Quilter 13F: Cuts Morgan Stanley (MS) Stake by $784K

Quilter reduced its investment in Morgan Stanley MS by 76.5% during the period, according to a Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 21, 2026. The firm sold 4,170 shares of the financial holding company, leaving it with 1,280 shares. The remaining position carried a reported value of $240,742 at the time of the filing.

MS Morgan Stanley

$180.40 ▲ +0.81% year to date

1M 3M YTD

Daily close · Oct 20, 2026

What Changed in Quilter's Morgan Stanley Position

The filing shows Quilter held 5,450 shares of Morgan Stanley prior to the reduction. By shedding 4,170 shares, the firm brought its total down to 1,280 shares. The remaining stake reflects a notable pullback by the institution in the capital markets firm.

Other Institutional Activity in Morgan Stanley

Other large institutional investors made significant moves in Morgan Stanley around the same reporting cycle. Fisher Asset Management, LLC grew its holdings by 573,430 shares, ending with 26,172,995 shares worth about $4.9 billion. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc maintained its massive position of 377,085,167 shares valued at roughly $70.5 billion. On the selling side, Rokos Capital Management cut its stake by 388,241 shares, leaving 236,721 shares worth about $49.5 million, and TCV Trust & Wealth Management exited its position entirely by selling its remaining 1,116 shares.

Morgan Stanley Stock Up 2.5%

Morgan Stanley recently traded around $184.98 as of October 22, 2026, down about 1.1% from its close of $187.01 on the filing date. The stock trades below its 50-day moving average of $202.32 and beneath its 200-day moving average of $194.31. Shares sit roughly 20.4% below their 52-week high of $232.25 and 21.1% above their 52-week low of $152.80.

Recent Earnings

Morgan Stanley brought in trailing twelve-month revenue of nearly $79.8 billion alongside trailing earnings of $12.61 per share. The company posted a net profit margin of 25.6% and a year-over-year revenue growth rate of 10.8%. Its next quarterly earnings report is scheduled for release on January 14, 2027.

Dividend

Income-focused investors track Morgan Stanley for its capital return program, which includes an annual dividend rate of $4.60 per share. That payout translates to a dividend yield of 2.46% based on recent trading levels. The company supports this distribution with a dividend payout ratio of 32.3%, meaning it uses about a third of its earnings to cover shareholder dividends.

Insider Buying and Selling at Morgan Stanley

Company insiders executed several transactions prior to the filing. Chief Financial Officer Sharon Yeshaya sold 15,554 shares on July 16, 2026, at an average price of $222.51 for a total value of about $3.5 million. Director Mary L Schapiro sold 1,000 shares on July 28, 2026, at $212.06 per share for a total of $212,055. Additional insider transactions included sales by officer Eric F Grossman and officer Michael A Pizzi.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Wall Street research firms updated their views on the stock ahead of the filing. Citigroup maintained a Neutral rating with a price target adjusted to $190.00 from $210.00 on October 15, 2026. RBC Capital maintained a Sector Perform rating and lowered its target from $243.00 to $195.00 on the same day. TD Cowen maintained a Hold rating with a target moved to $205.00 from $210.00, JP Morgan maintained a Neutral rating with a target raised to $198.00 from $195.00, and BMO Capital maintained an Outperform rating with a target of $210.00 on October 19, 2026. Overall, the stock carries a consensus buy rating and a mean price target of $213.36 across 22 analyst opinions.

About Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley operates as a major financial holding company headquartered in New York. It serves corporate clients, governments, financial institutions, and retail customers worldwide through institutional securities, wealth management, and investment management divisions.

Bottom Line

Quilter's reduced stake is part of the broader shifting landscape of institutional ownership in Morgan Stanley. Investors will look toward the company's next earnings release on January 14, 2027, for updates on its financial segments and capital return plans.