Citigroup Raises Morgan Stanley Stock Price Target to $135

Investment analysts at Citigroup have revised their price target for Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) stock, increasing it from $105.00 to $135.00. This update was shared in a research report released to clients and investors on Monday. Citigroup maintains a “neutral” rating on Morgan Stanley's stock, and the new price target suggests a potential upside of approximately 2.86% from its current market price.

Other research firms have also recently provided their insights on Morgan Stanley’s stock. For instance, Barclays upgraded their price target from $121.00 to $135.00, giving the stock an “overweight” rating. This report was published on October 17th. Similarly, Wells Fargo & Company changed their rating from “underweight” to “equal weight,” raising their price target for Morgan Stanley from $107.00 to $142.00 in a report published on November 15th. Royal Bank of Canada also increased their target from $108.00 to $122.00, while maintaining a “sector perform” rating. Additionally, the Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target from $106.00 to $121.00, keeping a “neutral” rating. Lastly, HSBC Global Research upgraded Morgan Stanley from a “hold” rating to a “strong buy” on October 4th.

In total, eleven analysts have assigned a “hold” rating to the stock, while six have issued a “buy” rating, and one analyst has rated it as a “strong buy.” According to MarketBeat.com, the average rating for Morgan Stanley stands at “hold,” with an average target price of $115.63.

Morgan Stanley's Recent Stock Performance

On Monday, Morgan Stanley shares opened at $131.25. The stock's performance can be analyzed through its moving averages; it has a fifty-day simple moving average of $117.46 and a two-hundred-day simple moving average of $105.78. As of the latest evaluation, Morgan Stanley has a market capitalization of $211.45 billion, a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 19.98, and a P/E to growth (P/E/G) ratio of 1.25. Additionally, its beta is 1.34. The company has revealed a twelve-month stock range, with a low of $76.33 and a high of $136.24.

Morgan Stanley recently announced its quarterly earnings, with the latest data published on October 16th. The financial institution reported earnings of $1.88 per share, surpassing analysts' expectations of $1.57 per share by a significant margin. The company achieved a net margin of 10.64% and recorded a return on equity of 12.58%. Revenue for the quarter totaled $15.38 billion, which also exceeded the consensus estimate of $14.27 billion. Analysts forecast that Morgan Stanley will achieve earnings per share of 7.32 for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Morgan Stanley

In related news, Director Stephen J. Luczo sold 60,000 shares of Morgan Stanley's stock on October 17th for an average price of $119.17 per share. This transaction resulted in a total sale of approximately $7,150,200. Following the sale, Luczo still holds 138,363 shares valued at about $16.49 million, marking a 30.25% decrease in their position.

Institutional Investors' Movements

Several hedge funds have recently adjusted their stakes in Morgan Stanley. Among them, Opal Wealth Advisors LLC established a new position during the second quarter, valued at around $25,000. POM Investment Strategies LLC significantly increased its holdings by 1,147.6% during the same period. They now own 262 shares, becoming a notable player in Morgan Stanley's market activities. Other firms, including Bank & Trust Co and Northwest Investment Counselors LLC, also acquired new positions in the second quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 84.19% of Morgan Stanley's stock.

Company Overview

Morgan Stanley is a financial holding company that offers a broad range of financial products and services across various sectors, catering to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in regions including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Its operations are segmented into three main areas: Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management.

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