AEGON Asset Management UK Plc Holds $127.27 Million Morgan Stanley Position (MS)

AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc reduced its stake in Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) by 7.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the firm’s most recent SEC disclosure. The investor held 716,857 shares after selling 55,638 shares in the period. Morgan Stanley accounted for about 1.5% of AEGON ASSET MANAGEMENT UK Plc’s portfolio, making it the 12th largest holding. The position was valued at $127,270,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional activity in Morgan Stanley

Several other hedge funds and institutional investors also reported changes to their Morgan Stanley positions. Olistico Wealth LLC initiated a new position valued at approximately $27,000 in the fourth quarter. Lodestone Wealth Management LLC also started a new position valued at approximately $28,000, while Nvest Wealth Strategies Inc. initiated a new position valued at approximately $31,000.

Mowery & Schoenfeld Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings by 1,855.6% in the fourth quarter, bringing its total to 176 shares valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares. Greykasell Wealth Strategies Inc. raised its stake by 65.2% in the third quarter, ending with 185 shares valued at $29,000 after adding 73 shares. Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.19% of the company’s stock.

Insider transactions

Insider trading disclosures included sales by Daniel A. Simkowitz and Andrew M. Saperstein. Simkowitz sold 32,968 shares on Friday, January 30th at an average price of $182.61, for total proceeds of $6,020,286.48. After the sale, he directly owned 357,342 shares valued at approximately $65,254,222.62, representing an 8.45% decrease in ownership.

Saperstein sold 51,668 shares on Thursday, April 16th at an average price of $188.59, generating $9,744,068.12. Following the transaction, he owned 282,142 shares valued at approximately $53,209,159.78, a 15.48% decrease in ownership. Over the last three months, insiders sold 110,444 shares worth $20,665,049. Corporate insiders own 0.17% of the stock.

Market and financial snapshot

Morgan Stanley opened at $188.13 on Friday. The company reported a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.39, a current ratio of 0.81, and a quick ratio of 0.81. Shares have a 50-day simple moving average of $170.25 and a 200-day simple moving average of $171.90. Morgan Stanley’s 1-year range is $112.03 to $194.59, and the company’s market capitalization is $297.50 billion. Valuation metrics include a P/E ratio of 17.04, a P/E/G ratio of 1.42, and a beta of 1.19.

Earnings, revenue and guidance expectations

Morgan Stanley last released earnings results on Wednesday, April 15th. The firm reported quarterly earnings of $3.43 per share, exceeding analysts’ consensus estimates of $3.02 by $0.41. Morgan Stanley’s return on equity was 17.89% and net margin was 14.65%. Revenue for the quarter was $20.58 billion, compared with a consensus estimate of $19.23 billion. In the prior-year quarter, the company posted $2.60 earnings per share. Revenue increased 16.0% year over year.

Analysts expect Morgan Stanley to post 11.8 earnings per share for the current year.

Dividend declaration

Morgan Stanley also declared a quarterly dividend to be paid on Friday, May 15th. Stockholders of record as of Thursday, April 30th will receive a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 30th. The dividend implies an annualized payout of $4.00 and a dividend yield of 2.1%, with a payout ratio of 36.23%.

Analyst rating and target price changes

Research firms updated their outlooks for Morgan Stanley. HSBC raised its target price from $153.00 to $177.00 and maintained a hold rating in a report on Friday, April 17th. Citizens Jmp restated a market perform rating on Thursday, April 16th. Argus increased its target price from $210.00 to $225.00 and upgraded the stock to a buy rating on Thursday, April 16th. Barclays raised its target price from $219.00 to $230.00 and assigned an overweight rating on Thursday, April 16th. Rothschild & Co Redburn increased its target price from $171.00 to $183.00 and kept a neutral rating in a report on Friday, April 17th.

Ten analysts rate the stock as Buy and thirteen rate it as Hold. Based on MarketBeat data, the consensus rating is Hold with a consensus price target of $201.89.