Morgan StanleyMSHOLDJun 06, 2024Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Oct 23, 2026. Market Open.
After reporting, shares fell 1.8% and down 2.8% today. They just reported: revenues beat, investment and trading were up 18%, also beating, equities were strong, though fixed income missed. Wealth management grew 10% and beat, and investment beat though fell 12%. Problem is, investors are worried about inflation.
Mergers are increasing, and banks like MS makes advisory fees from them. Also, the banks have been rallying since oil slumped, and will benefit further from rising interest rates, which appears will happen later this year. Plus, hyperscalers may need to keep borrowing money to keep competing with each other.
The one drawback is that, unlike with an RRSP, you are subject to the 15% withholding tax on dividends paid from US companies. But he wouldn't let that keep you from owning US stocks in a TFSA, as it's all about total return and US stocks have outperformed Canadian ones for quite some time. Huge lift in the USD compared to CAD over last few years, and now we have interest rates moving down here.
Well run. 48% of revenue from wealth management, 42% from institutional, 10% from investment management. Should see a lift in these big names from falling interest rates and improving equity in fixed income markets. Some of the other banks have done better over the past year, like JPM or Citi or WFC. You'll do OK with MS as interest rate conditions improve. Paying 1.7x price to book, others are cheaper. Yield is 3.5%.
He prefers the payment companies like Visa and MA. Less competition. See his Top Picks.