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Morgan Stanley (MS) Beats on Q2 Earnings; Revenue Down

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Have you been eager to see how Morgan Stanley (MS - Free Report) performed in Q2 in comparison with the market expectations? Let’s quickly scan through the key facts from this New York-based leading financial services holding company’s earnings release this morning:

An Earnings Beat

Morgan Stanley came out with earnings from continuing operations of 75 cents per share, which outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 60 cents.

Lower expenses were the main reason for earnings beat.

How Was the Estimate Revision Trend?

You should note that the earnings estimate revisions for Morgan Stanley depicted pessimism prior to the earnings release. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has moved 4.8% lower over the last 30 days.

Further, Morgan Stanley has a decent earnings surprise history. Before posting the earnings beat in Q2, the company delivered three positive surprises in the prior four quarters, as shown in the chart below:

 

MORGAN STANLEY Price and EPS Surprise

MORGAN STANLEY Price and EPS Surprise | MORGAN STANLEY Quote

 

Revenue    

Morgan Stanley posted net revenues of $8.9 billion, which compared unfavorably with the year-ago number of $9.7 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was $8.3 billion.

Key Statistics:
 

  • Strong Performance in Sales & Trading
  • Ranked #2 in Global Announced and Completed M&A, Global Equity and Global IPO
  • Dividend hiked 33% to 20 cents per share
  • Share Repurchase authorized of up to $3.5 Billion through second quarter of 2017


What Zacks Rank Says

The estimate revisions that we discussed earlier have driven a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for Morgan Stanley. However, since the latest earnings performance is yet to be reflected in the estimate revisions, the rank is subject to change. While things apparently look favorable, it all depends on what sense the just-released report makes to the analysts.

How the Market Reacted So Far

Following the earnings release, Morgan Stanley shares were up nearly 3% in the pre-trading session. This is contradictory to what the stock witnessed in the prior-day’s session. Clearly, the initial reaction shows that the investors have considered the results in their favor. However, the full-session’s price movement may indicate a different picture.

Check back later for our full write up on this Morgan Stanley earnings report!

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