Deep-pocketed investors have adopted a bearish approach towards Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), and it's something market players shouldn't ignore. Our tracking of public options records at Benzinga unveiled this significant move today. The identity of these investors remains unknown, but such a substantial move in MS usually suggests something big is about to happen.
We gleaned this information from our observations today when Benzinga's options scanner highlighted 20 extraordinary options activities for Morgan Stanley. This level of activity is out of the ordinary.
The general mood among these heavyweight investors is divided, with 40% leaning bullish and 50% bearish. Among these notable options, 5 are puts, totaling $198,623, and 15 are calls, amounting to $1,487,078.
Predicted Price Range
Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $90.0 to $120.0 for Morgan Stanley over the recent three months.
Analyzing Volume & Open Interest
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Morgan Stanley stands at 1705.07, with a total volume reaching 4,545.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Morgan Stanley, situated within the strike price corridor from $90.0 to $120.0, throughout the last 30 days.
Morgan Stanley 30-Day Option Volume & Interest Snapshot
Largest Options Trades Observed:
| Symbol | PUT/CALL | Trade Type | Sentiment | Exp. Date | Ask | Bid | Price | Strike Price | Total Trade Price | Open Interest | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS | CALL | TRADE | BEARISH | 11/15/24 | $2.43 | $2.38 | $2.38 | $115.00 | $952.0K | 1.4K | 13 |
| MS | CALL | SWEEP | BULLISH | 03/21/25 | $3.2 | $3.05 | $3.2 | $120.00 | $64.0K | 82 | 0 |
| MS | CALL | SWEEP | BULLISH | 11/15/24 | $5.9 | $5.85 | $5.9 | $105.00 | $50.7K | 1.0K | 0 |
| MS | PUT | SWEEP | BEARISH | 07/19/24 | $1.23 | $1.2 | $1.24 | $103.00 | $49.2K | 351 | 15 |
| MS | PUT | SWEEP | BEARISH | 09/20/24 | $7.35 | $6.75 | $7.35 | $110.00 | $48.7K | 6 | 73 |
About Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley is a global investment bank whose history, through its legacy firms, can be traced back to 1924. The company has institutional securities, wealth management, and investment management segments with approximately 45% of net revenue from its institutional securities business, 45% from wealth management, and 10% from investment management. About 30% of its total revenue is from outside the Americas. The company had over $5 trillion of client assets as well as around 80,000 employees at the end of 2023.
Having examined the options trading patterns of Morgan Stanley, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
Present Market Standing of Morgan Stanley
- Currently trading with a volume of 1,742,752, the MS's price is up by 0.19%, now at $104.83.
- RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be overbought.
- Anticipated earnings release is in 4 days.
What The Experts Say On Morgan Stanley
Over the past month, 2 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $105.0.
- An analyst from Evercore ISI Group persists with their Outperform rating on Morgan Stanley, maintaining a target price of $105.
- An analyst from UBS has decided to maintain their Neutral rating on Morgan Stanley, which currently sits at a price target of $105.
Options trading presents higher risks and potential rewards. Astute traders manage these risks by continually educating themselves, adapting their strategies, monitoring multiple indicators, and keeping a close eye on market movements. Stay informed about the latest Morgan Stanley options trades with real-time alerts from Benzinga Pro.