Morgan Stanley (MS) Could Be a Great Choice

Company Overview - Morgan Stanley (MS) is based in New York and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of 2.72% [2] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.85 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.55%, significantly higher than the Financial - Investment Bank industry's yield of 0.44% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.58% [2] Dividend Performance - Morgan Stanley's annualized dividend is $3.40, reflecting a 4.6% increase from the previous year [2] - Over the last 5 years, the company has increased its dividend 4 times year-over-year, achieving an average annual increase of 29.33% [2] - The current payout ratio is 59%, indicating that the company distributes 59% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [2] Earnings Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Morgan Stanley's earnings in 2024 is projected at $6.84 per share, with an expected increase of 25.27% compared to the previous year [3] Investment Appeal - Dividends are favored by investors for various reasons, including improving stock investing profits and providing tax advantages [4] - Established firms with secure profits are typically viewed as the best dividend options, while high-growth businesses often do not offer dividends [4] - Morgan Stanley is highlighted as an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [4]