Northstar Advisory Group LLC Has $4.32 Million Holdings in Morgan Stanley $MS

Key Points

• Northstar Advisory Group increased its stake in Morgan Stanley by 72.8% during Q4 and now holds 24,304 shares worth about $4.32 million, representing roughly 1.5% of its portfolio and the firm's 18th largest position.
• Morgan Stanley beat Q4 expectations with $2.68 EPS (vs. $2.28 est.) and revenue of $17.90 billion (up 10.3% YoY), while analysts forecast roughly 8.56 EPS for the current fiscal year.
• There has been notable insider selling recently—129,191 shares worth about $23.7 million were sold in the last 90 days, and corporate insiders now own just 0.19% of the stock.

Northstar Advisory Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS - Free Report) by 72.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 24,304 shares of the financial services provider's stock after buying an additional 10,242 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley makes up approximately 1.5% of Northstar Advisory Group LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest position. Northstar Advisory Group LLC's holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $4,315,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Olistico Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Greykasell Wealth Strategies Inc. increased its stake in Morgan Stanley by 65.2% in the third quarter. Greykasell Wealth Strategies Inc. now owns 185 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Family Legacy Financial Solutions LLC raised its position in Morgan Stanley by 91.9% during the third quarter. Family Legacy Financial Solutions LLC now owns 213 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Strive Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Morgan Stanley during the third quarter valued at approximately $34,000. 84.19% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Morgan Stanley Stock Down 0.1%

Shares of NYSE:MS opened at $158.25 on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley has a 52-week low of $94.33 and a 52-week high of $192.68. The company has a market capitalization of $251.28 billion, a PE ratio of 15.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.39, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a current ratio of 0.81. The company has a fifty day moving average of $170.48 and a 200-day moving average of $169.16.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 15th. The financial services provider reported $2.68 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.28 by $0.40. The company had revenue of $17.90 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.69 billion. Morgan Stanley had a return on equity of 16.78% and a net margin of 14.09%.Morgan Stanley's revenue for the quarter was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $2.22 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Morgan Stanley will post 8.56 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Morgan Stanley Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 30th were paid a dividend of $1.00 per share. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 30th. Morgan Stanley's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 39.18%.

Insider Activity at Morgan Stanley

In other news, insider Charles A. Smith sold 8,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.08, for a total value of $1,547,680.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 119,128 shares of the company's stock, valued at $21,690,826.24. This represents a 6.66% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Andrew M. Saperstein sold 30,330 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $183.62, for a total transaction of $5,569,194.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 280,481 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $51,501,921.22. This trade represents a 9.76% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 129,191 shares of company stock valued at $23,736,506. Corporate insiders own 0.19% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MS has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Morgan Stanley from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, March 9th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Morgan Stanley from $177.00 to $189.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on Morgan Stanley from $202.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a "moderate buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Zacks Research cut Morgan Stanley from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, March 23rd. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reissued a "sector perform" rating and set a $207.00 target price on shares of Morgan Stanley in a research note on Friday, January 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and twelve have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Morgan Stanley currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $187.14.

Key Stories Impacting Morgan Stanley

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

• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley priced a low‑fee spot Bitcoin ETF (record‑low fee reported), signalling a competitive push into digital‑asset distribution that could win advisor flows and AUM over time — positive for future fee income and market positioning. Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF Push Recasts Its Digital Asset Ambitions
• Positive Sentiment: Research franchise boosting client engagement: Morgan Stanley elevated Meta to a top pick and highlighted AI/security winners (Microsoft, CrowdStrike among top AI security bets). Strong, visible research can drive advisory mandates, trading flows and investment‑banking touchpoints. ‘It’s time to buy Meta.’ Why Morgan Stanley sees 45% upside for the stock.
• Positive Sentiment: Morgan Stanley published a top‑5 AI security stock list (MSFT, CRWD highlighted), reinforcing its tech research leadership and potential deal/placement opportunities in fast‑growing cybersecurity themes. Microsoft, CrowdStrike Lead Among Morgan Stanley's Top 5 AI Security Bets
• Neutral Sentiment: Macro positioning commentary from Morgan Stanley (S&P correction nearing an end) signals caution but also a tactical buy narrative — this guidance can temper client risk taking and influence trading and asset‑management flows in the short term. S&P 500 Selloff Is ‘Getting Closer to Its Ending Stages,’ Says Morgan Stanley
• Negative Sentiment: Reputational/regulatory risk: an FT report says a Morgan Stanley wealth manager approached BlackRock about a multimillion‑dollar defence fund tied to a senior government official — such stories can raise compliance and reputational questions for a wealth manager and could weigh on sentiment. Pete Hegseth’s broker looked to buy defence fund before Iran attack

Morgan Stanley Profile

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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