⚠ Pay Rises With RevenueLow threat

Morgan Stanley (MS) — threat to the moat

Six-tenths of Morgan Stanley's costs are pay, which rises with revenue and limits how far efficiency can improve.

Compensation is the cost that grows with success. Morgan Stanley's compensation expense rose to $29,216 million in 2025 from $26,178 million1, about 12%2, and made up about 60% of non-interest expenses3.

Compensation expense ($M)26,178202429,2162025Morgan Stanley Q4 2025 earnings release
Up 12% in a year.

Advisers are paid a share of what they produce, traders and bankers a bonus tied to results. That makes the cost base partly variable, which cushions bad years, but it also means the ratio cannot fall far in good ones.

The chief executive's pay shows the structure. Ted Pick's 2025 compensation of "$45 million includes an annual base salary of $1,500,000 and performance-based incentive compensation (bonus) of $43.5 million"4.

Compensation rose while headcount barely moved. The firm had 82,992 employees at the end of 2025 against 82,398 a year earlier5, and 82,944 in June 20266. Revenue per employee was about $0.85 million in 20257, and the pay pool follows that productivity.

Non-compensation costs rose too, but more slowly: $17,723 million in 2024 and $19,126 million in 20258. The efficiency ratio improved because revenue grew faster than either line, not because either line shrank.

The efficiency gains of 2025 and 2026 came in record revenue years. Compensation was about 41% of net revenues in 20259; if it rose above 42% in a year of flat revenue, the cost discipline would be shown to depend on the markets.

References
  1. ReportedMorgan Stanley's compensation expense rose to $29,216 million in 2025 from $26,178 million, about 12%, and made up about 60% of non-interest expenses.
    Morgan Stanley fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1. — FY2025 · publ. 15 January 2026 · source ↗
  2. Moat Explorer calcMorgan Stanley's compensation expense rose to $29,216 million in 2025 from $26,178 million, about 12%, and made up about 60% of non-interest expenses.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Morgan Stanley's reported figures ($ millions unless stated). Wealth Management: asset management revenue share 18,627 / 31,754 = 58.7%; net interest income share 7,911 / 31,754 = 24.9%. Client assets change 2025: 7,381 - 6,194 = 1,187 billion; net new assets 356.3 / 1,187 = 30%, so market and other changes 830.7 billion, about 70%. Fee-based share of advisor-led assets 2,347 / 4,758 = 49.3% (2024); 2,753 / 5,715 = 48.2% (2025); 3,022 / 6,273 = 48.2% (June 2026). Transactional revenue 2,473 / 4,259 - 1 = -42% (2022). Wealth Management pre-tax margins: 2015 3,332 / 15,100 = 22.1%; 2020 4,387 / 19,086 = 23.0%; 2021 6,181 / 24,243 = 25.5%; 2022 6,583 / 24,417 = 27.0%; 2023 6,530 / 26,268 = 24.9%; 2024 7,740 / 28,420 = 27.2%; 2025 9,293 / 31,754 = 29.3%. Wealth Management revenue growth (31,754 / 15,100)^(1/10) - 1 = 7.7% a year. Self-directed assets 1,667 / 1,437 - 1 = 16%; households 8.5 / 8.3 - 1 = 2.4%; daily average revenue trades 1,029 / 837 - 1 = 23% (2025) and 1,278 / 1,029 - 1 = 24% (Q2 2026); 1,278 / 759 = 1.68 since 2023. Wealth Management bank loans 181 / 146 - 1 = 24% (2022-2025). Balance sheet 2025: loans 289,038 / 246,814 - 1 = 17.1%; deposits 415,523 / 376,007 - 1 = 10.5%; borrowings 348,935 / 288,819 - 1 = 20.8%. Firm loans June 2026 315,653 / 289,038 - 1 = 9.2%; 315,653 / 246,814 - 1 = 28% since end-2024. Uninsured deposits 84,201 / 415,523 = 20.3%. Net new assets Q2 2026 excluding IPO-related inflows: just over half of 148.1 billion was IPO-related, so the rest is below 148.1 / 2 = 74.05 billion. Segments: sum of segment net revenues 2025 33,080 + 31,754 + 6,525 = 71,359, less firm net revenues 70,645 = 714 of eliminations; eliminations as reported each year 2015 213, 2016 290, 2017 290, 2018 463, 2019 467, 2020 539, 2021 541, 2022 517, 2023 555, 2024 600, 2025 714. Wealth and Investment Management share of segment revenue: 2015 (15,100 + 2,315) / 35,368 = 49.2%; 2023 (26,268 + 5,370) / 54,698 = 57.8%; 2025 (31,754 + 6,525) / 71,359 = 53.6%. Institutional Securities share of segment revenue 2025 33,080 / 71,359 = 46.4%. Share of firm pre-tax income 2025: Institutional Securities 11,237 / 21,954 = 51.2%; Wealth Management 9,293 / 21,954 = 42.3%; Investment Management 1,478 / 21,954 = 6.7%. Share of segment pre-tax income: 2021 Institutional Securities 11,814 / (11,814 + 6,181 + 1,678) = 11,814 / 19,673 = 60.1%; 2023 4,476 / 11,848 = 37.8%, Wealth and Investment Management 6,530 + 842 = 7,372 = 62.2%; 2025 Institutional Securities 11,237 / 22,008 = 51.1%, Wealth and Investment Management 10,771 / 22,008 = 48.9%; 2015 Wealth and Investment Management (3,332 + 492) / 8,495 = 45.0%. Q2 2026 Institutional Securities 4,262 / 7,348 = 58.0%; revenue 11,040 / 7,643 - 1 = 44%. Institutional Securities pre-tax margins: 2015 4,671 / 17,953 = 26.0%; 2021 11,814 / 29,833 = 39.6%; 2022 6,715 / 24,393 = 27.5%; 2023 4,476 / 23,060 = 19.4%; 2024 8,749 / 28,080 = 31.2%; 2025 11,237 / 33,080 = 34.0%; growth (33,080 / 17,953)^(1/10) - 1 = 6.3% a year. Equity 15,631 / 9,986 - 1 = 57% (2023-2025); 15,631 / 12,230 - 1 = 27.8% (2025); 15,631 / 70,645 = 22.1% of firm; 15,631 / 33,080 = 47.3% of segment. Fixed income 8,716 / 8,418 - 1 = 3.5%; 8,716 / 33,080 = 26.3% of segment. Equity underwriting 851 / 4,437 - 1 = -81% (2022). Investment Management margins: 2021 1,678 / 6,220 = 27.0%; 2023 842 / 5,370 = 15.7%; 2025 1,478 / 6,525 = 22.7%; fees 6,068 / 5,231 - 1 = 16% (2023-2025); Parametric 524 / 336 - 1 = 56%. Regions: Asia 9,420 / 6,434 - 1 = 46%; Asia 9,420 / 70,645 = 13.3% (2025); 6,434 / 54,143 = 11.9% (2023); Americas 52,897 / 70,645 = 74.9% (2025); Q2 2026 Americas 15,046 / 21,348 = 70.5%, Asia 3,930 / 21,348 = 18.4%. Capital and valuation: CET1 excess 14.8% - 11.8% = 3.0 points (June 2026). Goodwill and intangibles 16,726 + 6,010 = 22,736. Acquisitions 11.9 + 8.7 = 20.6 billion. Compensation 29,216 / 48,342 = 60.4% of non-interest expenses; 29,216 / 26,178 - 1 = 11.6%. Dividends per share 3.85 / 0.55 = 7.0 times. Payout 2025 (6,147 + 4,585) / 16,249 = 66%. Buyback price 197.64 / 85.35 = 2.3 times. Total assets 1,675,057 / 1,215,071 - 1 = 37.9% (end-2024 to June 2026); common equity 106,579 / 94,761 - 1 = 12.5%. MUFG stake 380,010,887 shares x $196.31 = about $74.6 billion. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: net revenues 70,645 - 34,531 + 41,928 = 78,042; net income 16,861 - 7,854 + 11,148 = 20,155; diluted EPS 10.21 - 4.73 + 6.90 = 12.38. P/E = market value / net income: 2023 153.05 / 9.087 = 16.8; 2024 202.54 / 13.390 = 15.1; 2025 282.15 / 16.861 = 16.7; September 2026 308.32 / 20.155 = 15.3; price to sales 308.32 / 78.042 = 3.95. Revenue growth (70,645 / 35,155)^(1/10) - 1 = 7.2% a year. Wealth Management 2025: revenue 31,754 / 28,420 - 1 = 11.7%, pre-tax income 9,293 / 7,740 - 1 = 20.1%; bank loans 181 / 160 - 1 = 13.1%, deposits 408 / 370 - 1 = 10.3%; stock plan unvested 658 / 534 - 1 = 23% (six months). Investment banking 7,619 / 10,272 - 1 = -26% (2025 vs 2021). Tangible book value per share 50.00 / 44.57 - 1 = 12.2%. Non-compensation expenses 19,126 / 17,723 - 1 = 7.9%; net revenues 70,645 / 61,761 - 1 = 14.4%. Revenue per employee 70,645 / 83,000 = about 0.85 million. Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street 6.9% + 5.7% + 7.2% = 19.8% of the stock. Diluted EPS growth (10.21 / 2.90)^(1/10) - 1 = 13.4% a year. Q2 2026 Institutional Securities share of segment revenue 11,040 / (11,040 + 8,856 + 1,646) = 11,040 / 21,542 = 51.2%. First half 2026: Institutional Securities pre-tax income 8,423 / 5,392 - 1 = 56%, share of firm pre-tax income 8,423 / 14,359 = 58.7% (H1 2025 5,392 / 10,166 = 53.0%); Wealth Management pre-tax income 5,288 / 4,151 - 1 = 27%. Q2 2026 Wealth Management revenue 8,856 / 7,764 - 1 = 14%; asset management revenue 5,261 / 4,411 - 1 = 19%; firm revenue 21,348 / 16,792 - 1 = 27%; headcount 82,944 / 80,393 - 1 = 3.2%. Investment Management pre-tax income (1,478 - 870) / 8,700 = 7.0% of the Eaton Vance price. Net income 16,861 / 6,127 - 1 = 175%; shareholders equity 111,632 / 75,182 - 1 = 48%. Self-directed plus stock plan unvested assets June 2026 1,811 + 658 = 2,469 billion. Average diluted shares 1,592 / 1,646 - 1 = -3.3%. Total client assets 9,276 / 7,860 - 1 = 18%. Market value 308.32 / 153.05 = 2.0 times (end-2023 to September 2026). 2023 charges 249 + 353 + 293 = 895. Net income 9,087 / 15,034 - 1 = -40% (2021-2023). Borrowings 348,935 / 288,819 - 1 = 21%. Loans to deposits 289,038 / 415,523 = 70%. Compensation 29,216 / 70,645 = 41% of net revenues (2025). Net new assets 2025 quarterly average 356.3 / 4 = 89.1 billion. Forecast extrapolation: 2026 revenue 41,928 x 2 = 83,856; 2026 EPS 196.31 / 15.14 = 12.97; 2027 83.9 x 1.072 = 89.9 and 12.97 x 1.072 = 13.90; 2028 96.4 and 14.90 - capital, valuation, payouts and trailing figures. — 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Morgan Stanley's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, earnings releases and financial supplements, the 2026 proxy statement and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  3. Moat Explorer calcMorgan Stanley's compensation expense rose to $29,216 million in 2025 from $26,178 million, about 12%, and made up about 60% of non-interest expenses.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Morgan Stanley's reported figures ($ millions unless stated). Wealth Management: asset management revenue share 18,627 / 31,754 = 58.7%; net interest income share 7,911 / 31,754 = 24.9%. Client assets change 2025: 7,381 - 6,194 = 1,187 billion; net new assets 356.3 / 1,187 = 30%, so market and other changes 830.7 billion, about 70%. Fee-based share of advisor-led assets 2,347 / 4,758 = 49.3% (2024); 2,753 / 5,715 = 48.2% (2025); 3,022 / 6,273 = 48.2% (June 2026). Transactional revenue 2,473 / 4,259 - 1 = -42% (2022). Wealth Management pre-tax margins: 2015 3,332 / 15,100 = 22.1%; 2020 4,387 / 19,086 = 23.0%; 2021 6,181 / 24,243 = 25.5%; 2022 6,583 / 24,417 = 27.0%; 2023 6,530 / 26,268 = 24.9%; 2024 7,740 / 28,420 = 27.2%; 2025 9,293 / 31,754 = 29.3%. Wealth Management revenue growth (31,754 / 15,100)^(1/10) - 1 = 7.7% a year. Self-directed assets 1,667 / 1,437 - 1 = 16%; households 8.5 / 8.3 - 1 = 2.4%; daily average revenue trades 1,029 / 837 - 1 = 23% (2025) and 1,278 / 1,029 - 1 = 24% (Q2 2026); 1,278 / 759 = 1.68 since 2023. Wealth Management bank loans 181 / 146 - 1 = 24% (2022-2025). Balance sheet 2025: loans 289,038 / 246,814 - 1 = 17.1%; deposits 415,523 / 376,007 - 1 = 10.5%; borrowings 348,935 / 288,819 - 1 = 20.8%. Firm loans June 2026 315,653 / 289,038 - 1 = 9.2%; 315,653 / 246,814 - 1 = 28% since end-2024. Uninsured deposits 84,201 / 415,523 = 20.3%. Net new assets Q2 2026 excluding IPO-related inflows: just over half of 148.1 billion was IPO-related, so the rest is below 148.1 / 2 = 74.05 billion. Segments: sum of segment net revenues 2025 33,080 + 31,754 + 6,525 = 71,359, less firm net revenues 70,645 = 714 of eliminations; eliminations as reported each year 2015 213, 2016 290, 2017 290, 2018 463, 2019 467, 2020 539, 2021 541, 2022 517, 2023 555, 2024 600, 2025 714. Wealth and Investment Management share of segment revenue: 2015 (15,100 + 2,315) / 35,368 = 49.2%; 2023 (26,268 + 5,370) / 54,698 = 57.8%; 2025 (31,754 + 6,525) / 71,359 = 53.6%. Institutional Securities share of segment revenue 2025 33,080 / 71,359 = 46.4%. Share of firm pre-tax income 2025: Institutional Securities 11,237 / 21,954 = 51.2%; Wealth Management 9,293 / 21,954 = 42.3%; Investment Management 1,478 / 21,954 = 6.7%. Share of segment pre-tax income: 2021 Institutional Securities 11,814 / (11,814 + 6,181 + 1,678) = 11,814 / 19,673 = 60.1%; 2023 4,476 / 11,848 = 37.8%, Wealth and Investment Management 6,530 + 842 = 7,372 = 62.2%; 2025 Institutional Securities 11,237 / 22,008 = 51.1%, Wealth and Investment Management 10,771 / 22,008 = 48.9%; 2015 Wealth and Investment Management (3,332 + 492) / 8,495 = 45.0%. Q2 2026 Institutional Securities 4,262 / 7,348 = 58.0%; revenue 11,040 / 7,643 - 1 = 44%. Institutional Securities pre-tax margins: 2015 4,671 / 17,953 = 26.0%; 2021 11,814 / 29,833 = 39.6%; 2022 6,715 / 24,393 = 27.5%; 2023 4,476 / 23,060 = 19.4%; 2024 8,749 / 28,080 = 31.2%; 2025 11,237 / 33,080 = 34.0%; growth (33,080 / 17,953)^(1/10) - 1 = 6.3% a year. Equity 15,631 / 9,986 - 1 = 57% (2023-2025); 15,631 / 12,230 - 1 = 27.8% (2025); 15,631 / 70,645 = 22.1% of firm; 15,631 / 33,080 = 47.3% of segment. Fixed income 8,716 / 8,418 - 1 = 3.5%; 8,716 / 33,080 = 26.3% of segment. Equity underwriting 851 / 4,437 - 1 = -81% (2022). Investment Management margins: 2021 1,678 / 6,220 = 27.0%; 2023 842 / 5,370 = 15.7%; 2025 1,478 / 6,525 = 22.7%; fees 6,068 / 5,231 - 1 = 16% (2023-2025); Parametric 524 / 336 - 1 = 56%. Regions: Asia 9,420 / 6,434 - 1 = 46%; Asia 9,420 / 70,645 = 13.3% (2025); 6,434 / 54,143 = 11.9% (2023); Americas 52,897 / 70,645 = 74.9% (2025); Q2 2026 Americas 15,046 / 21,348 = 70.5%, Asia 3,930 / 21,348 = 18.4%. Capital and valuation: CET1 excess 14.8% - 11.8% = 3.0 points (June 2026). Goodwill and intangibles 16,726 + 6,010 = 22,736. Acquisitions 11.9 + 8.7 = 20.6 billion. Compensation 29,216 / 48,342 = 60.4% of non-interest expenses; 29,216 / 26,178 - 1 = 11.6%. Dividends per share 3.85 / 0.55 = 7.0 times. Payout 2025 (6,147 + 4,585) / 16,249 = 66%. Buyback price 197.64 / 85.35 = 2.3 times. Total assets 1,675,057 / 1,215,071 - 1 = 37.9% (end-2024 to June 2026); common equity 106,579 / 94,761 - 1 = 12.5%. MUFG stake 380,010,887 shares x $196.31 = about $74.6 billion. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: net revenues 70,645 - 34,531 + 41,928 = 78,042; net income 16,861 - 7,854 + 11,148 = 20,155; diluted EPS 10.21 - 4.73 + 6.90 = 12.38. P/E = market value / net income: 2023 153.05 / 9.087 = 16.8; 2024 202.54 / 13.390 = 15.1; 2025 282.15 / 16.861 = 16.7; September 2026 308.32 / 20.155 = 15.3; price to sales 308.32 / 78.042 = 3.95. Revenue growth (70,645 / 35,155)^(1/10) - 1 = 7.2% a year. Wealth Management 2025: revenue 31,754 / 28,420 - 1 = 11.7%, pre-tax income 9,293 / 7,740 - 1 = 20.1%; bank loans 181 / 160 - 1 = 13.1%, deposits 408 / 370 - 1 = 10.3%; stock plan unvested 658 / 534 - 1 = 23% (six months). Investment banking 7,619 / 10,272 - 1 = -26% (2025 vs 2021). Tangible book value per share 50.00 / 44.57 - 1 = 12.2%. Non-compensation expenses 19,126 / 17,723 - 1 = 7.9%; net revenues 70,645 / 61,761 - 1 = 14.4%. Revenue per employee 70,645 / 83,000 = about 0.85 million. Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street 6.9% + 5.7% + 7.2% = 19.8% of the stock. Diluted EPS growth (10.21 / 2.90)^(1/10) - 1 = 13.4% a year. Q2 2026 Institutional Securities share of segment revenue 11,040 / (11,040 + 8,856 + 1,646) = 11,040 / 21,542 = 51.2%. First half 2026: Institutional Securities pre-tax income 8,423 / 5,392 - 1 = 56%, share of firm pre-tax income 8,423 / 14,359 = 58.7% (H1 2025 5,392 / 10,166 = 53.0%); Wealth Management pre-tax income 5,288 / 4,151 - 1 = 27%. Q2 2026 Wealth Management revenue 8,856 / 7,764 - 1 = 14%; asset management revenue 5,261 / 4,411 - 1 = 19%; firm revenue 21,348 / 16,792 - 1 = 27%; headcount 82,944 / 80,393 - 1 = 3.2%. Investment Management pre-tax income (1,478 - 870) / 8,700 = 7.0% of the Eaton Vance price. Net income 16,861 / 6,127 - 1 = 175%; shareholders equity 111,632 / 75,182 - 1 = 48%. Self-directed plus stock plan unvested assets June 2026 1,811 + 658 = 2,469 billion. Average diluted shares 1,592 / 1,646 - 1 = -3.3%. Total client assets 9,276 / 7,860 - 1 = 18%. Market value 308.32 / 153.05 = 2.0 times (end-2023 to September 2026). 2023 charges 249 + 353 + 293 = 895. Net income 9,087 / 15,034 - 1 = -40% (2021-2023). Borrowings 348,935 / 288,819 - 1 = 21%. Loans to deposits 289,038 / 415,523 = 70%. Compensation 29,216 / 70,645 = 41% of net revenues (2025). Net new assets 2025 quarterly average 356.3 / 4 = 89.1 billion. Forecast extrapolation: 2026 revenue 41,928 x 2 = 83,856; 2026 EPS 196.31 / 15.14 = 12.97; 2027 83.9 x 1.072 = 89.9 and 12.97 x 1.072 = 13.90; 2028 96.4 and 14.90 - capital, valuation, payouts and trailing figures. — 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Morgan Stanley's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, earnings releases and financial supplements, the 2026 proxy statement and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  4. ReportedTed Pick's 2025 compensation of "$45 million includes an annual base salary of $1,500,000 and performance-based incentive compensation (bonus) of $43.5 million".
    Morgan Stanley 2026 proxy statement (DEF 14A) - principal shareholders, the MUFG investor agreement and board designees, the Japanese joint venture, and executive compensation. — 2026 · publ. 2 April 2026 · source ↗
  5. ReportedThe firm had 82,992 employees at the end of 2025 against 82,398 a year earlier, and 82,944 in June 2026.
    Morgan Stanley fourth-quarter 2025 financial supplement, Form 8-K exhibit 99.2 - non-interest expenses, intersegment eliminations and headcount. — FY2025 · publ. 15 January 2026 · source ↗
  6. ReportedThe firm had 82,992 employees at the end of 2025 against 82,398 a year earlier, and 82,944 in June 2026.
    Morgan Stanley second-quarter 2026 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - capital ratios, share repurchases, dividends, book value and headcount. — Q2 2026 · publ. 15 July 2026 · source ↗
  7. Moat Explorer calcRevenue per employee was about $0.85 million in 2025, and the pay pool follows that productivity.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Morgan Stanley's reported figures ($ millions unless stated). Wealth Management: asset management revenue share 18,627 / 31,754 = 58.7%; net interest income share 7,911 / 31,754 = 24.9%. Client assets change 2025: 7,381 - 6,194 = 1,187 billion; net new assets 356.3 / 1,187 = 30%, so market and other changes 830.7 billion, about 70%. Fee-based share of advisor-led assets 2,347 / 4,758 = 49.3% (2024); 2,753 / 5,715 = 48.2% (2025); 3,022 / 6,273 = 48.2% (June 2026). Transactional revenue 2,473 / 4,259 - 1 = -42% (2022). Wealth Management pre-tax margins: 2015 3,332 / 15,100 = 22.1%; 2020 4,387 / 19,086 = 23.0%; 2021 6,181 / 24,243 = 25.5%; 2022 6,583 / 24,417 = 27.0%; 2023 6,530 / 26,268 = 24.9%; 2024 7,740 / 28,420 = 27.2%; 2025 9,293 / 31,754 = 29.3%. Wealth Management revenue growth (31,754 / 15,100)^(1/10) - 1 = 7.7% a year. Self-directed assets 1,667 / 1,437 - 1 = 16%; households 8.5 / 8.3 - 1 = 2.4%; daily average revenue trades 1,029 / 837 - 1 = 23% (2025) and 1,278 / 1,029 - 1 = 24% (Q2 2026); 1,278 / 759 = 1.68 since 2023. Wealth Management bank loans 181 / 146 - 1 = 24% (2022-2025). Balance sheet 2025: loans 289,038 / 246,814 - 1 = 17.1%; deposits 415,523 / 376,007 - 1 = 10.5%; borrowings 348,935 / 288,819 - 1 = 20.8%. Firm loans June 2026 315,653 / 289,038 - 1 = 9.2%; 315,653 / 246,814 - 1 = 28% since end-2024. Uninsured deposits 84,201 / 415,523 = 20.3%. Net new assets Q2 2026 excluding IPO-related inflows: just over half of 148.1 billion was IPO-related, so the rest is below 148.1 / 2 = 74.05 billion. Segments: sum of segment net revenues 2025 33,080 + 31,754 + 6,525 = 71,359, less firm net revenues 70,645 = 714 of eliminations; eliminations as reported each year 2015 213, 2016 290, 2017 290, 2018 463, 2019 467, 2020 539, 2021 541, 2022 517, 2023 555, 2024 600, 2025 714. Wealth and Investment Management share of segment revenue: 2015 (15,100 + 2,315) / 35,368 = 49.2%; 2023 (26,268 + 5,370) / 54,698 = 57.8%; 2025 (31,754 + 6,525) / 71,359 = 53.6%. Institutional Securities share of segment revenue 2025 33,080 / 71,359 = 46.4%. Share of firm pre-tax income 2025: Institutional Securities 11,237 / 21,954 = 51.2%; Wealth Management 9,293 / 21,954 = 42.3%; Investment Management 1,478 / 21,954 = 6.7%. Share of segment pre-tax income: 2021 Institutional Securities 11,814 / (11,814 + 6,181 + 1,678) = 11,814 / 19,673 = 60.1%; 2023 4,476 / 11,848 = 37.8%, Wealth and Investment Management 6,530 + 842 = 7,372 = 62.2%; 2025 Institutional Securities 11,237 / 22,008 = 51.1%, Wealth and Investment Management 10,771 / 22,008 = 48.9%; 2015 Wealth and Investment Management (3,332 + 492) / 8,495 = 45.0%. Q2 2026 Institutional Securities 4,262 / 7,348 = 58.0%; revenue 11,040 / 7,643 - 1 = 44%. Institutional Securities pre-tax margins: 2015 4,671 / 17,953 = 26.0%; 2021 11,814 / 29,833 = 39.6%; 2022 6,715 / 24,393 = 27.5%; 2023 4,476 / 23,060 = 19.4%; 2024 8,749 / 28,080 = 31.2%; 2025 11,237 / 33,080 = 34.0%; growth (33,080 / 17,953)^(1/10) - 1 = 6.3% a year. Equity 15,631 / 9,986 - 1 = 57% (2023-2025); 15,631 / 12,230 - 1 = 27.8% (2025); 15,631 / 70,645 = 22.1% of firm; 15,631 / 33,080 = 47.3% of segment. Fixed income 8,716 / 8,418 - 1 = 3.5%; 8,716 / 33,080 = 26.3% of segment. Equity underwriting 851 / 4,437 - 1 = -81% (2022). Investment Management margins: 2021 1,678 / 6,220 = 27.0%; 2023 842 / 5,370 = 15.7%; 2025 1,478 / 6,525 = 22.7%; fees 6,068 / 5,231 - 1 = 16% (2023-2025); Parametric 524 / 336 - 1 = 56%. Regions: Asia 9,420 / 6,434 - 1 = 46%; Asia 9,420 / 70,645 = 13.3% (2025); 6,434 / 54,143 = 11.9% (2023); Americas 52,897 / 70,645 = 74.9% (2025); Q2 2026 Americas 15,046 / 21,348 = 70.5%, Asia 3,930 / 21,348 = 18.4%. Capital and valuation: CET1 excess 14.8% - 11.8% = 3.0 points (June 2026). Goodwill and intangibles 16,726 + 6,010 = 22,736. Acquisitions 11.9 + 8.7 = 20.6 billion. Compensation 29,216 / 48,342 = 60.4% of non-interest expenses; 29,216 / 26,178 - 1 = 11.6%. Dividends per share 3.85 / 0.55 = 7.0 times. Payout 2025 (6,147 + 4,585) / 16,249 = 66%. Buyback price 197.64 / 85.35 = 2.3 times. Total assets 1,675,057 / 1,215,071 - 1 = 37.9% (end-2024 to June 2026); common equity 106,579 / 94,761 - 1 = 12.5%. MUFG stake 380,010,887 shares x $196.31 = about $74.6 billion. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: net revenues 70,645 - 34,531 + 41,928 = 78,042; net income 16,861 - 7,854 + 11,148 = 20,155; diluted EPS 10.21 - 4.73 + 6.90 = 12.38. P/E = market value / net income: 2023 153.05 / 9.087 = 16.8; 2024 202.54 / 13.390 = 15.1; 2025 282.15 / 16.861 = 16.7; September 2026 308.32 / 20.155 = 15.3; price to sales 308.32 / 78.042 = 3.95. Revenue growth (70,645 / 35,155)^(1/10) - 1 = 7.2% a year. Wealth Management 2025: revenue 31,754 / 28,420 - 1 = 11.7%, pre-tax income 9,293 / 7,740 - 1 = 20.1%; bank loans 181 / 160 - 1 = 13.1%, deposits 408 / 370 - 1 = 10.3%; stock plan unvested 658 / 534 - 1 = 23% (six months). Investment banking 7,619 / 10,272 - 1 = -26% (2025 vs 2021). Tangible book value per share 50.00 / 44.57 - 1 = 12.2%. Non-compensation expenses 19,126 / 17,723 - 1 = 7.9%; net revenues 70,645 / 61,761 - 1 = 14.4%. Revenue per employee 70,645 / 83,000 = about 0.85 million. Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street 6.9% + 5.7% + 7.2% = 19.8% of the stock. Diluted EPS growth (10.21 / 2.90)^(1/10) - 1 = 13.4% a year. Q2 2026 Institutional Securities share of segment revenue 11,040 / (11,040 + 8,856 + 1,646) = 11,040 / 21,542 = 51.2%. First half 2026: Institutional Securities pre-tax income 8,423 / 5,392 - 1 = 56%, share of firm pre-tax income 8,423 / 14,359 = 58.7% (H1 2025 5,392 / 10,166 = 53.0%); Wealth Management pre-tax income 5,288 / 4,151 - 1 = 27%. Q2 2026 Wealth Management revenue 8,856 / 7,764 - 1 = 14%; asset management revenue 5,261 / 4,411 - 1 = 19%; firm revenue 21,348 / 16,792 - 1 = 27%; headcount 82,944 / 80,393 - 1 = 3.2%. Investment Management pre-tax income (1,478 - 870) / 8,700 = 7.0% of the Eaton Vance price. Net income 16,861 / 6,127 - 1 = 175%; shareholders equity 111,632 / 75,182 - 1 = 48%. Self-directed plus stock plan unvested assets June 2026 1,811 + 658 = 2,469 billion. Average diluted shares 1,592 / 1,646 - 1 = -3.3%. Total client assets 9,276 / 7,860 - 1 = 18%. Market value 308.32 / 153.05 = 2.0 times (end-2023 to September 2026). 2023 charges 249 + 353 + 293 = 895. Net income 9,087 / 15,034 - 1 = -40% (2021-2023). Borrowings 348,935 / 288,819 - 1 = 21%. Loans to deposits 289,038 / 415,523 = 70%. Compensation 29,216 / 70,645 = 41% of net revenues (2025). Net new assets 2025 quarterly average 356.3 / 4 = 89.1 billion. Forecast extrapolation: 2026 revenue 41,928 x 2 = 83,856; 2026 EPS 196.31 / 15.14 = 12.97; 2027 83.9 x 1.072 = 89.9 and 12.97 x 1.072 = 13.90; 2028 96.4 and 14.90 - capital, valuation, payouts and trailing figures. — 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Morgan Stanley's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, earnings releases and financial supplements, the 2026 proxy statement and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  8. ReportedNon-compensation costs rose too, but more slowly: $17,723 million in 2024 and $19,126 million in 2025.
    Morgan Stanley fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings release, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1. — FY2025 · publ. 15 January 2026 · source ↗
  9. Moat Explorer calcCompensation was about 41% of net revenues in 2025; if it rose above 42% in a year of flat revenue, the cost discipline would be shown to depend on the markets.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Morgan Stanley's reported figures ($ millions unless stated). Wealth Management: asset management revenue share 18,627 / 31,754 = 58.7%; net interest income share 7,911 / 31,754 = 24.9%. Client assets change 2025: 7,381 - 6,194 = 1,187 billion; net new assets 356.3 / 1,187 = 30%, so market and other changes 830.7 billion, about 70%. Fee-based share of advisor-led assets 2,347 / 4,758 = 49.3% (2024); 2,753 / 5,715 = 48.2% (2025); 3,022 / 6,273 = 48.2% (June 2026). Transactional revenue 2,473 / 4,259 - 1 = -42% (2022). Wealth Management pre-tax margins: 2015 3,332 / 15,100 = 22.1%; 2020 4,387 / 19,086 = 23.0%; 2021 6,181 / 24,243 = 25.5%; 2022 6,583 / 24,417 = 27.0%; 2023 6,530 / 26,268 = 24.9%; 2024 7,740 / 28,420 = 27.2%; 2025 9,293 / 31,754 = 29.3%. Wealth Management revenue growth (31,754 / 15,100)^(1/10) - 1 = 7.7% a year. Self-directed assets 1,667 / 1,437 - 1 = 16%; households 8.5 / 8.3 - 1 = 2.4%; daily average revenue trades 1,029 / 837 - 1 = 23% (2025) and 1,278 / 1,029 - 1 = 24% (Q2 2026); 1,278 / 759 = 1.68 since 2023. Wealth Management bank loans 181 / 146 - 1 = 24% (2022-2025). Balance sheet 2025: loans 289,038 / 246,814 - 1 = 17.1%; deposits 415,523 / 376,007 - 1 = 10.5%; borrowings 348,935 / 288,819 - 1 = 20.8%. Firm loans June 2026 315,653 / 289,038 - 1 = 9.2%; 315,653 / 246,814 - 1 = 28% since end-2024. Uninsured deposits 84,201 / 415,523 = 20.3%. Net new assets Q2 2026 excluding IPO-related inflows: just over half of 148.1 billion was IPO-related, so the rest is below 148.1 / 2 = 74.05 billion. Segments: sum of segment net revenues 2025 33,080 + 31,754 + 6,525 = 71,359, less firm net revenues 70,645 = 714 of eliminations; eliminations as reported each year 2015 213, 2016 290, 2017 290, 2018 463, 2019 467, 2020 539, 2021 541, 2022 517, 2023 555, 2024 600, 2025 714. Wealth and Investment Management share of segment revenue: 2015 (15,100 + 2,315) / 35,368 = 49.2%; 2023 (26,268 + 5,370) / 54,698 = 57.8%; 2025 (31,754 + 6,525) / 71,359 = 53.6%. Institutional Securities share of segment revenue 2025 33,080 / 71,359 = 46.4%. Share of firm pre-tax income 2025: Institutional Securities 11,237 / 21,954 = 51.2%; Wealth Management 9,293 / 21,954 = 42.3%; Investment Management 1,478 / 21,954 = 6.7%. Share of segment pre-tax income: 2021 Institutional Securities 11,814 / (11,814 + 6,181 + 1,678) = 11,814 / 19,673 = 60.1%; 2023 4,476 / 11,848 = 37.8%, Wealth and Investment Management 6,530 + 842 = 7,372 = 62.2%; 2025 Institutional Securities 11,237 / 22,008 = 51.1%, Wealth and Investment Management 10,771 / 22,008 = 48.9%; 2015 Wealth and Investment Management (3,332 + 492) / 8,495 = 45.0%. Q2 2026 Institutional Securities 4,262 / 7,348 = 58.0%; revenue 11,040 / 7,643 - 1 = 44%. Institutional Securities pre-tax margins: 2015 4,671 / 17,953 = 26.0%; 2021 11,814 / 29,833 = 39.6%; 2022 6,715 / 24,393 = 27.5%; 2023 4,476 / 23,060 = 19.4%; 2024 8,749 / 28,080 = 31.2%; 2025 11,237 / 33,080 = 34.0%; growth (33,080 / 17,953)^(1/10) - 1 = 6.3% a year. Equity 15,631 / 9,986 - 1 = 57% (2023-2025); 15,631 / 12,230 - 1 = 27.8% (2025); 15,631 / 70,645 = 22.1% of firm; 15,631 / 33,080 = 47.3% of segment. Fixed income 8,716 / 8,418 - 1 = 3.5%; 8,716 / 33,080 = 26.3% of segment. Equity underwriting 851 / 4,437 - 1 = -81% (2022). Investment Management margins: 2021 1,678 / 6,220 = 27.0%; 2023 842 / 5,370 = 15.7%; 2025 1,478 / 6,525 = 22.7%; fees 6,068 / 5,231 - 1 = 16% (2023-2025); Parametric 524 / 336 - 1 = 56%. Regions: Asia 9,420 / 6,434 - 1 = 46%; Asia 9,420 / 70,645 = 13.3% (2025); 6,434 / 54,143 = 11.9% (2023); Americas 52,897 / 70,645 = 74.9% (2025); Q2 2026 Americas 15,046 / 21,348 = 70.5%, Asia 3,930 / 21,348 = 18.4%. Capital and valuation: CET1 excess 14.8% - 11.8% = 3.0 points (June 2026). Goodwill and intangibles 16,726 + 6,010 = 22,736. Acquisitions 11.9 + 8.7 = 20.6 billion. Compensation 29,216 / 48,342 = 60.4% of non-interest expenses; 29,216 / 26,178 - 1 = 11.6%. Dividends per share 3.85 / 0.55 = 7.0 times. Payout 2025 (6,147 + 4,585) / 16,249 = 66%. Buyback price 197.64 / 85.35 = 2.3 times. Total assets 1,675,057 / 1,215,071 - 1 = 37.9% (end-2024 to June 2026); common equity 106,579 / 94,761 - 1 = 12.5%. MUFG stake 380,010,887 shares x $196.31 = about $74.6 billion. Trailing twelve months to June 2026: net revenues 70,645 - 34,531 + 41,928 = 78,042; net income 16,861 - 7,854 + 11,148 = 20,155; diluted EPS 10.21 - 4.73 + 6.90 = 12.38. P/E = market value / net income: 2023 153.05 / 9.087 = 16.8; 2024 202.54 / 13.390 = 15.1; 2025 282.15 / 16.861 = 16.7; September 2026 308.32 / 20.155 = 15.3; price to sales 308.32 / 78.042 = 3.95. Revenue growth (70,645 / 35,155)^(1/10) - 1 = 7.2% a year. Wealth Management 2025: revenue 31,754 / 28,420 - 1 = 11.7%, pre-tax income 9,293 / 7,740 - 1 = 20.1%; bank loans 181 / 160 - 1 = 13.1%, deposits 408 / 370 - 1 = 10.3%; stock plan unvested 658 / 534 - 1 = 23% (six months). Investment banking 7,619 / 10,272 - 1 = -26% (2025 vs 2021). Tangible book value per share 50.00 / 44.57 - 1 = 12.2%. Non-compensation expenses 19,126 / 17,723 - 1 = 7.9%; net revenues 70,645 / 61,761 - 1 = 14.4%. Revenue per employee 70,645 / 83,000 = about 0.85 million. Vanguard, BlackRock and State Street 6.9% + 5.7% + 7.2% = 19.8% of the stock. Diluted EPS growth (10.21 / 2.90)^(1/10) - 1 = 13.4% a year. Q2 2026 Institutional Securities share of segment revenue 11,040 / (11,040 + 8,856 + 1,646) = 11,040 / 21,542 = 51.2%. First half 2026: Institutional Securities pre-tax income 8,423 / 5,392 - 1 = 56%, share of firm pre-tax income 8,423 / 14,359 = 58.7% (H1 2025 5,392 / 10,166 = 53.0%); Wealth Management pre-tax income 5,288 / 4,151 - 1 = 27%. Q2 2026 Wealth Management revenue 8,856 / 7,764 - 1 = 14%; asset management revenue 5,261 / 4,411 - 1 = 19%; firm revenue 21,348 / 16,792 - 1 = 27%; headcount 82,944 / 80,393 - 1 = 3.2%. Investment Management pre-tax income (1,478 - 870) / 8,700 = 7.0% of the Eaton Vance price. Net income 16,861 / 6,127 - 1 = 175%; shareholders equity 111,632 / 75,182 - 1 = 48%. Self-directed plus stock plan unvested assets June 2026 1,811 + 658 = 2,469 billion. Average diluted shares 1,592 / 1,646 - 1 = -3.3%. Total client assets 9,276 / 7,860 - 1 = 18%. Market value 308.32 / 153.05 = 2.0 times (end-2023 to September 2026). 2023 charges 249 + 353 + 293 = 895. Net income 9,087 / 15,034 - 1 = -40% (2021-2023). Borrowings 348,935 / 288,819 - 1 = 21%. Loans to deposits 289,038 / 415,523 = 70%. Compensation 29,216 / 70,645 = 41% of net revenues (2025). Net new assets 2025 quarterly average 356.3 / 4 = 89.1 billion. Forecast extrapolation: 2026 revenue 41,928 x 2 = 83,856; 2026 EPS 196.31 / 15.14 = 12.97; 2027 83.9 x 1.072 = 89.9 and 12.97 x 1.072 = 13.90; 2028 96.4 and 14.90 - capital, valuation, payouts and trailing figures. — 2015-2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Morgan Stanley's Forms 10-K and 10-Q, earnings releases and financial supplements, the 2026 proxy statement and market data; operands shown in the source line.
Sources
Generated September 26, 2026