Morgan Stanley (MS) Beats on Q3 Earnings & Revenue Estimates
Have you been eager to see how Morgan Stanley MS performed in Q3 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 93 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 81 cents.
Improved revenues 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 declined 2.4% over the last 30 days.
However, Morgan Stanley has a decent earnings surprise history. Before posting the earnings beat in Q3, the company delivered positive surprises in all 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
Revenues
Morgan Stanley posted net revenues of $9.2 billion, which compared favorably with the year-ago number of $8.9 billion. The Zacks Consensus Estimate was $9 billion.
Key Statistics:
Sales & Trading revenue were $2.9 billion, down 9.4% year over year
Investment banking revenues were $1.3 billion, up 18.2% from the prior-year quarter
Repurchased $1.25 billion worth shares during the quarter
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.
(You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.)
How the Market Reacted So Far
Following the earnings release, Morgan Stanley shares were up nearly 1.7% in the pre-trading session. This is in-line with what the stock witnessed in the last day’s session. Clearly, the initial reaction shows that the investors have considered the results in their favor. 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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