Street View: Morgan Stanley's wealth management unit is its 'crown jewel'

Morgan Stanley MS.N exceeded Q1 profit estimates, driven by record equity trading and strong wealth management, while its CEO expressed more optimism about dealmaking than his counterparts

Median PT of 23 brokerages covering the stock is $126 - data compiled by LSEG

THE WOLF OF WEALTH MANAGEMENT

RBC Capital Markets ("Sector Perform", PT: $128) sees MS maintaining high tech spending, such as in electronic trading, to gain market share

"We believe MS continues to be a best-in-class player in the Markets and Investment Banking businesses" - RBC

Morningstar (fair value: $101) views MS's wealth management segment as its "crown jewel", highlighting strong performance and impressive net inflows despite a dip in client assets

BofA Global Research ("buy", PO: $143) highlights MS's strong equity trading and wealth management performance, with robust client asset growth and strategic investments driving optimism despite market uncertainties

Evercore ISI ("outperform", PT: $129) sees durability and stability of MS's business model as a key strength, with particular admiration for the secular growth in wealth management