NAS10029,813+0.55%S&P7,744+0.28%GOLD$4,037−0.37%BTC$79,765−1.85%VIX17.26+2.07%latest tape · as of 08:02 UTC
The Screen · Financials · Capital Markets
Morgan Stanley
MS · a US exchange · USD · Market cap $285.1B · 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 screen
179.49 USD
Price as of 23 Oct 2026Daily close, not a live quoteLast reviewed 6 days ago
Screened 2026-10-23 · the tape above runs as of 08:02 UTC · two dates, stated on purpose · verdict and workings shown in full · never trimmed
Key facts today
Price179.49 USD at the 23 Oct 2026 close
Our ratingAvoid, current read markdown
Ethical screenDoes not pass
OptionsOpen interest leans to puts (put/call 1.32)
Last reviewed23 Oct 2026 (6 days ago)
A summary of the dated readings below, not a live quote and not advice.
PRICE · FAIR-VALUE RANGE1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y
What this means: price 179.49 against the desk's fair-value range, base estimate 212.01, over the last year.
Positioning no disclosures inside 60 days, left as found
Options put/call open interest 1.32, read 2026-10-27
Ethical does not pass the values gate
Price179.49 USD
Fair value212.01
Ethical score10.0/100
RatingAVOID
Our investment reviews on this name
2026-10-02Read Markdown196.31-8.6% to today ✓Accumulation gives way to Markdown after a 5% slide in 4 weeks
2026-09-05Read Accumulation207.45-13.5% to today Markup gives way to Accumulation first Accumulation read since July
2026-08-06Read Markup218.27-17.8% to today Accumulation gives way to Markup with results news in the headlines
2026-07-02Read Accumulation211.93-15.3% to today First review on file: Accumulation
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.
Morgan Stanley holds its Markdown at $179.49. Consolidating, no directional conviction, held for 49 days.
As held on the ledger · 2026-10-23
Phase
Markdown · caution
Quantitative state
Consolidating, no directional conviction, held for 49 days
Price at the screen
$179.49
Valuation
14.66 trailing · 13.41 forward price to earnings
Values screen
FAIL· score 10.0
Beta
1.21
The Workings
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 Read
Why 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 2026-10-28. It updates when the underlying figures move, and past reads are kept below.
Follow this verdict
Get an email when MS's ethical verdict changes
Today MS does not pass the screen. If new figures move it to a pass, we send you one short email with the before and after. Verdicts change rarely, so you may not hear from us for a long time.
Free, no account needed. Every email has a link to stop.
What the Numbers Say It Is Worth
The Fair Value Range
Our analysis reads AVOID: it trades at roughly a 18% discount to our $212.01 fair value, moderate competitive moat, 28.00% revenue growth.
Fair value range in USD, drawn from the 2026-10-23 screen. The gold marker is the market price at the same screen. A 18.1% margin of safety to the base estimate.
Third-party analyst targets: 22 covering, consensus Buy. The average target sits +23% from the screen price.
Reading the gap · Both our model and the analysts see meaningful upside from here.
Price History & Projections
Where it has been, where the models see it going. History from market close data; projection points are our fair-value estimates and third-party analyst targets, dated to the 2026-10-23 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 Words
Wall 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.
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 Trade
MS 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.
The Dated Journal · Newest First, Never Edited
Every Entry, As Written
2026-10-28Markdown$181.51+0.0%Entry 14
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.
2026-10-21Markdown$181.51-4.5%Entry 13
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.
2026-10-14Markdown$190.02+0.0%Entry 12
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.
2026-10-13Markdown$190.02+0.0%Entry 11
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.
2026-10-12Markdown$190.02-3.2%Entry 10
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.
2026-10-11Markdown$196.31+0.0%Entry 9
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.
2026-10-10Markdown$196.31+0.0%Entry 8
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.
2026-10-02Markdown · changed$196.31-5.4%Entry 7
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.
2026-08-06Markup · changed$218.27+3.0%Entry 5
The framework has shifted from accumulation 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 3.0% 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 $203.
Each entry above was written on its date, before the outcome. A journal you can prune is not a journal.
