Fact based stock research
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS)
US6174464486
How to read the free ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Morgan Stanley stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 43 (worse than 57% compared with investment alternatives), Morgan Stanley (Investment Banking & Brokerage, USA) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Morgan Stanley are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 59 (better than 59% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 51) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 29), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 43, is a hold recommendation based on Morgan Stanley's financial characteristics. As the company Morgan Stanley's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 59) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 51), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 29) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Investment Banking & Brokerage |
| Index | Dividends USA, Employee Health US, D.J. US Investing, S&P 500 |
| Size class | XX-Large |
This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.
31-Jul-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.
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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: Morgan Stanley
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 68 |
|
71 |
|
67 |
|
59 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 65 |
|
25 |
|
45 |
|
51 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 39 |
|
23 |
|
30 |
|
29 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 18 |
|
25 |
|
61 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 40 |
|
6 |
|
48 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 43 (worse than 57% compared with investment alternatives), Morgan Stanley (Investment Banking & Brokerage, USA) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Morgan Stanley are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 59 (better than 59% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 51) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 29), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 43, is a hold recommendation based on Morgan Stanley's financial characteristics. As the company Morgan Stanley's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 59) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 51), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 29) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 68 |
|
71 |
|
67 |
|
59 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 65 |
|
25 |
|
45 |
|
51 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 39 |
|
23 |
|
30 |
|
29 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 60 |
|
15 |
|
15 |
|
43 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 59 (better than 59% compared with alternatives), Morgan Stanley shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where three out of four indicators are above average for Morgan Stanley. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 52 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 52% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for Morgan Stanley's revenue size. The same is valid for the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 62. Finally, compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of Morgan Stanley are expected to be higher than for 68% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 68). The only low rank is for expected profits with a Price-to-Profit Rank of 44, indicating that the market expects the company's profit to be low despite a high dividend. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 59, is a buy recommendation based on Morgan Stanley's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. The low Profit Rank could result from a one-off charge, for instance, for an accident, a legal settlement, or a restructuring project. If the company keeps its dividends high, the low expected profit may be transitory. If that is the case, the three good value ranks for Sales, Capital, and Dividends are reliable indicators for good stock price value, a low stock price. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 44 |
|
50 |
|
49 |
|
52 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 53 |
|
48 |
|
49 |
|
44 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 77 |
|
71 |
|
67 |
|
62 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 77 |
|
79 |
|
67 |
|
68 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 68 |
|
71 |
|
67 |
|
59 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 51 (better than 51% compared with alternatives), Morgan Stanley shows an above-average growth dynamic in its industry. Investors also speak of positive momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for Morgan Stanley. Profit Growth has a rank of 58, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 58% of its competitors. This is a good sign for shareholders, which is confirmed by an above-average Stock Returns rank of 77 (above 77% of alternative investments). But Sales Growth has a below the median rank of 26, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 74% of its competitors, and Capital Growth also has a lower rank of 39. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 51, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Because revenues and invested capital are the more solid growth indicators, the positive development on the profit side is less relevant. It may have been caused by cost-cutting, which may be a negative growth indicator. Finally, the above-average stock returns recently are a thing of the past and not a good indicator of future returns. Investors should be confident that the cost-cutting initiative leading to higher profits is to benefit the company's future. If not, there is little growth momentum, and investment is only advisable if the Value Ranks suggest a good investment timing for Morgan Stanley. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is mixed here. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 16 |
|
38 |
|
28 |
|
26 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 59 |
|
37 |
|
41 |
|
58 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 94 |
|
44 |
|
51 |
|
39 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 58 |
|
33 |
|
83 |
|
77 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 65 |
|
25 |
|
45 |
|
51 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 29 (better than 29% compared with alternatives), the company Morgan Stanley has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of Morgan Stanley is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for Morgan Stanley and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 95, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 95% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 11, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 89% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 7, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 93% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 29 (worse than 71% compared with alternatives), Morgan Stanley has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. A good Refinancing Rank means that the problems of the company may not be around the corner. But high Leverage is only good if things go well, and low Liquidity is a signal for caution. The financing signals for Morgan Stanley are on the riskier side, requiring the company's future to be on the safer side. Investors may want to look at Growth and Sentiment ranks before making an investment decision. In the long-term, investors may have a debt challenge with Morgan Stanley and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 15 |
|
11 |
|
13 |
|
11 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 90 |
|
91 |
|
1 |
|
95 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 13 |
|
10 |
|
7 |
|
7 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 39 |
|
23 |
|
30 |
|
29 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
53 |
|
39 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | 4 |
|
31 |
|
70 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | 18 |
|
25 |
|
60 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | 78 |
|
34 |
|
82 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | 18 |
|
25 |
|
61 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for Morgan Stanley from July 31, 2025.
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