

Thesis

Rewards
V7 quality resilience bonus: +0.2 (Q=7.2 in RISK_OFF)
Sector modifier (Financial Services): +1.0
Strong earnings beat streak (4/4)
Risks
Thin upside margin: 3.4%
Leverage penalty (D/E 5.2): -1.5

Key Metrics

P/E (TTM)17.3
P/E (Fwd)15.7
Mkt Cap$336.7B
EV/EBITDA
Profit Mgn25.9%
ROE18.0%
Rev Growth28.0%
Beta1.21
Dividend2.15%
Rating analysts33

Quality Signals

Piotroski F6/9MoatNarrow

Options Flow

P/C5.04bearish
IV42%normal

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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About TrendMatrix. TrendMatrix is a publisher of general securities research and market commentary. We publish on a regular schedule. All content is the same for every subscriber in a tier — we do not provide personalized investment advice and we do not take into account any individual subscriber's financial situation, investment objectives, risk tolerance, tax situation, or holdings.

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Performance. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Performance figures reflect the published model only and do not reflect any individual subscriber's actual results.

Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

Rating Breakdown

1 ceiling hit

GatesMomentum 4.4<4.5A.R:R 0.7 < 1.5@spotInsider activity: OKNo SEC red flagsNEWS EVENTS NONE RECENTEARNINGS PROXIMITY 30d clearSEMI CYCLE PEAK CLEARMATERIALS CYCLE PEAK CLEARSuitability: Moderate
RSI
38 · Neutral
20D MA 50D MA 200D MAGOLDEN CROSSSupport $204.82Resistance $220.53

Price Targets

$199
$214
A.Upside+3.4%
A.R:R0.7:1

Position Sizing

ConvictionNone
Suggested %0.5%
Max %1%
RegimeRisk-Off

Risk Alerts

! momentum at 4.4 (below the engine's 4.5 threshold)
! asymmetry at 0.7 (below the engine's 1.5 threshold)@spot

Earnings

B
B
B
B
4/4 beats
Next Earnings2026-10-14 (30d)

Verdict History

reverse chrono — latest first
Loading history...
Verdicts are recorded on every nightly pipeline run. Rows capture transitions (verdict flips, score deltas ≥0.3, entry/TP/SL changes). Rows with a ▶ can be expanded to see the change reason. Aggregate cohort performance is tracked in the recommendation ledger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MS stock a buy right now?

Hold if already holding. Not a fresh buy at $207.11, but acceptable to hold if already in. Reasons: Thin upside margin: 3.4%; Leverage penalty (D/E 5.2): -1.5. Chart setup: No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed. Maintain position. Not compelling to add more. Target $213.60 (+3.1%), stop $198.68 (−4.2%), A.R:R 0.7:1. Score 6.5/10, moderate confidence.

What is the MS stock price target?

Take-profit target: $213.60 (+3.4% upside). Target $213.60 (+3.1%), stop $198.68 (−4.2%), A.R:R 0.7:1. Stop-loss: $198.68.

What are the risks of investing in MS?

Thin upside margin: 3.4%; Leverage penalty (D/E 5.2): -1.5.

Is MS overvalued or undervalued?

Morgan Stanley trades at a P/E of 17.3 (forward 15.7). TrendMatrix value score: 6.4/10. Verdict: Hold.

What do analysts say about MS?

33 analysts cover MS with a consensus score of 3.8/5. Average price target: $237.

What does Morgan Stanley do?Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm serving corporations, governments, financial institutions, and...

Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm serving corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals through three segments: Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management. The firm operates globally from New York headquarters and offices in London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, regulated by the Federal Reserve as a financial holding company.

Related stocks: GS (Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)) · SCHW (Charles Schwab Corporation (The) · HOOD (Robinhood Markets, Inc.) · IBKR (Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.)
Home Stocks MS

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