Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) Stock Has Average Price Target of $214.62

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-seven brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, thirteen have issued a hold recommendation, eleven have assigned a buy recommendation and two have issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $214.81.

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. HSBC increased their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $215.00 to $219.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, September 28th. Freedom Capital raised Morgan Stanley from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Barclays upped their price objective on Morgan Stanley from $230.00 to $262.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Royal Bank Of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Morgan Stanley from $243.00 to $195.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 15th. Finally, Zacks Research downgraded Morgan Stanley from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 30th.

More Morgan Stanley News

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

• Positive Sentiment: UBS raised its price target on Morgan Stanley to $240 from $236 and maintained a Buy rating, implying substantial upside from the reference price in the report. UBS raises Morgan Stanley price target
• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley is launching a $2.3 billion Baldwin debt offering. The deal may provide underwriting activity and related fee revenue, although the article listing offers limited detail. Morgan Stanley launches Baldwin debt offering
• Neutral Sentiment: Morgan Stanley’s market outlook is divided: one strategist sees the election as a potential “clearing event” that could help the selloff end, while other reports flag risks from election uncertainty and fragile technology-stock buying. The outlook matters to MS because market moves can affect trading and wealth-management activity. Morgan Stanley flags a stock-market turning point
• Neutral Sentiment: E*TRADE published its monthly sector-rotation study, highlighting client buying and selling across market sectors; the announcement provides no specific indication of a direct financial impact on MS. E*TRADE sector rotation study
• Negative Sentiment: Morgan Stanley strategists have warned that the S&P 500 could face further losses, with one report citing a possible 9% decline and another describing three potential “clearing events.” Persistent volatility could curb investor activity and pressure market-sensitive businesses. Morgan Stanley warns the S&P 500 could drop

Morgan Stanley Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MS opened at $185.97 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.65, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.79. Morgan Stanley has a 1 year low of $152.80 and a 1 year high of $232.25. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $196.97 and a 200-day moving average price of $194.33. The stock has a market cap of $293.33 billion, a PE ratio of 14.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.23.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) last issued its earnings results 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. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 15.63% and a return on equity of 19.40%. The company had revenue of $20.34 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.93 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.80 EPS. Morgan Stanley’s quarterly revenue was up 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Morgan Stanley will post 12.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 13th. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 30th will be paid a $1.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 30th. This represents a $4.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.5%. Morgan Stanley’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.51%.

Institutional Trading of Morgan Stanley

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Marquette Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Morgan Stanley by 143.4% in the second quarter. Marquette Asset Management LLC now owns 129 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the period. Atlatl Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Hughes Financial Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley by 55.7% during the second 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. Security National Bank of SO Dak bought a new position in shares of Morgan Stanley during the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Turim 21 Investimentos Ltda. purchased a new position in Morgan Stanley during the first quarter valued at approximately $32,000. 84.19% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Morgan Stanley

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.