Morgan Stanley cuts target for Virtus Investment Partners stock to USD 120.00

Published on 10/05/2026 at 09:30 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Revenue reached USD 201.36 million in the second quarter. Virtus Investment Partners stock costs EUR 119.50 on October 5, 2026 after EUR 118.50.

VRTS, US92828Q1094, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Virtus Investment Partners (ISIN US92828Q1094) was trading at EUR 119.50 at Lang & Schwarz on October 5, 2026 at 9:22 a.m. CEST, versus the EUR 118.50 prior close, plus 0.84 percent. On September 25, 2026, Morgan Stanley lowered its price target for Virtus Investment Partners from USD 130.00 to USD 120.00 and maintained an Underweight rating, according to The Globe and Mail.

Outflows test the asset base

Virtus reported preliminary assets under management of USD 147.501 billion as of August 31, 2026, down from USD 148.874 billion on July 31. The USD 1.373 billion decline gives the asset manager's latest operating update a more cautious tone, even as exchange-traded funds and tender-offer funds recorded positive net flows.

The company also reported USD 1.7 billion in other fee-earning assets, taking total client assets to USD 149.2 billion on August 31. The figures came from the company's investor-relations release dated September 11, 2026, published by Virtus Investment Partners.

Second-quarter revenue edges higher

For the second quarter of 2026, revenue reached USD 201.36 million, compared with USD 199.50 million in the first quarter. Diluted earnings per share came to USD 6.68 in the second quarter, up 9.15 percent from the comparable period a year earlier, according to StockMarketCap.eu.

That combination matters because Virtus earns management fees linked to client assets. Revenue was higher than in the first quarter, but the August AUM comparison shows that asset retention remains central to the earnings picture.

NYSE context and valuation

Virtus is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under VRTS and operates in financial services, specifically asset management. Its primary-exchange price was USD 133.81 at the October 2, 2026 close, while market capitalization stood at USD 894.1 million as of that date. The Lang & Schwarz euro quotation is the relevant reference for investors trading in Germany.

VRTS holds above its prior close

VRTS was trading at EUR 119.50 at Lang & Schwarz on October 5, 2026 at 9:22 a.m. CEST, versus the EUR 118.50 prior close, plus 0.84 percent. The price data show a modest intraday gain, while the USD 120.00 analyst target keeps attention on the gap between Morgan Stanley's cautious view and the latest market quotation.