Edgestream Partners L.P. Acquires 28,051 Shares of Morgan Stanley $MS

Key Points

• Edgestream Partners increased its Morgan Stanley stake by 49.2% in the first quarter, acquiring 28,051 additional shares for a total of 85,059 shares valued at approximately $14 million. Institutional investors collectively own 84.19% of the company.
• Morgan Stanley reported a strong quarter, with EPS of $3.46 and revenue of $21.35 billion, exceeding analyst estimates and marking 27.1% year-over-year revenue growth. The company also authorized a $20 billion share buyback and raised its quarterly dividend to $1.15 per share.
• The stock opened at $203.29 after falling 3.9%, while analysts maintained an overall “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $224.50. Positive factors include higher earnings forecasts and expansion into crypto products, though valuation and reported mortgage-approval allegations present risks.

Edgestream Partners L.P. boosted its holdings in Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS - Free Report) by 49.2% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 85,059 shares of the financial services provider's stock after acquiring an additional 28,051 shares during the quarter. Morgan Stanley accounts for about 0.5% of Edgestream Partners L.P.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest position. Edgestream Partners L.P.'s holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $13,998,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of MS. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 40.1% in the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 29,744 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $5,281,000 after purchasing an additional 8,512 shares in the last quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC grew its position in Morgan Stanley by 679.8% during the fourth quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC now owns 42,400 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $7,527,000 after acquiring an additional 36,963 shares during the last quarter. BOCHK Asset Management Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Morgan Stanley during the fourth quarter worth approximately $1,260,000. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 11.2% in the 4th quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 646,571 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $116,102,000 after acquiring an additional 65,246 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Financiere des Professionnels Fonds d investissement inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley in the 1st quarter valued at $8,854,000. Institutional investors own 84.19% of the company's stock.

Morgan Stanley Trading Down 3.9%

MS opened at $203.29 on Thursday. Morgan Stanley has a one year low of $136.17 and a one year high of $232.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.52, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.77. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $214.92 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $190.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $320.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.43, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.23.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 15th. The financial services provider reported $3.46 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $2.89 by $0.57. The firm had revenue of $21.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.67 billion. Morgan Stanley had a return on equity of 19.51% and a net margin of 15.65%.The business's quarterly revenue was up 27.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.13 EPS. Analysts predict that Morgan Stanley will post 12.78 EPS for the current year.

Morgan Stanley declared that its board has initiated a share buyback program on Wednesday, June 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $20.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to repurchase up to 5.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are usually an indication that the company's board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Morgan Stanley Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 31st will be given a dividend of $1.15 per share. This represents a $4.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 31st. This is an increase from Morgan Stanley's previous quarterly dividend of $1.00. Morgan Stanley's payout ratio is presently 32.34%.

Key Headlines Impacting Morgan Stanley

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

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst earnings estimates increased. Erste Group Bank raised its Morgan Stanley EPS forecasts to $12.82 for fiscal 2026 and $13.65 for fiscal 2027, up from $12.07 and $12.88, respectively. The firm maintained a Buy rating, while the current consensus is $12.68 for the year. This reinforces expectations for continued earnings momentum after Morgan Stanley’s recent quarterly beat. Morgan Stanley earnings estimate revisions
• Positive Sentiment: Crypto product expansion could create new fee revenue. Morgan Stanley Investment Management launched the MSSE Ethereum Trust and MSOL Solana Trust, each with a 0.14% expense ratio and plans to pass staking rewards to investors. The products expand the firm’s digital-asset lineup beyond its Bitcoin fund and could strengthen its position in the growing crypto ETF market. Morgan Stanley Ether and Solana ETPs
• Positive Sentiment: Investment-banking activity remains strong. Morgan Stanley advised on 15 construction-related M&A transactions valued at $81.3 billion during the first half of 2026. Separately, research cited strong second-quarter trading and investment-banking results across major banks, supporting the outlook for Morgan Stanley’s institutional securities business. Morgan Stanley construction M&A advisory
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent operating performance was strong but may already be reflected in valuation. Morgan Stanley’s latest reported quarter included EPS of $3.46 versus an expected $2.89 and revenue of $21.35 billion versus $19.67 billion, with revenue up 27.1% year over year. However, the stock’s elevated valuation and position above its long-term moving average may leave it sensitive to profit-taking.
• Negative Sentiment: Allegations involving mortgage approvals add reputational risk. Reports alleged that Morgan Stanley bankers were pressured to approve mortgages for wealthy clients. Although the reports do not establish wrongdoing, investors may be concerned about potential compliance, legal or regulatory scrutiny. Morgan Stanley mortgage allegations

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. CICC Research boosted their price target on shares of Morgan Stanley from $175.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 19th. Dbs Bank boosted their target price on Morgan Stanley from $185.00 to $220.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on Morgan Stanley from $225.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on Morgan Stanley from $211.00 to $233.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Finally, Wolfe Research dropped their price objective on Morgan Stanley from $221.00 to $197.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating, eleven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $224.50.

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.

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