MS— Morgan Stanley
NYSEFinancial Services · Capital Markets
Morgan Stanley (MS) stock trades at $226.03, down 0.47% on the day. With a market capitalization of $356.51 billion, MS is a mega-cap financial services stock. It trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 20.5, a forward P/E of 17.8 and earnings per share (EPS) of $11.03. Over the most recent period the company reported 16% year-over-year revenue growth and a net profit margin of 24.8%. Below you'll find MS's full fundamentals, fair-value estimates, dividend history, earnings and our buy, hold or avoid verdict for 2026.
Price & Performance
Performance
Analysis & Verdict
Morgan Stanley (MS) Stock Analysis 2026
Rule-based · Updated daily · Not financial advice
Morgan Stanley (MS) operates in the Capital Markets space within the Financial Services sector. With a market cap of $356.5B, it qualifies as a large-cap company. The company is growing revenue strongly while maintaining healthy profitability — a combination that investors typically reward with a premium valuation.
- Forward P/E (17.8×) is lower than trailing P/E (20.5×) — analysts expect earnings to improve
- Revenue growth of 16% YoY shows solid business momentum
- Earnings grew 32% YoY — bottom-line is expanding fast
- Exceptional profit margin of 24.8% — the business retains a large share of each dollar earned
- ROE of 16.4% shows management efficiently converts equity into profit
- High debt-to-equity of 502.25× increases financial risk, especially with elevated interest rates
- Price is near its 52-week high — limited near-term upside, higher pullback risk
Verdict
Strong Buy
Multiple fundamental strengths with few red flags. Long-term buyers may find this compelling.
AI Insight
Powered by ClaudeAI-generated analysis for informational purposes only. Not financial advice.
Fair Value Estimates
Current price: $226.03
Graham Number
√(22.5 × EPS × Book Value)
$128.16
Benjamin Graham's intrinsic value formula. Assumes a fair stock trades at no more than 22.5× the product of EPS and book value per share.
Bazin Ceiling Price
Avg. Annual DPS (5Y) ÷ 6%
$52.33
Décio Bazin's dividend-based ceiling. The max price you should pay so that dividends alone deliver at least 6% annual yield on your cost basis.
These are simplified estimates. Not financial advice.
Buy & Hold Checklist
Quality criteria for long-term holding
9/10
90% score
Pays dividends
15Y hist.15+ years of dividend history
Dividend consistency (5Y+)
15 yrsUninterrupted dividend payments for at least 5 years
ROE above 10%
16.4%Return on equity — measures how efficiently capital is used
Positive profit margin
24.8%Net profit margin must be positive — company earns more than it spends
Revenue growth (annual)
+16.3%Annual revenue must be growing compared to the prior year
Earnings growth (annual)
+31.9%Annual earnings must be growing compared to the prior year
Debt/Equity below 2×
502.25×Low financial leverage reduces risk of distress
Current ratio above 1
1.96×Short-term assets must cover short-term liabilities
Daily liquidity above $5M
$1.3B/dayHigh trading volume ensures easy entry and exit
Dividend yield above 0%
1.77%Stock must distribute income to shareholders
Financials
Revenue & Results
Key Statistics
Earnings
Next Earnings
Jul 15, 2026
21
days
EPS (TTM)
$11.03
P/E (TTM)
20.5
Fwd P/E
17.8
SEC Filings & Reported Financials
Earnings History
SEC EDGAR · official filings
SEC Filings
Official EDGAR documents
Insider Transactions
SEC Form 4 · officers, directors & 10% owners
Dividends & Income
Dividends
Current DY
1.77%
5Y Avg Annual
$3.1200
Last Payment
$1.0000
Ex-Date
04/30/2026
Annual dividends paid per share
| Ex-Date | Payment | Amount | Est. DY |
|---|---|---|---|
Latest04/30/2026 | 05/15/2026 | $1.0000 | 1.77% |
01/30/2026 | 02/14/2026 | $1.0000 | 1.77% |
10/31/2025 | 11/15/2025 | $1.0000 | 1.77% |
07/31/2025 | 08/15/2025 | $1.0000 | 1.77% |
04/30/2025 | 05/15/2025 | $0.9250 | 1.64% |
01/31/2025 | 02/15/2025 | $0.9250 | 1.64% |
10/31/2024 | 11/15/2024 | $0.9250 | 1.64% |
07/31/2024 | 08/15/2024 | $0.9250 | 1.64% |
Magic Number
Shares needed to self-fund your next purchase
$226.03
Price
$1.0000
Last div. (quarterly)
227
shares
Own 227 MS shares ($51,308.81) and each quarterly dividend pays for 1 new share — the snowball runs on its own.
Investment target
$51,308.81
New shares / year
+4 shares
Tools & Simulators
If You Had Invested…
Hypothetical return based on historical prices
* Dividend reinvestment calculated at ex-date price. For informational purposes only.
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About Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments. The company offers capital raising and financial advisory services, including services related to the underwriting of debt, equity securities, and other products, as well as advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and project finance. It also provides equity and fixed income products comprising sales, financing, prime brokerage, and market-making services; Asia wealth management; business-related investments services; originating corporate and commercial real estate loans, secured lending facilities, and extending securities-based and other financing; and research activities. In addition, the company offers financial advisor-led brokerage, investment advisory, custody, cash management, and administrative services; self-directed brokerage services; financial and wealth planning services; stock plan administration; securities-based lending, residential real estate loans, and other lending products; banking; and retirement plan services. Further, it provides equity, fixed income, alternatives and solutions, and liquidity and overlay services to benefit/defined contribution plans, foundations, endowments, government entities, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, third-party fund sponsors, corporations, and individuals. Morgan Stanley was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in New York, New York.
Sector
Financial Services
Industry
Capital Markets
Location
New York, United States
Employees
84,000
MS — Frequently Asked Questions
Is Morgan Stanley (MS) a good stock to buy in 2026?
Morgan Stanley (MS) shows strengths such as revenue growth of 16%, a strong 25% net margin and a 16% return on equity, while risks include high leverage (debt/equity of 502.2). Whether MS is a good buy in 2026 depends on your time horizon and risk tolerance — review the full bull case, bear case and fair-value estimates above. This is informational analysis, not financial advice.
What is MS's stock price today?
Morgan Stanley (MS) trades at $226.03, down 0.47% on the session. Prices on this page update throughout the trading day.
Does MS pay a dividend?
Yes. Morgan Stanley pays an annual dividend of $4.00 per share, a dividend yield of 1.77%. The most recent ex-dividend date was April 30, 2026. Its payout ratio is about 36% of earnings.
Is MS overvalued?
With a P/E ratio of 20.5×, MS trades at a roughly market-average valuation for the financial services sector. Its PEG ratio is 2.73. See the Fair Value Estimates section above for Graham Number and dividend-based price targets.
What is MS's market cap?
Morgan Stanley (MS) has a market capitalization of $356.51 billion, classifying it as a mega-cap stock in the Financial Services sector.
Disclaimer: This page — including any buy/hold/avoid view, fair value or price estimate — is generated from market data for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment or trading advice. Data may be delayed or inaccurate. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision.