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Morgan Stanley: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 14 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenues rose 12% to $20.3 billion: Net income applicable to Morgan Stanley was $4.9 billion, or $3.03 per diluted share, against $4.6 billion and $2.80 a year earlier. Source
  • Equity revenue rose 41%: Equity net revenues were $5.8 billion against $4.1 billion, with client engagement and strength in Asia across businesses and regions. Source
  • Wealth Management revenue set a record: Wealth Management net revenues were $9.1 billion, up 10%, with pre-tax income of $2.8 billion and a 30.4% pre-tax margin. Source
  • Net new assets reached $232 billion: Net new assets were $232.4 billion against $81.0 billion. Fee-based flows were $80.5 billion against $41.9 billion, and fee-based client assets were $3,155 billion. Source
  • Credit provision was $148 million: Provision for credit losses was $148 million, compared with nil a year ago, mainly from growth in corporate and secured lending portfolios. Source
  • Buybacks totaled $1.5 billion: Repurchases were $1.54 billion for about 7 million shares at an average price of $212.74, against $1.09 billion a year ago at $145.77. Source

“Morgan Stanley reported another strong quarter with net revenues of $20.3 billion, EPS of $3.03 and a ROTCE of 22.6%.”

Ted Pick, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Dividend per share SourceQuarter payable November 13, 2026$1.15Kept
Share repurchase programMulti-year, beginning third quarter of 2026up to $20 billion

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Quarterly dividend held at $1.15 per share, the same amount declared in the prior quarter. Source
  • New: Wealth Management fee-based flows included a new corporate retirement mandate. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net revenues rose 12% to $20.3 billion: Net income applicable to Morgan Stanley was $4.9 billion, or $3.03 per diluted share, against $4.6 billion and $2.80 a year earlier. Source
  • Pre-tax income reached $6.5 billion: Pre-tax income was $6.5 billion against $6.0 billion a year ago, a rise of about 7%. Source
  • Return on tangible equity was 22.6%: Return on tangible common equity was 22.6%, down from 23.5% a year ago. Tangible book value per share was $53.96. Source
  • Expense efficiency held at 66% year to date: The expense efficiency ratio for the quarter was 67%, the same as a year ago. Year to date it was 66%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Equity revenue rose 41%: Equity net revenues were $5.8 billion against $4.1 billion, with client engagement and strength in Asia across businesses and regions. Source
  • Institutional Securities revenue reached $10.0 billion: Institutional Securities pre-tax income was $3.5 billion against $3.2 billion a year ago. Source
  • Fixed Income revenue fell 7%: Fixed Income net revenues were $2.0 billion against $2.2 billion, with lower credit results and lower commodities activity. Source
  • Wealth Management revenue set a record: Wealth Management net revenues were $9.1 billion, up 10%, with pre-tax income of $2.8 billion and a 30.4% pre-tax margin. Source
  • Investment Management revenue fell 12%: Investment Management net revenues were $1.5 billion against $1.7 billion. Pre-tax income was $259 million against $364 million. Source

“We continue to invest for growth while delivering strong returns for shareholders.”

Ted Pick, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Wealth flows and client assets

  • Net new assets reached $232 billion: Net new assets were $232.4 billion against $81.0 billion. Fee-based flows were $80.5 billion against $41.9 billion, and fee-based client assets were $3,155 billion. Source
  • Client assets reached $10.5 trillion: Total client assets across Wealth and Investment Management grew to $10.5 trillion, according to the chief executive. Source
  • Investment Management AUM rose: AUM was $2,046 billion against $1,807 billion a year ago. Long-term net flows were $15.8 billion against $17.9 billion. Source

Costs and credit provisions

  • Compensation and non-compensation costs rose: Compensation and benefits were $8.0 billion against $7.4 billion. Non-compensation expenses were $5.7 billion against $4.8 billion a year ago. Source
  • Non-compensation costs rose on execution and technology: Institutional Securities non-compensation costs rose on higher execution-related expenses and increased technology spend. Source
  • Credit provision was $148 million: Provision for credit losses was $148 million, compared with nil a year ago, mainly from growth in corporate and secured lending portfolios. Source

“The Integrated Firm is connecting the full breadth of Morgan Stanley to deliver differentiated solutions and advice for our clients.”

Ted Pick, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Margins, tax and net interest

  • Pre-tax margin eased to 32%: Pre-tax margin was 32% against 33% a year ago. Compensation was 39% of net revenues, against 41%. Source
  • Net interest income rose 30%: Firm net interest was $3.25 billion against $2.49 billion. Wealth Management net interest income rose to $2.2 billion on lending growth and sweep deposits. Source
  • Effective tax rate rose to 23.3%: The effective tax rate was 23.3% for the quarter, against 22.8% a year ago. Source

Deal and trading activity

  • Advisory revenue rose on completed M&A: Advisory revenues were $887 million against $684 million a year ago. Source
  • Equity underwriting fell on fewer IPOs: Equity underwriting revenues were $525 million against $652 million. Higher follow-on offerings partly offset lower IPOs and blocks. Source
  • Fixed income underwriting held near prior year: Fixed income underwriting was $747 million against $772 million, with continued investment grade and non-investment grade issuance. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Buybacks totaled $1.5 billion: Repurchases were $1.54 billion for about 7 million shares at an average price of $212.74, against $1.09 billion a year ago at $145.77. Source
  • Standardized CET1 ratio 14.9%: The standardized CET1 ratio was 14.9% against 15.1% a year ago. The advanced approach CET1 ratio was 16.3%. Source
  • Period-end shares fell to 1,565 million: Period-end common shares outstanding were 1,565 million against 1,591 million a year ago. Source

Strategy, people and investment

  • Integrated Firm connecting franchise: Management described the Integrated Firm as connecting the full breadth of the company to deliver solutions and advice to clients. Source
  • Investment for growth alongside returns: The chief executive said the firm continues to invest for growth while delivering returns to shareholders. Source
  • Headcount rose to 83,728: Worldwide employees were 83,728, against 82,944 at June 30 and 82,398 a year earlier. Source
  • March workforce action severance: The March 2026 action affected about 2% of the global workforce and was aimed at efficiency and performance, not a change in strategy. Source

Coming up, as management said on 14 October 2026

  • Dividend payable November 13: The $1.15 dividend is payable November 13, 2026 to holders of record on October 30, 2026. Source
  • Capital ratios may change in 10-Q: Capital ratios are estimates that may change in the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Fee-based client assets ($ billions) Source$3,155
Fee-based asset flows ($ billions) Source$80.5
Net new assets ($ billions) Source$232.4
AUM ($ billions) Source$2,046
Long-term net flows ($ billions) Source$15.8

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Charge-offs of $105 million were recorded on certain corporate and commercial real estate loans, largely provisioned for in prior quarters. Source
  • Financial: Other revenue in Institutional Securities fell on higher funding costs, partly offset by lower mark-to-market losses on corporate loans. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Repurchases of $1.5 billion were made in the quarter under the Share Repurchase Program. Status against the full authorization is not stated. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.