MS
Morgan Stanley Financial Services - Investment Banking Investor Relations →
Morgan Stanley (MS) closed at $161.47 as of 2026-03-20, trading 54.6% above its 200-week moving average of $104.43. The stock moved further from the line this week, up from 49.0% last week. The 14-week RSI sits at 38, indicating neutral momentum.
Trading volume is running at 1.5x of its 14-week average, which is in the normal range. The balance between buying and selling volume (0.70 ratio) is neutral — neither side is clearly dominating.
Over the past 1677 weeks of data, MS has crossed below its 200-week moving average 18 times. On average, these episodes lasted 27 weeks. Historically, investors who bought MS at the start of these episodes saw an average one-year return of +15.2%.
With a market cap of $256.4 billion, MS is a large-cap stock. Return on equity stands at 15.6%, a solid level. The stock trades at 2.5x book value.
The company has been aggressively buying back shares, reducing its share count by 5.5% over the past three years.
Over the past 32.2 years, a hypothetical investment of $100 in MS would have grown to $3882, compared to $2385 for the S&P 500. That represents an annualized return of 12.0% vs 10.3% for the index — confirming MS as a market-beating investment and the kind of quality company where buying during 200-week moving average touches has historically been rewarded.
Free cash flow has been declining. A deteriorating cash flow trend warrants extra scrutiny — the stock may be cheap for a reason.
Business Health
Annual financials — how the underlying business has performed over the past several years.
Cash Flow Free cash flow & net income ($M)
Revenue Annual revenue ($M) — business growth proxy
Total Debt Balance sheet debt ($M)
ROIC Return on invested capital (%)
FCF Yield Free cash flow / market cap (%) — Yartseva signal
Gross Margin Pricing power & competitive moat (%)
Shares Outstanding Buybacks vs dilution (millions)
Growth of $100: MS vs S&P 500
Monthly data normalized to $100 at start. Vertical dashed lines mark 200-week MA touches.
What Happens After MS Crosses Below the Line?
Across 18 historical episodes, buying MS when it crossed below its 200-week moving average produced an average return of +12.8% after 12 months (median +25.0%), compared to +6.5% for the S&P 500 over the same periods. 67% of those episodes were profitable after one year. After 24 months, the average return was +50.6% vs +28.1% for the index.
Each line shows $100 invested at the moment MS crossed below its 200-week MA. Bold blue = stock average. Gray dashed = S&P 500 average over same periods.
Historical Touches
MS has crossed below its 200-week MA 18 times with an average 1-year return of +15.2% after recovery.
| Crossed Below | Recovered | Weeks | Max Depth | 1-Year Return | Return Since Touch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1994 | Apr 1994 | 11 | 11.6% | +11.9% | +3781.8% |
| Jun 1994 | Jun 1994 | 1 | 3.7% | +35.9% | +3918.3% |
| Oct 1994 | Jan 1995 | 16 | 12.5% | +60.3% | +3991.9% |
| Apr 2001 | Apr 2001 | 1 | 0.6% | +11.7% | +546.8% |
| Aug 2001 | Dec 2001 | 19 | 27.2% | -11.8% | +537.7% |
| Jan 2002 | Dec 2003 | 99 | 46.7% | -24.2% | +471.6% |
| Apr 2004 | Aug 2004 | 18 | 8.5% | -3.3% | +483.6% |
| Sep 2004 | Oct 2004 | 5 | 3.6% | +5.9% | +515.5% |
| Nov 2007 | Nov 2007 | 1 | 1.8% | -79.2% | +384.4% |
| Dec 2007 | Dec 2007 | 1 | 1.2% | -71.6% | +380.5% |
| Dec 2007 | Jan 2013 | 265 | 80.7% | -64.4% | +390.2% |
| Feb 2013 | Mar 2013 | 1 | 1.4% | +38.4% | +892.3% |
| Mar 2013 | Apr 2013 | 6 | 8.7% | +48.1% | +903.5% |
| Jan 2016 | Aug 2016 | 29 | 16.5% | +72.8% | +729.9% |
| Dec 2018 | Dec 2018 | 1 | 3.7% | +38.4% | +435.8% |
| Aug 2019 | Aug 2019 | 1 | 1.6% | +33.8% | +402.5% |
| Mar 2020 | May 2020 | 12 | 30.4% | +98.8% | +365.8% |
| Oct 2023 | Oct 2023 | 2 | 4.9% | +72.3% | +139.4% |
| Average | 27 | — | +15.2% | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MS below its 200-week moving average?
No. Morgan Stanley (MS) is currently 54.6% above its 200-week moving average of $104.43. It would need to fall to $104.43 to cross below the line.
What is MS's 200-week moving average price?
Morgan Stanley's 200-week moving average is $104.43 as of 2026-03-20. This is the average weekly closing price over roughly the last 4 years, and it acts as a long-term trend line. When a stock drops below this level, it can signal that the price has fallen far enough from the long-term trend to attract value-oriented investors.
What happens when MS drops below its 200-week moving average?
MS has crossed below its 200-week moving average 18 times in our data. On average, buying at that moment produced a one-year return of +15.2%. These dips have historically been decent entry points. These episodes lasted 27 weeks on average.
Is MS a good value right now?
Here's what our data says about MS as of 2026-03-20: The stock is above its 200-week moving average, so it doesn't currently meet our primary signal. The 14-week RSI is 38. Return on equity is 15.6%. Price-to-book is 2.5x. This is not a buy or sell recommendation — always do your own research.
How does MS compare to the S&P 500?
Over the past 32.2 years, $100 invested in MS would have grown to $3882, compared to $2385 for the S&P 500. That's 12.0% annualized vs 10.3% for the index. MS has outperformed the broader market over this period.
Does MS pay a dividend?
Yes. Morgan Stanley currently pays a dividend yield of 248.00%.
Not financial advice. This is an educational tool. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Do your own research before making investment decisions.
Data as of week of 2026-03-20