Morgan StanleyNYSE: MS
Financials · Investment Banking & Brokerage
$190.53
-0.03%
Vol: 3.0M
Research Digest
Friday, May 1, 2026
Morgan Stanley announces 3% workforce cut affecting 2,500 employees and cuts gold price forecast by nearly 10% to $5,200
Morgan Stanley announced a 3% workforce reduction affecting approximately 2,500 employees across investment banking and wealth management in the latest restructuring. The firm also slashed its gold price forecast by nearly 10%, setting H2 2026 target at $5,200 per ounce (down from $5,700). The company recently launched Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) and Stablecoin Reserves Portfolio. Q1 2026 earnings showed net income of $5.57 billion. Stock traded at $191.13 on May 1.
Previous Market Intelligence
13 daysApr 30Morgan Stanley Q1 net income surges 30% to $5.6B with record wealth management revenue of $8.5BPositive▶
Morgan Stanley reported strong Q1 2026 results with net income of $5.6B versus $4.3B year-ago, driven by robust wealth management and asset management revenues. EPS of $3.43 beat consensus of $3.01. Record net revenue in wealth management hit $8.5B with strong client activity and asset management earnings growth. ROTCE reached record 27.1% with improved operating leverage at 65% efficiency ratio. The bank announced dividend of $1.00 per share (ex-date April 30). However, 3% workforce reduction affecting approximately 2,500 employees in investment banking and wealth management announced post-earnings. Strong earnings support market rally despite cost-control measures.
Apr 29Morgan Stanley Q1 Earnings Beat; Net Income $5.6B, Trading Revenue Surges 25%Positive▶
Morgan Stanley posted strong Q1 results with net income of $5.6B vs. $4.3B prior year, and EPS of $3.43 beating $3.01 consensus. Trading revenue jumped 25% to $10.7B, with equity trading at $5.15B ahead of expectations. Wealth management revenue hit record $8.5B. UBS reiterated Buy with $196 PT on April 16. Stock price at $186.03; analysts see 77.52% upside with $337.93 average PT. Company navigating agentic AI market opportunity.
Apr 16Morgan Stanley reports historic Q1 2026 earnings with net revenues of $20.6 billion, EPS of $3.43 beating consensus of $3.02, equity trading revenue of $5.15 billion up 25%Positive▶
Morgan Stanley delivered exceptional Q1 2026 earnings on April 15 with $20.6 billion in net revenues, marking the first time the firm has exceeded $20 billion in a single quarter. Diluted EPS of $3.43 beat consensus estimate of $3.02, with return on tangible common equity at 27.1%. Equity trading revenue jumped 25% to $5.15 billion, driving total trading revenue to $8.51 billion, while wealth management attracted $118.4 billion in net new assets ahead of expectations. Investment banking revenue surged 36% on strong capital markets activity. Stock traders received record Wall Street windfall.
Apr 15Morgan Stanley expected to report Q1 earnings with strong Bitcoin ETF launch driving digital asset expansionPositive▶
Morgan Stanley preparing to report Q1 2026 earnings with expectations of 11.5% revenue growth and earnings consensus of $3.02. The bank plans to launch a low-cost Bitcoin ETF. CIO Mike Wilson noted S&P 500 lows may be in for the year. Stock shows strong momentum compared to peers.
Apr 14Morgan Stanley launches spot Bitcoin ETF with 0.14% fee; Q1 earnings expected April 15Mixed▶
Launched MSBT spot Bitcoin ETF with 0.14% fee, ~$30-34M first-day inflows. Q1 earnings April 15 with $2.95 EPS expected. UBS upgraded to Buy $196 PT; Daiwa downgraded to Neutral $175.
Apr 13Morgan Stanley launches Bitcoin ETF (MSBT) with 0.14% fee; Q1 earnings April 15Positive▶
Morgan Stanley became first Wall Street bank to launch spot Bitcoin ETF on April 8 under ticker MSBT with 0.14% fee, undercutting BlackRock IBIT (0.25%). Leverages vast wealth management network and adviser base. Q1 earnings report April 15. Identified RTX, Western Digital, Citigroup as likely upside earnings surprises.
Apr 10Morgan Stanley launches Bitcoin ETF at 0.14% fee, undercutting BlackRock; UBS upgrades to Buy.Positive▶
Morgan Stanley launched its Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) on NYSE Arca, becoming the first Wall Street bank with its own spot bitcoin ETF. The 0.14% fee undercuts BlackRock's IBIT fund (0.25%). Stock rose 4.49% after announcement. UBS upgraded to Buy from Neutral with target raised to $186. Goldman Sachs also raised price target. Plans bitcoin/ethereum/Solana trading on E*Trade in H1 2026.
Apr 9Morgan Stanley Launches Bitcoin ETF, Upgrades to Buy by UBSPositive▶
Morgan Stanley launched its spot Bitcoin ETF (MSBT) with a 0.14% fee, undercutting BlackRock dominant IBIT fund and signaling strong crypto market confidence. Wealth Management crossed $1 trillion in IRA assets. UBS upgraded MS to Buy with a $196 price target implying 18% upside from $166.55, citing strong investment banking momentum (47% YoY growth in Q4 2025) and $9.3 trillion in total client assets.
Apr 8Morgan Stanley upgraded to Buy by UBS with 18% upside on profitability recovery.Positive▶
UBS upgraded Morgan Stanley from Neutral to Buy with $196 target (18% upside from $166.55). Stock closed at $168.43 (+1.13%). FY2025 revenues $70.6B, EPS $10.21, $9.3T client assets. IB revenues surged 47% YoY in Q4. Average 12-month target $190.79 from 19 analysts.
Apr 7Morgan Stanley wealth management surpasses $1 trillion mark; analyst consensus Buy targets $178.Positive▶
Morgan Stanley revenue was $70.30 billion in 2025 (14.31% increase) with earnings of $16.25 billion (26.95% increase). Wealth Management crossed $1.00 trillion in assets. Net new assets surged 116% YoY to $122 billion in Q4 2025. Company outlining defensive playbook for spiking oil prices amid Iran conflict. Morgan Stanley planning low-cost Bitcoin ETF launch. HSBC lowered price target to $153 from $175 on April 1. Consensus Buy from 15 analysts targets $178 (7.35% upside). Total client assets at $9.3 trillion. Stock trades at $166.06 with P/E of 16.25 and 2.4% dividend yield. Fair value estimated at $195.81.
Apr 6Morgan Stanley reports record Q4; Wealth Management crosses $1T AUM.Neutral▶
Morgan Stanley Q4 earnings beat; Wealth Management arm crossed $1T AUM. Planning low-cost Bitcoin ETF launch. Mixed: HSBC cut PT to $153 from $175 with Hold rating. 15 analyst Buys, $178.0 target (7.4% upside).
Apr 3Morgan Stanley lowered price target to $153 from $175 at HSBC; CEO warned about inflation risks despite record 2025 earnings.Mixed▶
Morgan Stanley reported record 2025 results with net revenues of $70.6 billion, diluted EPS of $10.21, and ROCE of 21.6%, but HSBC lowered its price target from $175 to $153 on April 1. Chief U.S. Equity Strategist Michael Wilson noted S&P 500 correction is nearing completion. Morgan Stanley Capital Partners acquired Security 101. Wealth Management AUM surpassed $1 trillion in IRA assets. Stock trades at $165.91.
Apr 1Morgan Stanley scheduled Q1 2026 earnings call for April 15; company acquired EquityZen in January and cut marketplace fees to 2.5%.Neutral▶
Morgan Stanley scheduled its Q1 2026 earnings call for Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. ET, with results released at 7:30 a.m. The company acquired EquityZen in January 2026 and immediately cut EquityZen marketplace transaction fees in half to 2.5% from 5% for most trades. Morgan Stanley completed the sale of its final 11 Spring Arbor Senior Living communities for $296M.
Sector Peers
| Company | Price | Day | 1M | Fwd P/E | Beta | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSMORGAN | $190.53 | -0.03% | +14.4% | 15.1x | 1.18 | $302.6B |
| GSGOLDMAN | $924.04 | +0.03% | +6.7% | 14.1x | 1.31 | $274.1B |
| SCHWSCHWAB | $91.61 | -0.03% | -1.4% | 13.1x | 0.90 | $160.6B |
| IBKRINTERACTIVE | $80.56 | +1.33% | +15.9% | 27.9x | 1.26 | $135.2B |
| HOODROBINHOOD | $73.69 | +1.10% | +4.5% | 28.1x | — | $65.7B |
| RJFRAYMOND | $156.41 | -1.21% | +11.7% | 11.8x | 1.01 | $30.8B |
Key Fundamentals
RSI (14-Day)
52-Week Range
Moving Averages
Price above both MAs — bullish structure.