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MORGAN STANLEY Annual Report, Year Ended Dec 31, 2023

Filing Date
Filed February 22, 2024
Period End
December 31, 2023
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. Deal closed8-K · Jul ’19Jul ’19
  2. Leadership change8-K · May ’21May ’21
  3. Leadership change8-K · Jun ’25Jun ’25

Summary

Summary of the 10-K filed February 22, 2024. Cited figures are marked; the original filing is the authoritative source.

Morgan Stanley's 2023 Form 10-K highlights a year of resilience amidst a mixed market environment, with net revenues of $54.1 billiona and net income of $9.1 billion.

The firm reported a Return on Equity (ROE) of 9.4%b and a Return on Tangible Common Equity (ROTCE) of 12.8%. Despite facing headwinds such as severance costs, an FDIC special assessment, and increased legal expenses, the firm maintained a strong Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 15.2% at year-end 2023. The Institutional Securities segment experienced a 5% decrease in net revenues due to lower completed activity in Investment Banking and reduced results in Equity and Fixed Income.

Conversely, the Wealth Management segment saw an 8% increase in net revenues, driven by mark-to-market gains on deferred compensation plan investments and higher net interest revenues, along with significant net new asset inflows of $282.3 billionc. The Investment Management segment's net revenues remained relatively stable, with Assets Under Management (AUM) growing to $1.5 trillion.

The report emphasizes the firm's robust risk management framework and commitment to capital adequacy, with significant liquidity resources maintained to meet financial obligations. Morgan Stanley continues to navigate a complex regulatory landscape and evolving market conditions, including interest rate uncertainties and geopolitical risks, while focusing on talent development and operational resilience.

Key Highlights

  1. Net revenues of $54.1 billion and net income of $9.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023.
  2. Reported a Return on Equity (ROE) of 9.4% and Return on Tangible Common Equity (ROTCE) of 12.8%.
  3. Maintained a strong Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 15.2% at December 31, 2023.
  4. Wealth Management segment net revenues increased by 8% to $26.3 billion, driven by mark-to-market gains on deferred compensation investments and higher net interest revenues.
  5. Institutional Securities segment net revenues decreased by 5% to $23.1 billion, impacted by lower Investment Banking activity and Equity & Fixed Income results.
  6. Investment Management segment net revenues were stable at $5.4 billion, with Assets Under Management (AUM) reaching $1.5 trillion.
  7. Total compensation and benefits expenses increased by 7% to $24.6 billion, including severance costs and expenses related to deferred cash-based compensation plans.

Financial Statements

FY2023 against FY2022

Line itemFY2023FY2022Change
Interest Expense$42.05B$12.27B+242.8%
Net Income$9.09B$11.03B−17.6%
EPS (Basic)$5.24$6.23−15.9%
EPS (Diluted)$5.18$6.15−15.8%
Shares Outstanding (Basic)1.63B1.69B−3.7%
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)1.65B1.71B−3.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What were the key financial performance indicators for Morgan Stanley in 2023?

    For the year ended December 31, 2023, Morgan Stanley reported net revenues of $54.1 billion and net income of $9.1 billion. The firm achieved a Return on Equity (ROE) of 9.4% and a Return on Tangible Common Equity (ROTCE) of 12.8%. The Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio remained strong at 15.2%.

  2. How did the different business segments perform in 2023?

    The Institutional Securities segment experienced a 5% decrease in net revenues to $23.1 billion, largely due to lower Investment Banking activity and reduced results in Equity and Fixed Income. In contrast, the Wealth Management segment showed an 8% increase in net revenues to $26.3 billion, benefiting from positive mark-to-market gains on deferred compensation investments and higher net interest revenues. The Investment Management segment reported relatively stable net revenues of $5.4 billion, with Assets Under Management (AUM) growing to $1.5 trillion.

  3. What were the major expense drivers for Morgan Stanley in 2023?

    Total compensation and benefits expenses increased by 7% to $24.6 billion, influenced by higher expenses related to deferred cash-based compensation plans and severance costs. Non-compensation expenses rose by 6%, primarily due to an FDIC special assessment, increased technology spend, and higher legal expenses related to specific matters.

  4. How is Morgan Stanley managing its capital and liquidity?

    Morgan Stanley maintains a robust risk management framework and actively manages its consolidated capital position. At December 31, 2023, the firm's Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 15.2%, and it reported substantial liquidity resources sufficient to cover anticipated outflows under stressed scenarios, adhering to regulatory requirements such as the Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) and Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR).