Sun Sep 15 15:55:00 UTC 2024: ## Morgan Stanley Sees Mixed Signals from Institutional Investors:

**New York, NY – September 15, 2024** – Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) experienced mixed signals from institutional investors in the second quarter. While GHP Investment Advisors Inc. reduced its holdings by 6%, several other firms increased their stakes in the financial services giant.

**Notable Transactions:**

* **GHP Investment Advisors Inc.**: Reduced its holdings by 6%, selling 121 shares and ending the quarter with 1,880 shares valued at $183,000.
* **Norges Bank**: Acquired a new position in Morgan Stanley, worth $958,105,000 in the fourth quarter.
* **Wellington Management Group LLP**: Increased its stake by 17.2% during the fourth quarter, purchasing an additional 5,631,435 shares and now owning 38,451,051 shares valued at $3,585,561,000.
* **Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board**: Acquired a new stake in Morgan Stanley during the fourth quarter, valued at approximately $512,867,000.
* **Capital International Investors**: Grew its stake by 16.3% in the first quarter, buying an additional 3,981,528 shares and now owning 28,481,070 shares valued at $2,681,778,000.
* **Focused Investors Fund L P**: Bought a new stake in Morgan Stanley in the first quarter valued at approximately $159,714,000.

**Insider Transactions:**

* Director Robert H. Herz sold 1,000 shares on July 17th at an average price of $106.62, for a total value of $106,620.
* Insider Daniel A. Simkowitz sold 40,000 shares on July 17th at an average price of $106.54, for a total value of $4,261,600.

**Analyst Opinions:**

* Barclays raised its target price from $116.00 to $121.00 and maintained an “overweight” rating.
* BMO Capital Markets increased its price objective from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating.
* Wells Fargo & Company lowered its rating from “equal weight” to “underweight” and cut its target price from $99.00 to $95.00.
* Citigroup increased its price target from $98.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating.
* UBS Group raised its price objective from $100.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating.

Overall, Morgan Stanley currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” with an average price target of $101.73.

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