Morgan Stanley stock gains 1.22 percent as targets diverge

Published on 10/03/2026 at 23:53 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Morgan Stanley stock delivered USD 3.46 adjusted EPS in Q2 2026 against USD 2.89 consensus. Evercore cut its target from USD 240 to USD 215 on October 1.

Bauhaus-Poster mit geometrischen Formen und dem Wort BANK — Geometrisches Bauhaus-Poster mit dem Wort BANK symbolisiert die Morgan Stanley Aktie mit ISIN US6174464486, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Morgan Stanley (ISIN US6174464486) stock closed at USD 190.31 on the NYSE on October 2, 2026, up 1.22 percent from the prior session. The next earnings release is scheduled for October 14, giving investors a firm date for the next test of the bank's earnings momentum.

Targets diverge before earnings

According to Markets Insider on October 1, 2026, Evercore ISI lowered its Morgan Stanley price target to USD 215 from USD 240 while retaining an Outperform rating. The revised target stands 12.97 percent above the October 2 closing price, leaving a measurable gap between the analyst view and the market valuation.

The target change is part of a wider split in recent estimates. A same-day market report listed Citigroup at USD 210 after a cut from USD 235, while UBS held a USD 260 target, illustrating how expectations differ ahead of the results.

Q2 delivered a sizeable beat

Morgan Stanley reported second-quarter 2026 revenue of USD 21.35 billion and EPS of USD 3.46, according to MarketBeat. Revenue increased 27.1 percent from the prior-year quarter, while EPS exceeded the USD 2.89 consensus by USD 0.57.

The latest quarterly numbers give the October report a demanding comparison base. The finance data for Q1 2026 showed revenue of USD 20.58 billion and diluted EPS of USD 3.43, so Q2 added USD 0.77 billion in revenue and USD 0.03 in EPS sequentially.

October 14 sets the next checkpoint

Morgan Stanley states that it will announce third-quarter 2026 results on October 14, 2026, at 7:30 a.m. ET, followed by an investor conference call at 9:30 a.m. ET. The scheduled event puts the recent target reductions alongside a concrete operating catalyst.

Morgan Stanley's business spans Institutional Securities, Wealth Management and Investment Management, according to its company profile. That mix makes revenue growth and EPS the central checkpoints for the upcoming release, especially after the second quarter's 27.1 percent revenue increase.

Morgan Stanley stock closes at USD 190.31

Morgan Stanley stock closed at USD 190.31 on the NYSE on October 2, 2026. The session range was USD 188.50 to USD 191.53, the 52-week range was USD 151.84 to USD 232.25, and market capitalization was USD 300.2 billion.