Key Highlights

● MS shares ended 9 October 2026 at $189.96.

● Market data consensus target is $219.43, implying about 15.5% upside.

● Targets range from $195.00 to $262.00.

● TD Cowen initiated coverage on 8 October with a $210 target.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), a member of the S&P 500, closed at $189.96 on Friday 9 October 2026. Analyst targets sit well above that level, with the consensus implying upside of about 15.5%. Recent broker revisions have mostly been downward.

What Is the Latest Analyst Price Target?

Market data shows a consensus price target of $219.43 from 27 analysts in the last 12 months, implying upside of about 15.5% from the $189.96 close. Its high target is $262.00 and its low is $195.00.

The second data set, using third-party data, shows a mean of $222.14, a median of $221, a high of $262 and a low of $184 from 26 analysts. The two means are about 1% apart and the market data figure sits close to the average of the recent named targets listed below, which range from $210 to $236 over the past two weeks.

What Are Wall Street Analysts Saying?

Opinion is balanced, with a slight positive lean. Market data counts two Strong Buy, 11 Buy, 13 Hold and one Sell, a Moderate Buy consensus. The second data set shows nine Strong Buy, two Buy, 14 Hold and one Strong Sell.

The latest named actions have been mainly reductions. TD Cowen initiated coverage on 8 October with a Hold rating and a $210 target. Erste Group Bank downgraded the shares from Buy to Hold on the same day. BMO Capital Markets lowered its target from $250 to $215 on 6 October, keeping Outperform. UBS cut its target from $260 to $236 on 5 October, keeping Buy. Citigroup lowered its target from $235 to $210 on 30 September with a Neutral rating, and Wells Fargo cut from $240 to $223 on 25 September at Equal Weight. HSBC bucked the trend by raising its target from $215 to $219 on 28 September, with a Hold rating.

In mid-July, Barclays raised its target from $230 to $262.

Market data also reports quarterly results, a $20 billion buyback authorisation and a higher quarterly dividend.

What Could Help the Stock Reach the Price Target?

The consensus target suggests analysts see room for the share price to rise. As a bank with large investment banking, trading and wealth management operations, Morgan Stanley is sensitive to capital markets activity. Higher deal volumes, strong equity trading and growth in fee-based wealth management revenue could lift earnings estimates. Capital returns, would also be relevant.

What Could Prevent the Stock Reaching the Target?

The direction of recent revisions is a concern: BMO, UBS, Citigroup and Wells Fargo have all lowered their targets in the past three weeks, and Erste moved to Hold. Hold ratings outnumber Buy ratings on one data set's count, which suggests many analysts are waiting for more evidence. Bank shares can be hurt by slower market activity, weaker investment banking fees, credit quality issues or an economic downturn. The spread between the low and high targets, from $184 or $195 to $262, shows how far views diverge.

What Should Investors Watch Next?

Further broker revisions, market volumes, deal activity and regulatory developments are likely to shape sentiment in the meantime.

The Analyst Case for Morgan Stanley, in Numbers

Morgan Stanley closed at $189.96 on 9 October 2026, against a market data consensus target of $219.43. TD Cowen initiated coverage on 8 October with a Hold rating and a $210 target.