Morgan Stanley Stock Upgraded (MS)

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) has been upgraded by TheStreet Ratings from hold to buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its attractive valuation levels, good cash flow from operations, increase in stock price during the past year and notable return on equity. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• Net operating cash flow has significantly increased by 318.97% to $8,435.00 million when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, MORGAN STANLEY has also vastly surpassed the industry average cash flow growth rate of 80.34%.
• Compared to where it was 12 months ago, the stock is up, but it has so far lagged the appreciation in the S&P 500. Looking ahead, unless broad bear market conditions prevail, we still see more upside potential for this stock, despite the fact that it has already risen over the past year.
• Regardless of the drop in revenue, the company managed to outperform against the industry average of 27.2%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues fell by 25.0%. The declining revenue has not hurt the company's bottom line, with increasing earnings per share.
• The return on equity has improved slightly when compared to the same quarter one year prior. This can be construed as a modest strength in the organization. Compared to other companies in the Capital Markets industry and the overall market on the basis of return on equity, MORGAN STANLEY underperformed against that of the industry average and is significantly less than that of the S&P 500.

Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals worldwide. The company has a P/E ratio of 13.2, below the average financial services industry P/E ratio of 15.1 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Morgan Stanley has a market cap of $34.71 billion and is part of the financial sector and financial services industry. Shares are up 16.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.

You can view the full Morgan Stanley Ratings Report or get investment ideas from our investment research center.

-- Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model

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