Morgan Stanley's profit beats estimates on boost from dealmaking, stock trading

Core Insights - Morgan Stanley's third-quarter profit exceeded market expectations, driven by increased fees from advisory services and underwriting, resulting in record revenue [1][2] - The bank's shares rose 3.9% in premarket trading, with a year-to-date gain of 23.6% [1] Financial Performance - Total revenue reached a record $18.2 billion for the quarter, with net income of $4.6 billion or $2.80 per share, compared to $3.2 billion or $1.88 per share a year ago [2][3] - Analysts had anticipated a profit of $2.10 per share [3] Investment Banking Activity - Investment banking revenue surged 44% to $2.11 billion year-over-year, with advisory revenue increasing 25% to $684 million due to higher completed M&A transactions [4] - Morgan Stanley played a key role in significant deals, including advising Union Pacific on its $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern, the largest global transaction announced this year [5] Equity Capital Markets - Equity capital markets experienced a resurgence, with equity underwriting revenue rising 35% to $652 million, driven by high-profile IPOs and convertible bond deals [6] - The bank was involved in major IPOs, including those of Figma and Klarna [6] Trading Performance - Trading activities also showed strong performance, supported by rising stock prices and positive corporate earnings [7]