Morgan Stanley's (MS) Franchise Strength and Regulatory Shifts Fuel Long-Term Upside

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) ranks among the best financial stocks to buy according to billionaire Israel Englander. BofA Securities boosted Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS)’s price target to $210 from $180 on January 7, retaining a Buy rating for the investment bank’s shares. The increase represents what BofA calls Morgan Stanley’s “strong franchise value,” as well as cyclical tailwinds in capital markets and an overall shift in the regulatory system.

BofA Securities predicts a record year for M&A volumes and major technology IPOs, which could help Morgan Stanley’s stock valuation. According to the firm’s forecast, earnings per share will expand by 10% on average in fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with potential gains from higher revenue growth and surplus capital deployment.

Moreover, Morgan Stanley’s Investment Management division is expanding into cryptocurrencies, issuing first registration filings with the SEC for two cryptocurrency exchange-traded products, the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust and the Morgan Stanley Solana Trust.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) is a global financial services company, headquartered in New York, that provides a range of investment banking, securities, wealth management, and investment management services to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.