11,273 Morgan Stanley $MS Shares Bought by First Citizens Bank & Trust Co.

Key Points

• First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. increased its Morgan Stanley stake by 27.7% in the third quarter, acquiring 11,273 additional shares and bringing its holdings to 51,962 shares valued at approximately $9.8 million. Institutional investors collectively own 84.19% of the company.
• Morgan Stanley recently reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results, with earnings of $3.46 per share and revenue of $21.35 billion, up 27.1% year over year. The company also authorized a $20 billion share-repurchase program covering up to 5.6% of outstanding shares.
• The stock was trading at $186.61, below its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, while analysts maintained a generally positive outlook with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $219.43.

First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. lifted its position in shares of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS - Free Report) by 27.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 51,962 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 11,273 shares during the period. First Citizens Bank & Trust Co.'s holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $9,773,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Focus Financial Network Inc. boosted its stake in Morgan Stanley by 23.1% during the 3rd quarter. Focus Financial Network Inc. now owns 3,216 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $605,000 after purchasing an additional 603 shares during the period. XY Planning Network Inc. grew its position in Morgan Stanley by 6.6% in the 3rd quarter. XY Planning Network Inc. now owns 2,513 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $473,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley by 0.8% in the third quarter. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC now owns 25,574 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $4,810,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares during the period. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley by 1.1% in the third quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 31,615 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $5,946,000 after purchasing an additional 342 shares during the period. Finally, Signal Advisors Wealth LLC increased its stake in shares of Morgan Stanley by 33.4% in the third quarter. Signal Advisors Wealth LLC now owns 8,808 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $1,657,000 after purchasing an additional 2,206 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.19% of the company's stock.

Morgan Stanley Trading Down 1.8%

Shares of Morgan Stanley stock opened at $186.61 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $206.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $203.34. Morgan Stanley has a fifty-two week low of $151.88 and a fifty-two week high of $232.25. The firm has a market cap of $294.33 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.65.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 15th. The financial services provider reported $3.46 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.89 by $0.57. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 15.65% and a return on equity of 19.31%. The business had revenue of $21.35 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.67 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.13 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 27.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Morgan Stanley will post 12.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Morgan Stanley announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase program on Wednesday, June 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $20.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 5.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company's management believes its shares are undervalued.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Evercore reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Morgan Stanley in a research report on Monday, July 6th. Barclays increased 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. Bank of America raised their target price on Morgan Stanley from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their target price on Morgan Stanley from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Finally, Oppenheimer lowered Morgan Stanley from a "market perform" rating to an "underperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $219.43.

Key Stories Impacting Morgan Stanley

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

• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley plans to support tokenized equities on its alternative trading system, potentially strengthening its position in digital-asset infrastructure and creating a longer-term growth opportunity. Morgan Stanley Plans Tokenized Equities Support
• Positive Sentiment: The upcoming earnings report is a major near-term catalyst. Morgan Stanley previously delivered strong results, with the latest reported quarter showing $3.46 in earnings per share and $21.35 billion in revenue, both ahead of expectations. Morgan Stanley Reports Earnings Tomorrow
• Neutral Sentiment: Options markets are targeting roughly $205 for MS around the earnings event, indicating that traders expect elevated volatility and a potentially significant post-results move. Morgan Stanley Stock Selloff Cools Ahead of Earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts and market commentators are focused on wealth-management results, asset flows, trading activity and the effect of higher interest rates on funding costs and dealmaking. The broader financial sector is entering earnings season with investor expectations tempered. What to Watch When Morgan Stanley Reports
• Negative Sentiment: Enthusiasm surrounding mergers, acquisitions and IPO activity has cooled after the stock reached approximately $230 in July, contributing to the recent pullback and investor caution ahead of earnings. Morgan Stanley Stock Selloff Cools Ahead of Earnings
• Negative Sentiment: Erste Group Bank modestly reduced its 2026 earnings-per-share estimate to $12.79 from $12.83 and maintained a Hold rating. While the revision is small, it reinforces concerns that earnings momentum may be less robust than previously expected. Morgan Stanley Earnings Estimate Revision

Morgan Stanley Profile

Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm serving corporations, governments, financial institutions, individuals and other investors. The company provides investment banking and advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions advice, equity and debt underwriting, securities sales and trading, and corporate lending.

Through its Wealth Management business, Morgan Stanley offers financial planning, brokerage, investment advisory and banking services to individual investors, businesses and institutions.

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