Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) Shares Sold by Valley Wealth Managers Inc.

Key Points

• Valley Wealth Managers Inc. has decreased its stake in Morgan Stanley by 3.1%, selling 6,527 shares and holding 202,446 shares, valued at approximately $23.6 million.
• The firm increased its quarterly dividend from $0.93 to $1.00, representing an annual yield of 2.80% and a payout ratio of 45.30%.
• Morgan Stanley has initiated a $20 billion share buyback program, allowing the company to repurchase up to 8.9% of its shares, indicating management's belief that the stock is undervalued.

Valley Wealth Managers Inc. lowered its position in shares of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS - Free Report) by 3.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 202,446 shares of the financial services provider's stock after selling 6,527 shares during the quarter. Morgan Stanley comprises 1.8% of Valley Wealth Managers Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest position. Valley Wealth Managers Inc.'s holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $23,619,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Omnia Family Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. Omnia Family Wealth LLC now owns 3,140 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $395,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the period. Continuum Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in Morgan Stanley by 2.5% in the fourth quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 3,638 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $457,000 after acquiring an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. Insight Inv LLC boosted its stake in Morgan Stanley by 0.5% in the first quarter. Insight Inv LLC now owns 18,378 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $2,144,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the period. Vivaldi Capital Management LP boosted its stake in Morgan Stanley by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Vivaldi Capital Management LP now owns 5,096 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $696,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares during the period. Finally, Jacobsen Capital Management grew its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 4.2% during the first quarter. Jacobsen Capital Management now owns 2,212 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $258,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.19% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Citigroup reissued a "neutral" rating and set a $130.00 target price (up from $125.00) on shares of Morgan Stanley in a research note on Wednesday, June 18th. Bank of America reduced their price objective on Morgan Stanley from $150.00 to $144.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 2nd. JMP Securities reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of Morgan Stanley in a report on Monday, April 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on Morgan Stanley from $121.00 to $136.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Morgan Stanley from $125.00 to $122.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $138.25.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Charles A. Smith sold 20,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $140.30, for a total transaction of $2,806,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 119,239 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $16,729,231.70. This represents a 14.36% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Michael A. Pizzi sold 18,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $140.62, for a total transaction of $2,531,160.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 136,407 shares in the company, valued at $19,181,552.34. The trade was a 11.66% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 188,949 shares of company stock valued at $25,737,084. Corporate insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

Morgan Stanley Stock Up 0.4%

Morgan Stanley stock opened at $143.00 on Friday. Morgan Stanley has a twelve month low of $90.94 and a twelve month high of $145.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.11, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.78. The firm has a market cap of $229.42 billion, a PE ratio of 16.19, a P/E/G ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.30. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $135.37 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $127.74.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The financial services provider reported $2.13 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.15. Morgan Stanley had a return on equity of 15.33% and a net margin of 13.06%. The firm had revenue of $16.79 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.15 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.82 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 11.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Morgan Stanley will post 8.56 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Morgan Stanley Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 31st will be issued a $1.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 31st. This is a boost from Morgan Stanley's previous quarterly dividend of $0.93. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.80%. Morgan Stanley's dividend payout ratio is currently 45.30%.

Morgan Stanley declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Tuesday, July 1st that authorizes the company to buyback $20.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 8.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically a sign that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Morgan Stanley Company Profile

Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments.

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