January 13, 2026
Finance

Wall Street Analysts Update Morgan Stanley Forecasts Ahead of Q4 Earnings Release

Expectations Rise on Earnings and Revenue as Investment Moves Emerge

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Summary

Morgan Stanley is set to disclose its fourth-quarter earnings prior to market opening on January 15. Analysts project earnings per share of $2.45, marking an increase over the previous year's $2.22. Revenue forecasts stand at $17.75 billion, higher than last year's $16.22 billion. Notably, the bank's middle-market private equity segment recently secured a majority investment in engineering firm Olsson, Inc. Shares saw a slight decline following announcements, while leading analysts have adjusted their ratings and price targets ahead of the earnings report.

Key Points

Morgan Stanley is scheduled to report Q4 earnings on January 15 before market open, with expected EPS of $2.45, up from $2.22 last year.
Projected quarterly revenue is $17.75 billion, exceeding prior year’s $16.22 billion according to Benzinga Pro data.
The bank's middle-market private equity division recently acquired a majority stake in engineering firm Olsson, Inc.
Several Wall Street analysts have upgraded or raised price targets for Morgan Stanley in recent months, signaling positive sentiment ahead of earnings.
Morgan Stanley is preparing to announce its earnings for the fourth quarter ahead of the market open on Thursday, January 15. Projections indicate that the firm is anticipated to report earnings per share of $2.45, reflecting an improvement from the $2.22 per share recorded in the same quarter the previous year. Concurrently, Morgan Stanley's revenue for the quarter is expected to reach $17.75 billion, surpassing the $16.22 billion reported one year prior, according to data aggregated by Benzinga Pro.

On Tuesday, the financial giant revealed that its middle-market private equity division had completed a majority stake acquisition in Olsson, Inc., a company specializing in engineering services. Despite this strategic move, Morgan Stanley's stock price experienced a 1.7% decline in intraday trading, closing at $183.34.

Investor attention remains focused on analyst evaluations as anticipation builds for the quarterly report. Wolfe Research's analyst Steven Chubak elevated Morgan Stanley's rating from Peer Perform to Outperform on November 24, 2025. Chubak’s historical accuracy stands at 71%, lending credibility to his assessment.

Similarly, JP Morgan analyst Kian Abouhossein maintained a Neutral stance while lifting the price target from $122 to $157 on October 21, 2025. Abouhossein boasts a 76% accuracy rate.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods analyst Christopher McGratty reaffirmed his Outperform recommendation and revised the price target upward from $176 to $184 as of October 16, 2025. His accuracy rate is documented at 62%.

Evercore ISI Group's Glenn Schorr also retained an Outperform rating, revising the price target from $165 to $175 on the same date, with a 73% accuracy metric.

Additionally, Wells Fargo's Mike Mayo kept an Equal-Weight rating and increased his price target from $165 to $177, also on October 16, 2025, reflecting a 73% accuracy track record.

These revisions suggest a strong outlook among prominent Wall Street analysts, highlighting rising expectations for Morgan Stanley’s performance in the upcoming quarterly report. Benzinga’s platform offers real-time access to analyst ratings, providing investors with comprehensive data to consider.

While the company is experiencing evolving prospects, it is important to observe that the stock price did experience a dip following the recent transaction announcement.

Comprehensive metrics and rankings related to Morgan Stanley’s market performance, including momentum and quality, are available through financial data services, presenting investors with multifaceted evaluation tools.

As Morgan Stanley approaches its fourth-quarter results disclosure, market participants are advised to consider the updated analyst perspectives and recent strategic investments as part of their assessment of the company’s trajectory.
Risks
  • Morgan Stanley's stock declined 1.7% following the announcement of the private equity acquisition, indicating potential market concerns.
  • Despite positive analyst revisions, uncertainty remains surrounding the actual earnings outcome scheduled for January 15.
  • Price target adjustments do not guarantee stock performance improvement; market reactions can vary pending quarterly results.
Disclosure
Education only / not financial advice
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