Morgan Stanley (MS)
Morgan Stanley is a global financial powerhouse that helps wealthy individuals manage their money and advises big companies on complex deals.
Is Morgan Stanley a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: Morgan Stanley is a global financial powerhouse that helps wealthy individuals manage their money and advises big companies on complex deals.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Successful expansion of digital wealth platforms.
Significant regulatory changes impacting banking operations.
What does Morgan Stanley do?
Morgan Stanley operates as a giant in the financial world, splitting its time between managing investments for wealthy clients and helping corporations navigate mergers or stock market listings. They make their money through a mix of service fees, commissions, and interest earned on the capital they hold. The performance of its trading and deal-making arms is worth following, since both are sensitive to the overall health of the global economy.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on growth and momentum, and weakest on value.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 2.2% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 28% over the year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 26% of sales into profit
- !Carries a lot of debt - roughly 5.0x its equity
- Growth screens high (82/100)
- Strong brand presence in global finance
- Diversified income streams between banking and wealth management
- High profit margins compared to many traditional banks
- Economic downturns often lead to fewer corporate deals
- Strict financial regulations can limit profit potential
- Increased competition from digital-first financial services
What do Morgan Stanley's numbers mean?
How much money does Morgan Stanley make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Morgan Stanley pay a dividend?
Yes - Morgan Stanley currently pays a dividend of about 2.2% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does Morgan Stanley report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Morgan Stanley is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-14 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-15 | $2.93 | $3.46 | Beat +18% |
| 2026-04-15 | $3.02 | $3.43 | Beat +14% |
| 2026-01-15 | $2.45 | $2.68 | Beat +9% |
| 2025-10-15 | $2.11 | $2.80 | Beat +33% |
| 2025-07-16 | $1.98 | $2.13 | Beat +7% |
| 2025-04-11 | $2.21 | $2.60 | Beat +18% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Morgan Stanley came in ahead of what analysts expected 6 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
More in Financial Services
What are the scenarios for Morgan Stanley?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Morgan Stanley?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong brand presence in global finance
- Diversified income streams between banking and wealth management
- High profit margins compared to many traditional banks
- Highly sensitive to the ups and downs of the stock market
- Complex business model can be difficult to predict
- Share price has already seen significant growth recently
- Economic downturns often lead to fewer corporate deals
- Strict financial regulations can limit profit potential
- Increased competition from digital-first financial services
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A major shift in global interest rate policy
- A significant change in the company's leadership strategy
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.