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MORGAN STANLEY Annual Report, Year Ended Dec 31, 2021

Filing Date
Filed February 24, 2022
Period End
December 31, 2021
In the record · 2016–202610-K1110-Q328-K118

MS filed 11 annual reports (10-K), 32 quarterly reports (10-Q) and 118 current reports (8-K) between 2016 and 2026.

  1. Leadership change8-K · Dec ’20Dec ’20
  2. Leadership change8-K · Jun ’25Jun ’25

Summary

Summary of the 10-K filed February 24, 2022. Cited figures are marked; the original filing is the authoritative source.

Morgan Stanley's (MS) 2021 10-K filing reveals a robust financial performance, demonstrating significant growth across its key business segments.

The firm reported record net revenues of $59.8 billiona, a 23% increase year-over-year, and a 37% rise in net income to $15.0 billion. This strong performance was driven by record revenues in Institutional Securities, particularly in Advisory and Equity, and substantial growth in Wealth Management, bolstered by the E*TRADE acquisition, and a significant uplift in Investment Management due to the Eaton Vance acquisition. The firm maintained a solid capital position, with a Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 16.0% at year-end 2021.

Strategic acquisitions of Eaton Vance and E*TRADE have been successfully integrated, contributing positively to the firm's scale and profitability. Morgan Stanley also highlighted its commitment to human capital, focusing on diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being, alongside competitive compensation programs.

The report details various risk factors, including market volatility, cybersecurity threats, and regulatory changes, which the firm actively manages through its comprehensive Enterprise Risk Management framework. Despite these challenges, Morgan Stanley's diversified business model and strong execution position it well for continued growth.

Key Highlights

  1. Record Net Revenues of $59.8 billion, up 23% year-over-year.
  2. Net Income applicable to Morgan Stanley reached $15.0 billion, a 37% increase.
  3. Return on Tangible Common Equity (ROTCE) of 19.8%, with a goal of over 20% excluding integration-related expenses.
  4. Institutional Securities segment delivered record net revenues of $29.8 billion, up 13%.
  5. Wealth Management segment saw net revenues increase 27% to $24.2 billion, with total client assets reaching $4.9 trillion.
  6. Investment Management segment's net revenues grew 67% to $6.2 billion, driven by record Assets Under Management (AUM) of $1.6 trillion.
  7. Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio stood strong at 16.0% as of December 31, 2021.

Financial Statements

FY2021 against FY2020

Line itemFY2021FY2020Change
Interest Expense$1.37B$3.85B−64.5%
Net Income$15.03B$11.00B+36.7%
EPS (Basic)$8.16$6.55+24.6%
EPS (Diluted)$8.03$6.46+24.3%
Shares Outstanding (Basic)1.78B1.60B+11.4%
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)1.81B1.62B+11.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What were the main drivers of Morgan Stanley's financial performance in 2021?

    Morgan Stanley's strong 2021 performance was driven by record revenues across its core business segments: Institutional Securities (Advisory and Equity), Wealth Management (boosted by the E*TRADE acquisition), and Investment Management (benefiting from the Eaton Vance acquisition). Higher client activity and market appreciation also contributed significantly.

  2. How did the acquisitions of Eaton Vance and E*TRADE impact Morgan Stanley's results?

    The acquisitions of Eaton Vance and E*TRADE were successfully integrated and significantly contributed to Morgan Stanley's growth in 2021. Eaton Vance bolstered the Investment Management segment's AUM and revenues, while E*TRADE expanded the scale and profitability of the Wealth Management business.

  3. What is Morgan Stanley's capital position and what are its regulatory capital ratios?

    Morgan Stanley maintained a strong capital position in 2021. The Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 16.0% at year-end 2021, well above regulatory minimums. The firm's Tier 1 capital ratio was 17.7%, and Total capital ratio was 16.7% under the Standardized Approach.

  4. What are the key risks Morgan Stanley highlighted in its 2021 10-K?

    Key risks highlighted include market risk (volatility in equity, fixed income, and commodity prices), credit risk (borrower or counterparty defaults), operational risk (system failures, cyber-attacks), liquidity risk, legal and regulatory risks (litigation, compliance, and changing regulations), and the ongoing impact of macroeconomic factors, including inflation and interest rate changes. Cybersecurity and data protection remain significant concerns.