Morgan Stanley Maintains Buy Rating on ONEOK (OKE) Stock

Core Viewpoint - ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE) is identified as a strong investment opportunity despite current market challenges, with a maintained "Buy" rating from Morgan Stanley and a price target of $110.00, indicating a potential dislocation in valuation relative to fundamentals [1][2]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Market Sentiment - Morgan Stanley's analyst Robert Kad supports a "Buy" rating for ONEOK, citing its potential for healthy performance in the midstream sector despite negative oil macro risks [1]. - The positive investor sentiment is attributed to ONEOK's current valuation, cash flow resilience, and management's effective execution track record [2]. - The company's strategy of counter-cyclical share repurchases over accelerated deleveraging is viewed as a favorable approach [2]. Group 2: Performance and Market Challenges - ONEOK was noted as one of the largest detractors in ClearBridge Investments' Q2 2025 investor letter, primarily due to the OPEC+ decision to increase production, which negatively impacted oil price outlook [3]. - The company is recognized as one of the largest diversified energy infrastructure firms in the U.S., operating a vast network of natural gas liquids, natural gas, refined products, and crude oil assets [3].