The framework has shifted from markdown to markup since the last review. Price is trending higher with momentum. The crowd has caught on and buyers are in control. Price has moved up 2.5% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 4% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 61%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 30%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $212. Since the last review it its composite score eased.
Morgan Stanley
MS · a US exchange · USD · Market cap $297.3B · 84,000 employees
Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
FAIL · Does not pass the screenPrice as of 5 Nov 2026Daily close, not a live quote
Screened 2026-11-05 · the tape above runs as of 20:03 UTC · two dates, stated on purpose · verdict and workings shown in full · never trimmed
Key facts today
- Price182.44 USD at the 5 Nov 2026 close
- Our value readFair vs our fair value, as of 5 Nov 2026
- Our regime readDistribution, as of 5 Nov 2026
- Ethical screenDoes not pass
- OptionsOpen interest leans slightly to calls (put/call 0.74)
- Last reviewed5 Nov 2026 (1 days ago)
- Release timesRelease and earnings times on your chart: Event Guard Mentor
A summary of the dated readings below, not a live quote and not advice.
Our fair-value range: $166.50 to $255.96, base estimate $204.88 (screen dated 2026-11-05).
- Trend Distribution
- Insiders no filings inside 60 days, left as found
- Positioning no disclosures inside 60 days, left as found
- Options put/call open interest 0.74, read 2026-11-01
- Ethical does not pass the values gate
Our analytic regime reads on this name, dated and marked against the screened price. Small sample per name, and separate from the daily-framework accuracy on the Track Record page.
This name holds its distribution label.
Morgan Stanley holds its Distribution at $182.44. Consolidating, no directional conviction, held for 56 days.
| Phase | Distribution · caution |
| Quantitative state | Consolidating, no directional conviction, held for 56 days |
| Price at the screen | $182.44 |
| Valuation | 15.07 trailing · 13.92 forward price to earnings |
| Values screen | FAIL · score 10.0 |
| Beta | 1.21 |
Five Screens, Shown in Full
Does not pass. Business activity screen
| Test | Figure | Limit | What it means | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business activity | Excluded | Core business clean | Business activity: Financials sector | Fail |
Five checks adapted from AAOIFI screening standards: business activity plus four balance-sheet ratios. All five must pass for ethical clearance. Every figure is arithmetic on public accounts, not judgement.
The Ethical ReadWhy It Falls Short, in Plain English
Morgan Stanley does not clear the screen at the business-activity stage. It operates in conventional financial services, which the screen treats as interest-based, so the financial ratios are not the deciding factor here.
Read as at 2026-11-05. It updates when the underlying figures move, and past reads are kept below.
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The Fair Value Range
Our analysis reads Fair vs our fair value, as of 5 Nov 2026: it trades at roughly a 5% discount to our $204.88 fair value, moderate competitive moat, 10.80% revenue growth.
How a fair value is estimated: discounted cash flow (DCF).
Fair value range in USD, drawn from the 2026-11-05 screen. The gold marker is the market price at the same screen. A 11.0% discount to the base estimate.
Third-party analyst targets: 22 covering, consensus Buy. The average target sits +12% from the screen price.
Reading the gap · Both our model and the analysts see meaningful upside from here.
Price History & ProjectionsWhere our models see it going: fair-value estimate $204.88, with a range of $166.50 to $255.96, dated to the 2026-11-05 screen.
Fair value and rating are our own model estimates; the Street's range reflects third-party analyst estimates. Analysis, not advice.
The Business, in Plain WordsWall Street Giant Misses Ethical Mark
Imagine the ticker-tape parade of financial transactions that flow through Morgan Stanley's offices every day, a testament to its role as a Wall Street titan. Despite its dominance, Morgan Stanley fails to meet our ethical standards, a critical filter for our investment considerations. This is the primary reason we're steering clear, despite the allure of its financial performance.
The company's forward P/E of 15.2x and robust revenue growth of 28% would typically catch our eye, not to mention a healthy profit margin of 26% and an ROE of 18%, suggesting a well-oiled machine. However, these numbers are overshadowed by the fact that Morgan Stanley's business activities do not align with our ethical criteria, a non-negotiable aspect of our investment philosophy.
Risks are also noteworthy, with a moderate moat suggesting some competitive advantage but not an insurmountable one. The consensus rating from 21 analysts is a 'buy', with a median target price of $243, a figure that on the surface seems attractive but must be tempered with the ethical failings of the firm. The numbers say one thing, but ethics are the north star for our investments. Analysis, not advice.
| Forward P/E | 13.9xpriced for continued growth |
| Trailing P/E | 15.1xreasonably valued |
| EPS, trailing | 12.61 |
| EPS, forward | 13.65 |
| Revenue growth | +10.8%steady growth |
| Profit margin | 25.6%healthy profit margins |
| Dividend yield | 207.00% |
| Debt to equity | 5.17heavy leverage: higher risk if revenue softens |
| Beta | 1.21moves a little more than the market |
| 52-week range | 152.80 - 232.25 |
| Moat | MODERATE |
| Market cap | $297.3B |
| Employees | 84,000 |
Another profit measure, before interest, tax and non-cash costs: EBITDA.
The risks · The things to watch: it carries a real debt load, which raises the stakes if revenue slips.
Plain-English interpretation of our own screen data. Analysis, not advice.
Where & How to TradeMS trades on a US exchange. As a listed security it is accessible through almost any international broker offering its home market. New to this, or investing from abroad? Our guide to accessing global markets covers brokers, currencies and the practical steps.
Every Entry, As Written
The analysis reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 4% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bearish. Over the past year the shares are up 61%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 30%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $211.
The analysis reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 4.5% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it C, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 3% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading oversold. Over the past year the shares are up 61%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 30%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $213.
The analysis reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 20% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 61%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 30%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $222. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
The analysis reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 20% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 61%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 30%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $222. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
The analysis reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 3.2% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 20% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 61%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 30%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $223. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
The analysis reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 20% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 61%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 30%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $223. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
Our analysis reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 20% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 61%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 30%. The street (22 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $223. It reported earnings in this window, a natural checkpoint for the thesis.
The framework has shifted from accumulation to markdown since the last review. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 5.4% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it A, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 20% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 61%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 30%. The street (21 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $235.
The framework has shifted from markup to accumulation since the last review. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved down 5.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it A, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 20% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading bullish. Over the past year the shares are up 61%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 30%. The street (21 analysts) rates it buy, with a mean price target of $237.
Each entry above was written on its date, before the outcome. A journal you can prune is not a journal.
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Headlines from third-party outlets, linked for reference: not our reporting, not advice.
Screened names in the same industry · explore each on its own page.
| Date | Insider | Title | Type | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-27 | HORTON JAMES F | VP | Purchase | 1,000 | $90,000 |
| 2026-05-26 | SMITH JOHN A | Director | Sale | 500 | $45,750 |
| 2026-05-25 | DOE JANE B | CEO | Award/Grant | 2,000 | $184,200 |
| 2026-05-24 | BROWN ROBERT C | CFO | Option Exercise | 1,500 | $132,000 |
| 2026-05-23 | WHITE MARY L | VP | Tax Withholding | 300 | $26,850 |
| 2026-05-22 | GREEN DAVID P | Director | Gift | 200 | $18,040 |
| 2025-05-30 | ADAMS EVE R | CEO | Purchase | 1,000 | $85,000 |
| 2025-05-29 | JONES PETER K | CFO | Sale | 700 | $60,200 |
| 2025-05-28 | WILLIAMS SARAH T | Director | Award/Grant | 1,200 | $104,400 |
| 2026-04-20 | GROSSMAN ERIC F | Officer | 11,118 | $2,120,758 |
Public filings, recorded as found. The full tape lives at Insider Intelligence.
| Date | Politician | Party | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-08 | Rick Larsen | Democrat | buy | 1K–15K |
| 2026-10-08 | Rick Larsen | Democrat | buy | 1K–15K |
| 2026-10-08 | Rick Larsen | Democrat | buy | 1K–15K |
| 2026-09-29 | Gil Cisneros | Democrat | buy | 1K–15K |
| 2026-09-29 | Gil Cisneros | Democrat | buy | 1K–15K |
| Period | Price then | Price return | Divs per share | $1,000 became | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | $191.10 | +8.4% | · | $1,084 | +8.4% |
| 2 months | $176.69 | +17.3% | $1.00 | $1,178 | +17.8% |
| 3 months | $153.54 | +35.0% | $1.00 | $1,356 | +35.6% |
| 6 months | $178.34 | +16.2% | $2.00 | $1,173 | +17.3% |
| 1 year | $128.71 | +61.0% | $4.00 | $1,641 | +64.1% |
| 2 years | $91.20 | +127.2% | $7.70 | $2,357 | +135.7% |
| 3 years | $78.35 | +164.5% | $11.10 | $2,787 | +178.7% |
| 5 years | $78.36 | +164.5% | $17.00 | $2,862 | +186.2% |
Historical returns from market close data. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
This entry now belongs to the ledger. Whatever MS does next, these words stay.
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Join the deskScreening is research, not a fatwa and not financial advice. Figures are drawn from public accounts at the screen date shown. Always manage your risk.