This is Why Morgan Stanley (MS) is a Great Dividend Stock

Company Overview - Morgan Stanley (MS) is headquartered in New York and has experienced a price change of 14.6% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $1.00 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.78%, which is higher than the Financial - Investment Bank industry's yield of 1.02% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.49% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of Morgan Stanley is $4.00, reflecting a 12.7% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, the company has increased its dividend 4 times year-over-year, with an average annual increase of 22.85% [4] - The current payout ratio is 42%, indicating that the company paid out 42% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Morgan Stanley's earnings in 2025 is $8.82 per share, with an expected increase of 10.94% from the previous year [5] - The company is viewed as a strong dividend play, particularly due to its solid earnings growth prospects [6] Investment Considerations - Established firms like Morgan Stanley are often seen as attractive dividend options, especially for income investors [6] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a stable investment opportunity [6]