Morgan Stanley (MS) Stock Analysis

September 7, 2026

This is a peer-relative look at Morgan Stanley (MS): its performance, risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividend, and valuation are each measured against its Financial Services peers, so every number reads in context rather than in isolation.

Company Profile

Company profile fields for Morgan Stanley (MS)
Profile Item	MS
Name	Morgan Stanley Common Stock
Country/Region	United States
GICS Sector	Financials
GICS Industry Group	Financial Services
GICS Industry	Capital Markets
GICS Sub-Industry	Investment Banking & Brokerage
Market Capitalization	341.94 billion USD
Currency	USD
Exchange	NYSE
Listing Date	February 23, 1993
Security Type	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GSPC

Morgan Stanley (MS) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Morgan Stanley (MS) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Morgan Stanley (MS) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Morgan Stanley (MS) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: MS	Industry group median
Total Return (1Y)	47.91%	0.12%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	40.67%	12.26%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	19.62%	5.54%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GSPC

Morgan Stanley (MS) vs. S&P 500 (GSPC): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Morgan Stanley (MS) and S&P 500 (GSPC). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Morgan Stanley (MS) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: MS	Industry group median
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	28.06%	34.80%
Beta (5Y)	1.21	1.02
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-32.38%	-49.61%

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Each dot is a stock plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. MS is highlighted; the dashed line is the Capital Allocation Line from the risk-free rate through the industry median — dots above it are stronger on a risk-adjusted basis.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Morgan Stanley (MS) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: MS	Industry group median
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.56	-0.12
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	2.31	-0.18

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Morgan Stanley (MS) posts ROE of 17.97%, roughly around the peer group’s normal range. Shareholders’ equity is producing a return that looks broadly typical for the industry.

MS

Financial Services industry group

17.97%

Group distribution

Max: 48.53%
Q3: 22.35%
MS: 17.97%
Median: 12.81%
Q1: 4.46%
Min: -20.25%

Largest peers

MA: 241.20%
V: 61.19%
AXP: 34.38%
MS: 17.97%
GS: 16.90%
BRK.A: 12.12%
BRK.B: 12.12%

Where Morgan Stanley (MS) stands on ROE within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Net Margin (TTM)

Morgan Stanley (MS) keeps 25.90% of revenue as net profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal net margin range. Its full cost stack is taking a typical share of sales for the industry.

MS

Financial Services industry group

25.90%

Group distribution

Max: 67.68%
Q3: 29.96%
MS: 25.90%
Median: 16.31%
Q1: 4.62%
Min: -30.67%

Largest peers

V: 50.78%
MA: 46.34%
GS: 31.04%
MS: 25.90%
BRK.A: 22.30%
BRK.B: 22.30%
AXP: 16.14%

Where Morgan Stanley (MS) stands on net margin within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Morgan Stanley (MS) turns 41.57% of revenue into operating profit, roughly in line with the peer group’s normal operating margin range. Its core cost structure looks typical for the industry.

MS

Financial Services industry group

41.57%

Group distribution

Max: 96.23%
Q3: 52.59%
MS: 41.57%
Median: 28.34%
Q1: 11.37%
Min: -46.55%

Largest peers

V: 66.13%
MA: 61.11%
GS: 42.18%
MS: 41.57%
BRK.A: 32.56%
BRK.B: 32.56%
AXP: 20.32%

Where Morgan Stanley (MS) stands on operating margin within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Profitability Metrics

Morgan Stanley (MS) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: MS	Industry group median
ROE (TTM)	17.97%	12.81%
ROA (TTM)	1.35%	3.29%
Net Margin (TTM)	25.90%	16.31%
Operating Margin (TTM)	41.57%	28.34%
Gross Margin (TTM)	--	--

Growth

Revenue Growth

Morgan Stanley (MS) grew revenue 14.48%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Top-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Morgan Stanley (MS): Revenue Growth across different time periods, set against Financial Services industry-group medians.

EPS Growth

Morgan Stanley (MS) grew earnings per share 28.43%, roughly around the peer group's normal range. Bottom-line momentum looks broadly typical for the industry.

Morgan Stanley (MS): EPS Growth across different time periods, set against Financial Services industry-group medians.

Growth Metrics

Morgan Stanley (MS) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: MS	Industry group median
Revenue Growth (YoY)	14.48%	9.40%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	9.52%	10.50%
EPS Growth (YoY)	28.43%	7.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	18.41%	13.04%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

current ratio is set aside for Morgan Stanley (MS) in Financial Services: these balance sheets are not best read through a current/non-current split, so regulatory, funding, or liquidity-coverage measures usually matter more.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for Morgan Stanley (MS) in Financial Services: leverage is part of the business model itself, so capital adequacy, funding mix, and regulatory measures are usually better risk gauges.

Financial Strength Metrics

Morgan Stanley (MS) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: MS	Industry group median
Current Ratio (MRQ)	--	--
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	--	--
Net Debt / EBITDA	--	--

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Morgan Stanley (MS) has dividend yield of 1.91%, in the industry’s normal income range. It provides a meaningful dividend without the red flag of an unusually high headline yield.

MS

Financial Services industry group

1.91%

Group distribution

Max: 16.20%
Q3: 6.48%
MS: 1.91%
Median: 1.42%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

MS: 1.91%
GS: 1.64%
AXP: 1.07%
V: 0.71%
MA: 0.58%
BRK.A: 0.00%
BRK.B: 0.00%

Where Morgan Stanley (MS) stands on dividend yield within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Morgan Stanley (MS) has payout ratio of 32.31%, within the industry’s typical payout band. The dividend shares profits with investors while leaving earnings coverage that looks normal for the peer group.

MS

Financial Services industry group

32.31%

Group distribution

Max: 219.05%
Q3: 87.87%
MS: 32.31%
Median: 25.19%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

Largest peers

MS: 32.31%
GS: 26.25%
V: 22.13%
AXP: 21.48%
MA: 17.93%
BRK.A: 0.00%
BRK.B: 0.00%

Where Morgan Stanley (MS) stands on payout ratio within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Dividend Metrics

Morgan Stanley (MS) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: MS	Industry group median
Dividend Yield (TTM)	1.91%	1.42%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	32.31%	25.19%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Morgan Stanley (MS) trades at P/E ratio of 17.57, near the industry’s usual earnings multiple. The stock is not showing a clear peer discount or premium on trailing earnings.

MS

Financial Services industry group

17.57

Group distribution

Max: 47.57
Q3: 25.61
MS: 17.57
Median: 16.38
Q1: 10.13
Min: 2.08

Largest peers

V: 31.95
MA: 31.84
AXP: 19.80
MS: 17.57
GS: 16.03
BRK.B: 12.72
BRK.A: 12.72

Where Morgan Stanley (MS) stands on P/E ratio within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Morgan Stanley (MS) trades at 4.39 on P/S ratio, roughly in the peer group’s normal range. The market is not making a strong cheap-or-rich statement about its revenue base.

MS

Financial Services industry group

4.39

Group distribution

Max: 10.51
Q3: 5.11
MS: 4.39
Median: 2.99
Q1: 1.50
Min: -0.63

Largest peers

V: 15.74
MA: 14.46
GS: 4.48
MS: 4.39
AXP: 3.11
BRK.A: 2.82
BRK.B: 2.82

Where Morgan Stanley (MS) stands on P/S ratio within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Morgan Stanley (MS) trades at 3.21 on P/B ratio, roughly in line with the industry’s normal price-to-book range. Its balance sheet is not being priced at a clear discount or premium versus peers.

MS

Financial Services industry group

3.21

Group distribution

Max: 7.79
Q3: 3.77
MS: 3.21
Median: 1.71
Q1: 0.89
Min: -1.05

Largest peers

MA: 90.56
V: 19.88
AXP: 6.42
MS: 3.21
GS: 2.87
BRK.A: 1.45
BRK.B: 0.00

Where Morgan Stanley (MS) stands on P/B ratio within its Financial Services peer group — the box is the group’s distribution and the dots its largest members.

Valuation Metrics

Morgan Stanley (MS) metric values compared with Financial Services industry-group medians
Metric	Current stock: MS	Industry group median
P/E Ratio (TTM)	17.57	16.38
P/S Ratio (TTM)	4.39	2.99
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	3.21	1.71
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	--	--