Are Wall Street Analysts Bullish on Morgan Stanley Stock?

Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley has demonstrated strong financial performance and stock growth, significantly outperforming the broader market and sector indices over the past year [2][3][6]. Company Overview - Morgan Stanley, with a market capitalization of $290.5 billion, operates as a global financial holding company, providing a diverse range of services including capital raising, financial advisory, investment products, lending, and wealth management across various regions [1]. Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, Morgan Stanley's stock has increased by 31.1%, compared to a 14.3% return from the S&P 500 Index, and has risen 2.2% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 has gained 1.4% [2]. - The company's shares have also outperformed the State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF, which rose by 4% during the same period [3]. Financial Results - In Q4 2025, Morgan Stanley reported earnings per share (EPS) of $2.68 and net revenues of $17.89 billion, both exceeding forecasts. Investment banking revenue surged by 47% to $2.41 billion, driven by a 93% increase in debt underwriting revenue to $785 million, as global M&A activity reached over $5.1 trillion [6]. - Wealth management revenue rose by 13% to $8.43 billion, contributing to a record total annual revenue of $70.65 billion [6]. Future Projections - Analysts project an 8.4% year-over-year growth in EPS for the fiscal year ending December 2026, reaching $11.07. The company has a strong earnings surprise history, having beaten consensus estimates in the last four quarters [7]. - The consensus rating among 27 analysts is a "Moderate Buy," with 10 "Strong Buy" ratings, three "Moderate Buy" ratings, and 14 "Holds" [7]. Analyst Ratings - The current analyst sentiment is more bullish than three months ago, with eight "Strong Buy" ratings. Wolfe Research analyst Steven Chubak has raised the price target for Morgan Stanley to $211 with an "Outperform" rating [8].