Morgan Stanley’s (NYSE:MS) shares experienced a more than 4% decline following the impact of $535 million in charges on its fourth-quarter profit. Despite the setback, the bank’s revenue exceeded expectations, driven by a rebound in investment banking. Investors expressed disappointment over the bank’s guidance for wealth management margins, leading to the share decline.
Barclays analyst Jason Goldberg noted that the lower-than-expected wealth management margins guidance weighed on shares, although he emphasized Morgan Stanley’s positive positioning to benefit from an investment banking fee rebound and ongoing growth in client assets.
Morgan Stanley’s net income for the fourth quarter dropped to $1.5 billion, or 85 cents per diluted share, compared to $2.2 billion, or $1.26 per diluted share, in the same period the previous year. Despite this, the bank’s new CEO, Ted Pick, expressed optimism about the year ahead, citing growing pipelines for M&A deals and share offerings, along with improving boardroom confidence. However, Pick cautioned about two potential downside risks: geopolitical conflicts intensifying and the state of the U.S. economy.
The bank’s fourth-quarter results were impacted by $535 million in charges, including $286 million set aside to replenish a government deposit insurance fund depleted by the collapse of two regional lenders last year. Additionally, $249 million in legal charges were incurred to settle a government probe related to the handling of large stock trades for customers.
Morgan Stanley reported a 5% increase in investment banking revenue in the fourth quarter compared to the previous year, outperforming peers. Fixed-income underwriting revenue surged by 25% due to higher investment-grade issuance. However, equity and fixed-income revenue remained largely flat. In contrast to rival Goldman Sachs (GS.N), Morgan Stanley’s overall revenue slightly exceeded analysts’ expectations, although adjusted profit came in at 99 cents per share, falling short of the expected $1.01 per share, considering the government’s special assessment charge.
The bank’s former CEO, James Gorman, who transitioned to executive chairman, had strategically transformed Morgan Stanley into a wealth management powerhouse, lessening dependence on volatile trading and investment banking revenues. Ted Pick, in his first strategic update as CEO, reiterated the target of reaching $10 trillion in assets under management and expressed a familial affinity with the wealth business. Despite the challenges, Pick emphasized determination and consistency as key elements of the bank’s strategy.
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Author Faith Yakubu 
