Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Has $198.31 Million Stock Position in Morgan Stanley $MS

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH decreased its position in Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) by 0.5% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 1,123,672 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after selling 6,011 shares during the period. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH’s holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $198,311,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MS. TABR Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Morgan Stanley in the 4th quarter worth $260,000. Leelyn Smith LLC acquired a new position in Morgan Stanley in the 4th quarter worth $764,000. Salomon & Ludwin LLC boosted its stake in Morgan Stanley by 28.2% in the 4th quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC now owns 659 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $123,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares during the period. Planned Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in Morgan Stanley in the 4th quarter worth $223,000. Finally, Penobscot Investment Management Company Inc. boosted its stake in Morgan Stanley by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Penobscot Investment Management Company Inc. now owns 13,456 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $2,389,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.19% of the company’s stock.

Morgan Stanley Trading Down 0.8%

Shares of NYSE:MS opened at $189.21 on Wednesday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $169.22 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $171.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.39, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.81. Morgan Stanley has a one year low of $107.97 and a one year high of $194.59. The stock has a market capitalization of $299.22 billion, a PE ratio of 17.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 1.19.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 15th. The financial services provider reported $3.43 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.02 by $0.41. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 14.65% and a return on equity of 17.89%. The firm had revenue of $20.58 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $19.23 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.60 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 16.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Morgan Stanley will post 11.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Morgan Stanley Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 30th will be given a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 30th. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.1%. Morgan Stanley’s payout ratio is 36.23%.

Key Morgan Stanley News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Strong Q1 results and capital actions — MS reported a solid Q1 (beat on EPS and revenue), confirmed a $1.00 quarterly dividend and continued share repurchases while completing new debt issuance; management framed the quarter and capital moves as constructive for returns. Morgan Stanley’s Strong Q1 Earnings And Capital Moves Could Be A Game Changer For Morgan Stanley (MS)
• Positive Sentiment: BofA raises MS price target to $225 — Bank of America lifted its PT and reiterated a Buy, reinforcing buy-side analyst momentum that can support demand for the shares. BofA Lifts PT on Morgan Stanley (MS) to $225 From $220
• Positive Sentiment: BMO raises PT to $220 and keeps Outperform — another institutional upgrade that can attract buyers and help re-rate the stock. BMO Capital Markets Increases Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) Price Target to $220.00
• Positive Sentiment: MS-backed spot Bitcoin ETF (MSBT) is drawing flows — continued inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs (including MS’s product) bolster fee and AUM narratives for MS’s wealth and asset-management businesses. Spot Bitcoin ETFs Add $996M as Flows Near Record High
• Neutral Sentiment: Research franchise in focus — Morgan Stanley continues active analyst coverage and new initiations (e.g., T‑Mobile), which highlights its research/IPO/coverage capabilities; useful for long-term fee visibility but not an immediate earnings lever. Morgan Stanley Assumes Coverage of T-Mobile US (TMUS)
• Neutral Sentiment: Ongoing analyst activity from MS on other names (TCS, Exxon etc.) underscores the firm’s market intelligence role — relevant for franchise value over time but indirect for MS stock near term. Morgan Stanley reiterates ‘Overweight’ rating on TCS
• Negative Sentiment: Insider sale by Eric F. Grossman — MS insider Eric Grossman sold 11,118 shares (~$2.1M), a flagged transaction that can sap sentiment even if it reflects personal liquidity rather than firm fundamentals. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) Insider Eric Grossman Sells 11,118 Shares
• Negative Sentiment: Additional SEC-filed insider sales reported — other recent disclosures show more insider dispositions that may amplify investor caution near-term. Eric Grossman Sells 11,118 Shares of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) Stock

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Morgan Stanley from $173.00 to $179.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 10th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Morgan Stanley from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 9th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Morgan Stanley from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 23rd. Citizens Jmp reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Morgan Stanley in a research note on Thursday, April 16th. Finally, Wolfe Research reduced their target price on shares of Morgan Stanley from $221.00 to $197.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 1st. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and twelve have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $201.33.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Morgan Stanley news, insider Daniel A. Simkowitz sold 14,690 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.24, for a total transaction of $2,779,935.60. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 365,802 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $69,224,370.48. The trade was a 3.86% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Andrew M. Saperstein sold 51,668 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $188.59, for a total transaction of $9,744,068.12. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 282,142 shares in the company, valued at $53,209,159.78. This trade represents a 15.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold 110,444 shares of company stock valued at $20,665,049 in the last three months. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.