Morgan Stanley (MS) Stock

Morgan Stanley trades at a P/E ratio of 17.90, which is near the market average of approximately 20, suggesting the market views it as fairly valued relative to its earnings. Looking ahead, the forward P/E of 16.53 is lower than the current P/E, indicating analysts expect earnings to grow over the next year. The PEG ratio of 1.72 indicates reasonable value when growth is considered.

With a beta of 1.34, Morgan Stanley is roughly as volatile as the market, moving in line with broad market trends. This moderate beta suggests the stock offers market-level returns without excessive volatility. The price-to-book ratio of 2.60 shows investors value the company above its book value, which often reflects intangible assets or growth prospects.

Morgan Stanley achieves a profit margin of 22.50%, meaning it retains $22.50 from every $100 in revenue after all expenses. This is an impressive margin, indicating strong pricing power and efficient cost management that allows the company to generate substantial profits. The operating margin of 34.10% reveals how efficiently the company runs its core business operations before interest and taxes. With ROE at 14.10% and ROA at 1.16%, the company achieves moderate returns on invested capital.

Morgan Stanley's revenue grew by 11.10% year-over-year, showing steady progress in growing the business. This positive trajectory indicates the company maintains competitive positioning in its markets. Earnings increased by 17.00% year-over-year, outpacing revenue growth through improved margins. These growth metrics should be evaluated against CAPITAL MARKETS industry averages for proper context.

Morgan Stanley offers a dividend yield of 2.34%, paying $3.78 per share annually. This above-average yield of 2-4% provides meaningful income while still allowing the company to reinvest for growth. It compares favorably to the S&P 500 average and offers competitive returns versus bonds in the current rate environment. To receive the next dividend, shares must be purchased before the ex-dividend date of Jul 31, 2025.

The dividend sustainability can be assessed through the payout ratio - Morgan Stanley pays $3.78 per share in dividends against earnings of $8.88 per share, resulting in a payout ratio of 42.51%. This balanced payout between 30-60% suggests a sustainable dividend policy that allows both shareholder returns and business reinvestment. The dividend appears well-covered by earnings. The next dividend payment is scheduled for Aug 15, 2025.

Morgan Stanley has a market capitalization of $253.8B, classifying it as a mega-cap stock (over $200B). These are the largest, most established companies globally, typically offering stability and liquidity but with more modest growth potential. Mega-caps often pay dividends and weather economic downturns better than smaller companies. With 1.60B shares outstanding, the company's ownership is widely distributed. As a major player in the CAPITAL MARKETS industry, it competes with other firms in this sector.

Morgan Stanley's book value per share is $61.59, while the current stock price is $164.15, resulting in a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 2.67. This reasonable premium to book value suggests the market values the company's earnings power and intangible assets appropriately. Most profitable companies trade between 1-3x book value. As a common stock, this represents equity ownership with voting rights.

24 analysts cover MS with 29% recommending buy/strong buy ratings. Analyst predictions have mixed reliability - studies show consensus rarely beats market returns consistently. The bearish sentiment could create opportunity if analysts are wrong. The consensus target of $147.15 implies -10.4% downside, but targets are often adjusted to follow price moves rather than predict them.

Current analyst recommendations:2 Strong Buy, 5 Buy, 16 Hold, 01 Strong Sell. The neutral stance suggests uncertainty or fair valuation at current levels.Remember that analyst opinions often lag price movements and can be influenced by investment banking relationships.