Morgan Stanley $MS Shares Sold by Albion Financial Group UT

Albion Financial Group UT lowered its holdings in Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) by 6.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 60,833 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 4,020 shares during the period. Albion Financial Group UT’s holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $10,800,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Junto Capital Management LP purchased a new position in Morgan Stanley in the third quarter valued at about $170,037,000. Marshall Wace LLP boosted its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 40.2% in the third quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 2,933,604 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $466,326,000 after purchasing an additional 841,263 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 6.1% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 14,260,650 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,267,847,000 after purchasing an additional 822,120 shares during the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP boosted its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 150.3% in the third quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 1,234,969 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $196,311,000 after purchasing an additional 741,651 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Danske Bank A S purchased a new position in Morgan Stanley in the third quarter valued at about $104,097,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.19% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently commented on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price target on Morgan Stanley from $202.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a “moderate buy” rating in a report on Friday, January 16th. Erste Group Bank reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Morgan Stanley in a report on Thursday, March 5th. HSBC reduced their target price on Morgan Stanley from $175.00 to $153.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 1st. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed a “sector perform” rating and set a $207.00 target price on shares of Morgan Stanley in a report on Friday, January 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Morgan Stanley from $173.00 to $179.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 10th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $188.87.

Trending Headlines about Morgan Stanley

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

• Positive Sentiment: Jefferies says Morgan Stanley should benefit from a trading surge and steady dealmaking, raising expectations for a strong Q1 — a near‑term earnings catalyst. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley seen riding trading boom as dealmaking holds firm, Jefferies says
• Positive Sentiment: Goldman Sachs raised its price target on MS (from $172 to $186), which supports a constructive view from a large Wall Street shop and may attract buyers. Goldman Sachs adjusts price target on Morgan Stanley to $186
• Positive Sentiment: Billionaire Ken Griffin maintains a sizable stake in Morgan Stanley — a notable institutional endorsement that can support sentiment. Is Morgan Stanley (MS) The Best Financial Stock to Buy According to Billionaire Ken Griffin?
• Neutral Sentiment: Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund set a Q1 2026 results call — investors in MS‑linked credit vehicles should monitor fund results for credit performance and fee generation. Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Sets Q1 2026 Results Call
• Neutral Sentiment: Morgan Stanley research says AI‑driven labor disruption remains limited so far — a thematic view that may temper near‑term risk narratives around financials but is not an immediate earnings driver. Morgan Stanley finds AI labor disruption remains limited in early stages
• Negative Sentiment: Evercore and BMO both cut Morgan Stanley’s price target (from $215 to $190), signaling reduced upside from some sell‑side desks and adding near‑term pressure on sentiment. Evercore adjusts price target on Morgan Stanley to $190 BMO Capital adjusts price target on Morgan Stanley to $190
• Negative Sentiment: Firm is launching a private‑credit vehicle while the sector faces liquidity stress — this could expand fee opportunities but also raises execution and liquidity risk that investors may discount. Morgan Stanley Plans Private Credit Fund Even as Investors Flee

Morgan Stanley Stock Up 0.3%

MS opened at $166.33 on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley has a 12 month low of $94.33 and a 12 month high of $192.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.39, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.81. The stock has a market cap of $264.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.19. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $168.87 and its 200 day moving average price is $169.47.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 15th. The financial services provider reported $2.68 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.28 by $0.40. Morgan Stanley had a return on equity of 16.78% and a net margin of 14.09%.The firm had revenue of $17.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $17.69 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.22 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 10.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Morgan Stanley will post 8.56 earnings per share for the current year.

Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Investors of record on Friday, January 30th were given a $1.00 dividend. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.4%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 30th. Morgan Stanley’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 39.18%.

Insider Activity at Morgan Stanley

In other news, insider Daniel A. Simkowitz sold 32,968 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.61, for a total transaction of $6,020,286.48. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 357,342 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $65,254,222.62. This trade represents a 8.45% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Michael A. Pizzi sold 20,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $184.55, for a total value of $3,691,000.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 127,872 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $23,598,777.60. This represents a 13.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold 129,191 shares of company stock worth $23,736,506 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.19% of the company’s stock.

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a global financial services firm headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1935 by Henry S. Morgan and Harold Stanley, the company provides a broad range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services to corporations, governments, institutions and individual investors. Leadership has been guided by a senior executive team and board of directors; James P. Gorman has served as the company’s chief executive and chairman in recent years.

The firm’s primary business activities are organized around three principal businesses: Institutional Securities, Wealth Management and Investment Management.