Morgan Stanley (MS) Shares Display Strength Ahead of Earnings Release

The stock market is eagerly awaiting the start of the quarterly earnings season. Traditionally, it kicks off with reports from major players in the financial sector, including Morgan Stanley (MS). The bank's earnings report is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, before the opening of the main trading session.

According to Yahoo Finance, analysts expect:
→ Earnings per share (EPS) to be $1.62, indicating a 43.4% increase compared to the previous year;
→ Revenue to reach $14.8 billion, reflecting a 14.7% rise year-on-year.

Meanwhile, MS’s share price may also be influenced by internal organisational changes at Morgan Stanley. The bank has created a new division to enhance client relations and appointed a new head of wealth management.

MarketWatch notes that the upcoming earnings season could be the strongest in three years (based on FactSet data), with the financial sector likely to be the largest contributor to profits this season. Furthermore, a technical analysis of Morgan Stanley’s (MS) stock chart suggests that market participants are optimistic.

Indeed:
→ Price fluctuations have formed an upward channel (marked in blue), with the share price stabilising around its median line—likely in anticipation of corporate news;
→ During the stock market decline in early 2025, MS’s share price fell less than the S&P 500 index (US SPX 500 mini on FXOpen), as indicated by arrows;
→ The $120 level appears to be a significant support zone.

It’s possible that today’s earnings reports from banks such as JPMorgan (JPM), Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), and Citigroup Inc. (C) may offer clues about how MS’s stock price might move next.