NEW YORK, Jan 15, 2026, 17:03 (EST) — After-hours
- Morgan Stanley shares jumped 5.8% Thursday, trading at $191.23 in after-hours action
- Investment banking revenue surged 47%, driven by a rebound in debt underwriting and heightened deal activity
- Executives highlighted a thicker deal pipeline but also raised concerns over geopolitical and macro risks
Morgan Stanley (MS.N) shares climbed 5.8% on Thursday, closing at $191.23 in after-hours trading following a fourth-quarter profit that exceeded Wall Street’s expectations.
The beat matters now as major U.S. banks push to prove that the long-anticipated surge in dealmaking is translating into actual fees, not merely optimistic chatter. Morgan Stanley, which relies heavily on mergers-and-acquisitions (M&A) advisory and underwriting—handling new stock and bond sales for clients—sees this trend reflected quickly in its results.
The move comes amid a jittery start to the year. Investors have rapidly sold off bank shares after policy announcements, while also seeking to diversify beyond the mega-cap stocks that ruled late last year.
Profit came in at $2.68 per share, beating estimates of $2.44, driven by a 47% surge in investment banking revenue to $2.41 billion, Reuters reported. Annual revenue hit a record $70.65 billion. CFO Sharon Yeshaya noted an “accelerating pipeline” in M&A and IPOs, while CEO Ted Pick flagged geopolitical risks and described the macro environment as “complicated.” The bank’s wealth division saw revenue rise 13% to $8.43 billion, closing the quarter with $9.3 trillion in client assets under management (AUM). 1
Simply put, the bank pulled in more cash from arranging debt deals and advising on transactions, while its wealth business continued generating steady fees thanks to firm markets. This combination usually outperforms pure trading when volatility takes a hit.
Part of the optimism hinges on markets staying stable enough for issuers to price IPOs and for buyout firms to exit holdings. On the call, executives highlighted “dual-track” strategies — pursuing both a potential sale and a listing simultaneously — as sponsors aim to keep their options open.
Goldman Sachs also surpassed profit forecasts on Thursday, driven by robust trading and dealmaking. CEO David Solomon told analysts, “The world is set up at the moment to be incredibly constructive in 2026 for M&A and capital markets.” 2
The bank rally sparked a wider rebound in U.S. stocks Thursday, wiping out losses from the past two sessions. “It’s been growth, tech or bust in this market,” said Jake Dollarhide, CEO of Longbow Asset Management. Now, he noted, “it’s the banks and old-school industrials” stepping into the spotlight. 3
Yet the bullish scenario depends on a steady tape. A fresh surge in rates, a drop in risk appetite, or a policy shock that freezes issuance could cool underwriting and M&A fees. Bank stocks, in particular, stay vulnerable to Washington moves that might tighten consumer lending economics.
What’s next: traders will see if the rally sticks into Friday and if earnings momentum spreads beyond the finance sector. U.S. markets close Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, then earnings pick up pace, with Netflix reporting Tuesday. “It is literally an imperative that earnings actually carry the news cycle,” said B Riley Wealth strategist Art Hogan. 4
