Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments. The Institutional Securities segment offers capital raising and financial advisory services, including services related to the underwriting of debt, equity, and other securities, as well as advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, real estate, and project finance. This segment also provides equity and fixed income products comprising sales, financing, prime brokerage, and market-making services; foreign exchange and commodities; corporate and commercial real estate loans, commercial mortgage and secured lending facilities, and financing for sales and trading customers, and asset-backed and mortgage lending; and wealth management services, investment, and research services. The Wealth Management segment offers financial advisor-led brokerage, custody, administrative, and investment advisory services; self-directed brokerage services; financial and wealth planning services; workplace services, including stock plan administration; annuity and insurance products; securities-based lending, residential real estate loans, and other lending products; banking; and retirement plan services to individual investors and small to medium-sized businesses and institutions. The Investment Management segment provides equity, fixed income, alternatives and solutions, and liquidity and overlay services to benefit/defined contribution plans, foundations, endowments, government entities, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, third-party fund sponsors, corporations, and individuals through institutional and intermediary channels. The company was founded in 1924 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Morgan Stanley

Key Points
In the next year, Mark Lipacis at Evercore says Nvidia stock could rise 95%, and Jeff Cantwell at Seaport Research says Circle shares could rise 215%.
Nvidia is the gold standard in AI infrastructure not only because its chips are faster, but also because it has a robust software development ecosystem.
Circle Internet Group is the issuer of USDC, the preferred stablecoin among financial institutions because of its scale and focus on regulatory compliance.
Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Circle Internet Group (NYSE: CRCL) have outpaced the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) year to date, and the following Wall Street analysts are predicting substantial gains in the next year:
Mark Lipacis at Evercore has set Nvidia with a target price of $352 per share. That implies 95% upside from its current share price of $180.
Jeff Cantwell at Seaport Research has set Circle with a target price of $280 per share. That implies 215% upside from its current share price of $89.
Here's what investors should know about these magnificent stocks.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
Nvidia: 95% implied upside
Nvidia specializes in accelerated computing. Its data center graphics processing units (GPUs) and networking equipment are the industry standard in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. Not only do Nvidia systems regularly outperform products from competing chipmakers when benchmarked across tasks like training and inference, but also its hardware is supported by an unparalleled suite of software development tools called CUDA.
Naysayers often point to growing demand for custom AI accelerators as a significant threat to Nvidia. While several hyperscale companies have developed custom chips, adoption can be difficult because those chips lack pre-built software development ecosystems like CUDA. Consequently, Nvidia systems often have a lower total cost of ownership when adjacent expenses are counted.
Consequently, many industry experts believe Nvidia will retain over 80%-plus market share in AI accelerators for the foreseeable future. Last year, Morgan Stanley analysts wrote:
We have seen many threats to Nvidia come and go since 2018 -- something like a dozen start-ups, several efforts from merchant competitors such as Intel and AMD, and several custom designs. Most of those have come up short. Competing with Nvidia, a company that spends over $10 billion per year in R&D, is a difficult feat.
Importantly, the Trump administration recently said it would approve sales of Nvidia H200 GPUs in China. Previously, export restrictions had effectively locked the company out of China, the second-largest AI market in the world. Analysts are likely to update their forward earnings estimates as the situation continues to develop, and upward revisions could send Nvidia stock higher in the near term.
However, Nvidia is a worthwhile investment whether or not shares pop in the weeks ahead. Grand View Research estimates AI accelerator sales will increase at 29% annually through 2030. That means Nvidia has a long runway for growth despite concerns about an AI bubble. To be clear, I am not ruling out volatility -- Nvidia shares could fall 20% or more -- but I think the stock will continue to beat the S&P 500 as the AI revolution unfolds.
Wall Street expects Nvidia's earnings to increase at 37% annually over the next three years. That makes the current valuation of 44 times earnings look reasonable. I am skeptical about the stock returning 95% in the next year, but the current price is attractive.
Circle Internet Group: 215% implied upside
Circle is a fintech company that mints stablecoins and provides developer services. It is best known for USDC, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. USDC is the second-largest stablecoin by market value behind Tether, but it is the largest stablecoin ecosystem that complies with regulatory requirements in the United States and Europe.
Circle primarily earns revenue from interest on reserve assets (i.e., the fiat currency held in reserve to back its stablecoins). However, the company recently expanded into payments with the Circle Payments Network (CPN), which settles transactions almost instantly and addresses use cases like supplier payments, employee payroll, and online shopping.
The stablecoin market is worth $315 billion today. Several analysts think that figure will hit $2 trillion by 2030, implying annual growth of 45%. However, other estimates are even more optimistic. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently predicted the stablecoin market would hit $3 trillion by 2030, and Bernstein analysts think it will reach $4 trillion by 2035.
Circle should be a big winner. Scale and regulatory compliance have made it the preferred stablecoin among financial institutions. JPMorgan analysts write, "Transparent reserve management and regular audits make it more trustworthy among institutional investors and other regulated entities." The note specifically emphasizes compliance with regulatory frameworks in the U.S. and Europe.
Wall Street estimates Circle's revenue will increase at 32% annually through 2027. That makes the current valuation of 8.2 times sales look fairly attractive. Investors should feel comfortable buying a small position at the current price, though Jeff Cantwell's target (which implies 215% upside) is probably too optimistic.
Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?
Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Nvidia wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $507,421!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,109,138!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 972% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 195% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of December 8, 2025
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Trevor Jennewine has positions in Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Evercore, Intel, JPMorgan Chase, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

2 Magnificent Stocks to Buy Before They Soar 95% and 215% in 2026, According to Wall Street Analysts

The Federal Reserve has implemented its third consecutive 25-basis-point rate cut this year, reigniting investor optimism. The move is expected to support the ongoing strong resurgence in deal-making activity, potentially boosting investment banking (IB) fees for Morgan Stanley MS.
This year began on an optimistic note, but market sentiment cooled after Trump’s tariff policies launched on “Liberation Day,” casting a shadow over deal-making. Yet, the momentum has rebounded, as deal-making activity has started picking up.
Riding a wave of deal-making and initial public offering activity, MS’ IB revenues reached $5.2 billion in the first nine months of 2025, up 15% year over year. On the third-quarter 2025 call, Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick said the improving environment supported strategic mergers & acquisitions (M&As) and renewed financing activity. While being cautious, remarking that “whether we are entering a golden age of investment banking remains to be seen”, he noted that IB activity should continue to rise over the next couple of years.
The Fed’s latest rate cut is likely to further accelerate this momentum by lowering financing costs and prompting companies to revive delayed M&A and capital-raising plans. Cheaper capital, along with resilient economic growth, typically boosts deal pipelines and IPO readiness. This improved backdrop positions Morgan Stanley for stronger near-term IB activity.
Thus, a healthy IB pipeline, an active M&A market and Morgan Stanley’s strong franchise position it to capitalize on the improving macro backdrop. However, with the Fed signaling a pause in further rate cuts, the benefits may be frontloaded rather than sustained, limiting the impact largely to the near term.
Benefits for Morgan Stanley’s Peers
Similar to Morgan Stanley, other major IB firms like JPMorgan JPM and Goldman Sachs GS will likely benefit from this macro tailwind, given lower borrowing costs.
During the first nine months of 2025, JPMorgan’s IB fees rose to $7.3 billion, implying 12.3% year-over-year growth, driven by improvements in advisory and underwriting businesses. Jeremy Barnum, executive VP and chief financial officer of JPMorgan, noted healthy deal flow with robust pipelines, supported by a constructive market environment.
Driven by higher advisory revenues, signifying a substantial rise in M&A volumes, Goldman’s IB fee revenues totaled $6.8 billion during the first nine months of 2025, up 19.1% on a year-over-year basis. David Solomon, chairman and CEO of Goldman, highlighted improvements in M&A throughout the year and expects the constructive environment to continue through the end of 2025, with even stronger M&A activity anticipated in 2026 amid a favorable backdrop.
Morgan Stanley’s Zacks Rank & Price Performance
This year, Morgan Stanley’s shares have gained 43.4%, compared with the industry’s 35.4% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Currently, Morgan Stanley sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Zacks' Research Chief Picks Stock Most Likely to "At Least Double"
Our experts have revealed their Top 5 recommendations with money-doubling potential – and Director of Research Sheraz Mian believes one is superior to the others. Of course, all our picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier recommendations like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
See Our Top Stock to Double (Plus 4 Runners Up) >>
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Fed Cuts Rate: Will This Accelerate Morgan Stanley's IB Fee Growth?

Key Points
A Wall Street analyst upgraded EchoStar's stock this week.
The analyst believes EchoStar will receive a hefty price for its remaining wireless spectrum assets.
Bloomberg also reported SpaceX, of which EchoStar is a shareholder, may pursue a 2026 IPO at an eye-watering valuation.
Shares of satellite telecommunications company EchoStar (NASDAQ: SATS) rallied 27.3% this week through Thursday trading, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence.
EchoStar stock has nearly quintupled this year. Having begun the year as a debt-laden, struggling cable company, EchoStar decided to sell its long-held wireless spectrum assets to other players, and received significantly more money for them than the market had anticipated. Moreover, some spectrum was sold to SpaceX, for which EchoStar received both cash and SpaceX stock.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
This week, EchoStar received even better news regarding the value of its remaining spectrum assets, as well as reports of ever-escalating estimates for SpaceX's valuation.
With spectrum and SpaceX, who cares about the core business?
This week, Morgan Stanley telecom analyst Benjamin Swinburne upgraded EchoStar stock to an "Overweight" rating from "Equal Weight." The rationale is that Swinburne now expects EchoStar's remaining AWS-3 spectrum holdings to receive a strong sale price and a likely bidding war between Verizon and T-Mobile.
This year, the value of EchoStar's spectrum assets has been a significantly more important factor for the stock than the company's operating businesses across satellite cable, broadband, and wireless services. So to see an analyst increase the value of its remaining spectrum asset was important.
Additionally, for a spectrum sale to SpaceX this past summer and a more recent follow-on sale, EchoStar has received a combined $11.1 billion in SpaceX stock this year. The valuation of that SpaceX stock was uncertain at the time of the transactions, but was likely significantly lower than SpaceX's recent financing round, which was rumored to garner an $800 billion valuation.
Then this week, Bloomberg News reported that SpaceX will pursue an initial public offering sometime in 2026, at a rumored valuation of $1.5 trillion.
Needless to say, that valuation would be massive for EchoStar, and likely two to three times higher than the price at which EchoStar acquired its stock.
Is there still upside in a stock up over 350% this year?
Even after this recent rally, EchoStar's market capitalization is only $30 billion. So, if EchoStar acquired its SpaceX stock at a $500 billion valuation and SpaceX manages to go public at a $1.5 trillion valuation, the value of EchoStar's SpaceX stock would be more than EchoStar's entire value. We still don't know exactly at what valuation EchoStar acquired its stock, but that's not an unreasonable estimate. Additionally, when EchoStar's other spectrum sales close, the company should be left with an additional $8.6 billion in net cash.
EchoStar's actual operating businesses in cable, broadband, and wireless are relatively unexciting. But investors shouldn't really care too much about those businesses these days, as the stock has become a net asset play.
Should you invest $1,000 in EchoStar right now?
Before you buy stock in EchoStar, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and EchoStar wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $507,421!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,109,138!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 972% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 195% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of December 8, 2025
Billy Duberstein and/or his clients have positions in T-Mobile US. The Motley Fool recommends T-Mobile US and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why EchoStar Rallied Again This Week

Key Points
Applied Digital is poised to benefit from the growing demand for additional data center capacity.
The stock is trading at just 10 times projected operating profit over the next five years.
A few years ago, there were not enough chips for companies investing in artificial intelligence (AI). Today, chips are no longer a problem. The main bottleneck is securing access to electricity for new data centers.
This is a significant opportunity for data center builders like Applied Digital (NASDAQ: APLD). The stock has climbed more than 300% in 2025.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
If you have extra cash you can afford to commit to a long-term investing strategy, this stock offers substantial upside.
Why buy Applied Digital stock
The latest research from Morgan Stanley projects a 47-gigawatt shortfall in available electricity for data centers over the next several years. Applied Digital has two data center sites in North Dakota, with other projects planned for the long term. It currently has 286 megawatts operational in North Dakota, with a total of 4 gigawatts in its active development pipeline.
Applied Digital is only addressing a fraction of the projected energy shortfall. However, the high demand creates tremendous profit potential for the business.
The company reported an 84% year-over-year increase in revenue in the recent quarter. It has already signed a multibillion-dollar deal with CoreWeave but has been in active talks with other hyperscalers.
Each megawatt of data center power is worth several million dollars. The deal with CoreWeave is expected to bring Applied Digital's annual operating profit to $500 million, with the potential to grow that to $1 billion in the coming years through additional deals. With the stock's market cap at just under $10 billion, which implies a conservative 10 times multiple on future operating profit, investors may be able to multiply their investments in this company over the next decade and beyond.
Should you invest $1,000 in Applied Digital right now?
Before you buy stock in Applied Digital, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Applied Digital wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $499,978!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,126,609!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 971% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 195% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of December 8, 2025
John Ballard has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Got $1,000? 1 Tech Stock to Buy and Hold for Decades.

An Anthropic IPO Could Be Here Sooner Than We Thought!

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (Symbol: VYM) where we have detected an approximate $550.4 million dollar inflow -- that's a 0.8% increase week over week in outstanding units (from 469,484,093 to 473,233,911). Among the largest underlying components of VYM, in trading today RTX Corp (Symbol: RTX) is up about 1.3%, Abbott Laboratories (Symbol: ABT) is up about 1.1%, and Morgan Stanley (Symbol: MS) is higher by about 0.7%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the VYM Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of VYM, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, VYM's low point in its 52 week range is $112.0542 per share, with $147.2998 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $147.30. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Also see:
FOX Technical Analysis
ADSK Price Target
Top Ten Hedge Funds Holding IHTA
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy ETF Inflows: VYM, RTX, ABT, MS

Key Points
The biotech announced a secondary stock issue.
It aims to sell $300 million worth of common shares.
It isn't unusual for a biotech to raise capital after it posts positive results from a clinical trial. In the case of a new fundraising effort by Dyne Therapeutics (NASDAQ: DYN), however, investors aren't happy that the biotech is going to the well. Following the announcement of a significant secondary stock issue, market players traded out of Dyne on Tuesday, leaving its shares with a nearly 17% loss.
300 million reasons for concern
Just after market close on Monday, Dyne announced that it has launched an underwritten public offering of $300 million worth of its common stock. The underwriters of the issue, which include Morgan Stanley and Jefferies, have been granted a 30-day option to collectively purchase up to an additional $45 million.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
In its offering prospectus, Dyne stated that it intends to use its share of the proceeds to advance its development programs. This comes on the heels of its successful phase 1/2 clinical trial for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) treatment zeleciment rostudirsen.
It also aims to build manufacturing assets for drugs it may win approval for in the future. It will also spend the funds on "working capital and other general corporate purposes."
The dilution problem
That $300 million to $345 million in new capital is going to be dilutive, given that Dyne's current market cap is a shade over $2.6 billion. Investors dislike share dilution, and they become quite uncomfortable when it reaches double-digit percentages.
While Tuesday's market reaction was understandable, then, Dyne has some good momentum with zeleciment rostudirsen, and the drug has much promise if it can eventually earn regulatory approval. If I were a Dyne shareholder, I'd stay the course with the stock and not be overly concerned with dilution.
Should you invest $1,000 in Dyne Therapeutics right now?
Before you buy stock in Dyne Therapeutics, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Dyne Therapeutics wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $521,982!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,137,459!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 981% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 194% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
*Stock Advisor returns as of December 8, 2025
Eric Volkman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Jefferies Financial Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Dyne Therapeutics Stock Tanked on Tuesday

Tuesday, December 9, 2025
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), EPAM Systems, Inc. (EPAM) and Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST). These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>
Ahead of Wall Street
The daily 'Ahead of Wall Street' article is a must-read for all investors who would like to be ready for that day's trading action. The article comes out before the market opens, attempting to make sense of that morning's economic releases and how they will affect that day's market action. You can read this article for free on our home page and can actually sign up there to get an email notification as this article comes out each morning.
You can read today's AWS here >>> Pre-markets "Risk Off" Ahead of Wednesday's Fed Decision
Today's Featured Research Reports
Shares of JPMorgan Chase have gained +32.1% over the past year against the Zacks Financial - Investment Bank industry’s gain of +33.1%. The company shares were driven by continued operational strength amid cost concerns and a weak asset quality. Business expansion efforts, loan demand and changes in interest rates will aid net interest income (NII) growth.
The Zacks analyst projects NII to witness a CAGR of 3.3% by 2027. In investment banking (IB), the company’s solid pipeline and market leadership remain competitive strengths, though capital markets volatility and elevated mortgage rates are likely to weigh on fee income. Our estimates for non-interest income don’t show a favorable trend this year.
Technology and marketing investments will keep costs elevated. The Zacks analyst expects expenses to reflect a CAGR of 4.4% by 2027. A tough macro backdrop raises concerns about asset quality. We expect provisions to rise 10.5% in 2025.
(You can read the full research report on JPMorgan Chase here >>>)
Shares of EPAM have declined -12.9% over the year-to-date period against the Zacks Computers - IT Services industry’s decline of -13.3%. The company is gaining from the ongoing digital transformation by enterprises and a continued focus on customer engagement and product development. EPAM’s sustained focus on strategic acquisitions and partnerships enhances its product portfolio and drives top-line growth.
The Zacks analyst model estimates suggest that EPAM’s revenues are expected to witness a CAGR of 9.8% between 2025 and 2027. Its substantial investment in Gen AI capabilities is expected to boost growth as AI becomes increasingly integral to enterprise operations.
A sustained focus on realigning the cost structure with the current demand environment is likely to benefit margins. Intensifying competition and unfavorable forex are other major concerns.
(You can read the full research report on EPAM here >>>)
Shares of Costco have underperformed the Zacks Retail - Discount Stores industry over the past year (-10.4% vs. +0.1%). Being a consumer defensive stock, the company has survived the market turmoil, supported by its resilient membership-based model, disciplined pricing, and operational excellence.
Costco’s consistent renewal rates and expanding member base reinforce its dependable recurring revenue stream, while the Kirkland Signature brand continues to drive margin strength. Robust e-commerce momentum and growing adoption of digital fulfillment services enhance Costco’s omnichannel reach, driving traffic.
Strategic sourcing, diversification, and supply chain efficiency have helped mitigate tariff and cost pressures. Backed by a solid liquidity position, Costco remains well-positioned to capitalize on global growth opportunities.
(You can read the full research report on Costco here >>>)
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Morgan Stanley (MS), América Móvil, S.A.B. de C.V. (AMX) and First Solar, Inc. (FSLR).
Mark Vickery
Senior Editor
Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
Today's Must Read
Featured Reports
Subscriber Strength Drives America Movil (AMX) Amid Tariff Tensions
Per the Zacks analyst, increasing user count and widespread revenue growth across all business units and regions are driving America Movil's performance. U.S.-imposed tariff uncertainty looms.
Expanding Manufacturing Capacity and Backlog Aid First Solar (FSLR)
According to the Zacks analyst, First Solar's investments of $0.9-$1.2 billion in 2025 should expand its manufacturing capacity. Total backlog of 54.5 GW through 2030 indicates a strong demand.
Robust Growth Plans Aid Builders FirstSource (BLDR), Macro Risks Hurt
Per the Zacks analyst, Builders FirstSource is gaining from inorganic efforts, geographic expansion and digital enhancements. However, a weak housing market and cost inflation are concerning.
Scalable Chiplet Design Aids Rigetti (RGTI) Amid Execution Risks
Per the Zacks Analyst, Rigetti benefits from strong partnerships, proprietary tech, and a scalable roadmap, though execution risks and tough competition remain concerns.
Mercury General (MCY) Boasts Revenue Growth, Solid Balance Sheet
Per the Zacks analyst, Mercury General is set to grow on strong revenues driven by improved net investment income and rate increases. Moreover, its solid balance sheet provides financial flexibility.
RPC's (RES) Diversified Oilfield Services Drive Stable Revenues
Per the Zacks analyst, RPC's diverse oilfield services, including pressure pumping and rental tools, support strong and stable revenues. However slowdowns in oilfield activity may limit profitability.
Theravance (TBPH) Rides on Higher Profit-Sharing Revenues
Per the Zacks analyst, Theravance's top line is driven by higher profit-sharing revenues from Viatris due to U.S. Yupelri sales. However, high reliance on Yupelri for profit-sharing revenues is a woe.
New Upgrades
Increased Focus on Wealth Management to Aid Morgan Stanley (MS)
Per the Zacks analyst, Morgan Stanley's continued focus on becoming less dependent on capital-markets-driven revenue sources will aid the top line. Its inorganic expansion efforts will drive growth.
Strong Cloud ARR Growth and AI Innovation Aid Teradata (TDC) Prospects
Per the Zacks Analyst, TDC is benefiting from strong cloud ARR growth, expanding AI-driven solutions, and a rich partner base.
Metal Cutting Unit Drives Kennametal (KMT), High Debt Hurts
Per the Zacks analyst, solid traction of Kennametal's Metal Cutting segment, driven by strength in aerospace, defense and energy markets, will drive its growth. High debt level is concerning.
New Downgrades
Technology and Product Investment Costs Hurt Insperity (NSP)
Per the Zacks analyst, Insperity's investments in technology, product and service offerings are likely to keep the bottom line under pressure.
Consumer and Professional Products Unit Hurts Griffon (GFF)
Per the Zacks analyst, Griffon is struggling with the poor performance of the Consumer and Professional Products unit due to reduced consumer demand across most regions, except Australia.
Tariffs Remain a Drag on Flowers Foods' Cost Structure and Outlook
Per the Zacks analyst, Flowers Foods is facing tariff-driven cost pressure, limiting pricing flexibility. For 2025, the company expects $14 million in tariff-related costs for the legacy business.
Radical New Technology Could Hand Investors Huge Gains
Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Top Analyst Reports for JPMorgan Chase, EPAM & Costco

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the "long context," investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.
Even though momentum is a popular stock characteristic, it can be tough to define. Debate surrounding which are the best and worst metrics to focus on is lengthy, but the Zacks Momentum Style Score, part of the Zacks Style Scores, helps address this issue for us.
Below, we take a look at Morgan Stanley (MS), which currently has a Momentum Style Score of B. We also discuss some of the main drivers of the Momentum Style Score, like price change and earnings estimate revisions.
It's also important to note that Style Scores work as a complement to the Zacks Rank, our stock rating system that has an impressive track record of outperformance. Morgan Stanley currently has a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy). Our research shows that stocks rated Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and #2 (Buy) and Style Scores of "A or B" outperform the market over the following one-month period.
You can see the current list of Zacks #1 Rank Stocks here >>>
Set to Beat the Market?
In order to see if MS is a promising momentum pick, let's examine some Momentum Style elements to see if this investment bank holds up.
A good momentum benchmark for a stock is to look at its short-term price activity, as this can reflect both current interest and if buyers or sellers currently have the upper hand. It is also useful to compare a security to its industry, as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
For MS, shares are up 4.04% over the past week while the Zacks Financial - Investment Bank industry is up 1.18% over the same time period. Shares are looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the monthly price change of 7.14% compares favorably with the industry's 0.9% performance as well.
Considering longer term price metrics, like performance over the last three months or year, can be advantageous as well. Shares of Morgan Stanley have increased 12.89% over the past quarter, and have gained 37.53% in the last year. In comparison, the S&P 500 has only moved 5.66% and 13.75%, respectively.
Investors should also pay attention to MS's average 20-day trading volume. Volume is a useful item in many ways, and the 20-day average establishes a good price-to-volume baseline; a rising stock with above average volume is generally a bullish sign, whereas a declining stock on above average volume is typically bearish. MS is currently averaging 5,427,299 shares for the last 20 days.
Earnings Outlook
The Zacks Momentum Style Score also takes into account trends in estimate revisions, in addition to price changes. Please note that estimate revision trends remain at the core of Zacks Rank as well. A nice path here can help show promise, and we have recently been seeing that with MS.
Over the past two months, 6 earnings estimates moved higher compared to none lower for the full year. These revisions helped boost MS's consensus estimate, increasing from $8.89 to $9.76 in the past 60 days. Looking at the next fiscal year, 6 estimates have moved upwards while there have been no downward revisions in the same time period.
Bottom Line
Taking into account all of these elements, it should come as no surprise that MS is a #1 (Strong Buy) stock with a Momentum Score of B. If you've been searching for a fresh pick that's set to rise in the near-term, make sure to keep Morgan Stanley on your short list.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Morgan Stanley (MS) Is Up 4.04% in One Week: What You Should Know

What happened
Investors have been unloading shares of electric vehicle start-up Lucid Group (NASDAQ: LCID) for the past two weeks, ever since it released its quarterly update and announced that it was cutting its production forecast for 2022 due to supply chain and other issues. Shares are now down by more than 25% since that report came out -- a decline that includes a dip of 6% on Monday.
So what
Monday's drop may be part of the continued selling triggered by that report, but another likely contributor to it is a filing that Lucid made with the Securities and Exchange Commission late last week reporting that CEO and Chief Technology Officer Peter Rawlinson had just sold nearly 8 million shares worth more than $180 million.
However, just a bit of digging reveals that Rawlinson isn't selling because of any recent change in his views about the company's prospects. This share sale was planned almost eight months ago in July 2021.
Now what
This share sale was scheduled in July as part of Rawlinson's tax planning regarding restricted stock unit (RSU) compensation that he was awarded in March 2021. Those RSUs are subject to time-based or performance-based conditions. As explained in the SEC filing, this sale "represent[s] shares that have been withheld by the issuer to satisfy income tax withholding and remittance obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock units reported on a Form 4 filed on July 27, 2021."
Rawlinson still owns nearly 52 million shares of Lucid. For investors, this disclosure isn't something important to focus on. Rather, with the company now claiming more than 25,000 customer reservations for its electric vehicles, what investors should monitor is the progress it makes on its plan to produce between 12,000 and 14,000 EVs in 2022. That's down from its previous expectation that it would be able to manufacture 20,000 vehicles this year. What the company achieves on that front should determine where the stock goes from here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Morgan Stanley

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