Morgan Stanley Option Alert: Mar 20 $140 Puts at the Ask: 500 vs 508 OI

Morgan Stanley Option Alert: Mar 20 $140 Puts at the Ask: 500 @ $10.75 vs 508 OI; Ref=$140.52

Morgan Stanley Option Alert: Aug 29 $131 Calls Sweep (3) near the Bid: 500 vs 0 OI

Morgan Stanley Option Alert: Aug 29 $131 Calls Sweep (3) near the Bid: 500 @ $11.5 vs 0 OI; Ref=$141.3

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) Bolsa

Morgan Stanley

Morgan Stanley is a massive global financial services firm, with offices in 42 countries and more than 80,000 employees as of year-end 2024. The firm cut its teeth in investment banking and institutional trading, where it maintains a strong presence today, but generates the lion share of its income from wealth and asset management franchises, where it boasted $7.9 trillion in client assets at the end of its most recent fiscal year. After reincorporation as a bank holding company in the wake of the great financial crisis, Morgan Stanley also boasts a top 10 banking franchise by deposits, with nearly $400 billion in customer deposits, predominately attributable to cash sweeps from its wealth management and brokerage businesses.

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Strategy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) on Friday announced it has increased its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46520495/strategy-buys-6220-btc-boosts-bitcoin-war-chest-to-607770">initial public offering</a> from $500 million to $2.521 billion to fund Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) purchases.
What Happened: The offering, <a href="https://www.strategy.com/press/strategy-announces-pricing-of-strc-perpetual-preferred-stock_07-25-2025">priced</a> on July 24, involves 28,011,111 shares of Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (STRC) at $90 per share, with net proceeds estimated at $2.474 billion after expenses.
The STRC stock, set to settle on July 29, carries a 9% initial annual dividend, payable monthly starting August 31.
Strategy plans to use the proceeds primarily for acquiring Bitcoin and for working capital. 
The company, which holds 607,770 BTC valued at approximately $72.4 billion, is the world's largest publicly traded Bitcoin treasury company.
Strategy's move aligns with its aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy, pioneered by Executive Chairman Michael Saylor since 2020. 
The firm's stock has <a href="https://www.ainvest.com/news/bitcoin-news-today-strategy-raises-500-million-boost-bitcoin-holdings-71-billion-2507/">risen</a> over 2,860% since adopting Bitcoin as its primary treasury asset, reflecting strong investor confidence despite concerns about valuation premiums.
Why It Matters: Other companies have followed Strategy's lead in adopting Bitcoin as a treasury asset.
Trump Media (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DJT#NASDAQ">DJT</a>) raised $2.5 billion in 2025 to invest in Bitcoin, aiming to diversify its revenue. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46627175/4000-is-ethereums-last-hurdle-before-price-discovery-says-galaxy-digitals-mike-novogratz">$4,000 Is Ethereum&#8217;s Last Hurdle Before Price Discovery, Says Galaxy Digital&#8217;s Mike Novogratz</a>
GameStop (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>) acquired 4,710 BTC for $497 million, while Paris Saint-Germain and K33 also established Bitcoin treasuries. 
Globally, 140 publicly traded companies now hold Bitcoin.
Other Firms With Bitcoin Treasuries
Strategy remains the dominant player, but it is not alone. 
Other publicly traded companies that have adopted Bitcoin as part of their treasury strategy include:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>): Held approximately 10,500 BTC at one point, initially purchasing $1.5 billion worth in 2021.</li>
<li>Block Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQ#NYSE">SQ</a>): Formerly Square, the payments company has repeatedly invested in Bitcoin since 2020.</li>
<li>Marathon Digital Holdings (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MARA#NASDAQ">MARA</a>) and Hut 8 Mining (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUT#NASDAQ">HUT</a>): Both firms hold substantial BTC reserves as part of their operational and balance sheet strategies.</li>
<li>Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>): Holds Bitcoin both as an operational necessity and a balance sheet reserve.</li>
</ul>
What&#8217;s Next: The corporate Bitcoin adoption trend was accelerated after U.S. accounting rules changed in 2024, allowing for fair value accounting of crypto assets, reducing the reporting friction associated with volatility on financial statements.
The STRC offering, managed by Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>), Barclays (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BCS#NYSE">BCS</a>), Moelis &amp; Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MC#NYSE">MC</a>), and TD Securities, allows Strategy to adjust dividends based on market conditions, with restrictions on reductions. 
The stock can be redeemed at $101 per share after listing on major exchanges, ensuring flexibility for the company.
Strategy's capital-raising efforts, including prior $4.2 billion STRD offerings, support its "42/42" plan to raise $84 billion by 2027 for Bitcoin acquisitions. 
The firm's Bitcoin holdings, representing 3% of the total 21 million BTC supply, underscore its dominant position in the corporate crypto space.
Analysts remain divided on Strategy's strategy. 
Some, like Canaccord Genuity, see a rational approach, while others question the sustainability of its premium valuation if Bitcoin prices fall. 
Saylor, however, asserts the company's capital structure can withstand significant market downturns.
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Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) is reportedly under investigation by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for potential money laundering risks associated with its clients.
What Happened:  Finra is scrutinizing whether the financial institution adequately assessed its clients for money laundering risks. The investigation is centered around Morgan Stanley&#8217;s clients, risk ranking, and other practices from October 2021 to September 2024, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/finance/regulation/morgan-stanley-money-laundering-probe-866ddbd1">reported</a> The Wall Street Journal.
Check out the current price of&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/quote/MS" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MS stock here</a>.
FINRA has specifically requested information on U.S. and international clients in Morgan Stanley&#8217;s wealth-management business and trading desks. This includes politically exposed clients, such as senior foreign political figures and their close associates.
The investigation is part of a broader examination by FINRA, which is responsible for supervising broker-dealers under federal law. This investigation adds to the potential fines Morgan Stanley might face from ongoing federal inquiries into its anti-money-laundering practices.
Morgan Stanley told the publication that it has been overhauling its client-screening procedures after the Federal Reserve raised concerns about risk management in its wealth-management division. They said the firm has made substantial investments in strengthening its anti-money-laundering and client-vetting systems.
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/07/46565408/china-blocks-us-patent-official-from-leaving-mainland-days-after-exit-ban-on-wells-fargo-executive-" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">China Blocks US Patent Official From Leaving Mainland Days After &#8216;Exit Ban&#8217; On Wells Fargo Executive, Beijing Says It&#8217;s Lawful</a>
Why It Matters: FINRA has also requested details about Morgan Stanley's risk-scoring tool, which identifies clients needing closer review. The tool was only activated for E&#x2A;Trade clients in early 2024, following a pause that began shortly after Morgan Stanley acquired the platform.
The probe comes at a time when Morgan Stanley has been performing well financially. The bank <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46477051/why-morgan-stanley-offers-a-compelling-long-term-investor-story">recently reported a</a>&nbsp;second-quarter 2025 earnings of $2.13, up from $1.82 a year ago, and beating the consensus of $2.02. Its net earnings also increased to $3.54 billion from $3.08 billion, with a revenue of $16.79 billion, up 12% year over year.
Despite these strong financial results, the ongoing investigations into its anti-money-laundering practices could pose a significant challenge for Morgan Stanley. 
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="777" height="135" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/23073536/image-328.png" alt="" class="wp-image-996970" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/23073536/image-328.png 777w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/23073536/image-328-300x52.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/23073536/image-328-768x133.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 777px) 100vw, 777px" /></figure>
Benzinga's Edge Rankings place Morgan Stanley in the 79th percentile for momentum and the 64th percentile for growth, reflecting its strong performance in both areas. Check the detailed report <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">here</a>.&nbsp;
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Morgan Stanley Probed By FINRA Over Money Laundering Risks Tied To Wealth Clients, Foreign Politically Exposed Figures: Report

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bearish move on Morgan Stanley. Our analysis of options history for Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) revealed 10 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 40% of traders were bullish, while 50% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 2 were puts, with a value of $167,880, and 8 were calls, valued at $334,541.
<h3>Predicted Price Range</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $115.0 and $150.0 for Morgan Stanley, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Insights into Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Morgan Stanley options trades today is 1868.38 with a total volume of 2,107.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Morgan Stanley's big money trades within a strike price range of $115.0 to $150.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Morgan Stanley Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1753210852_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Largest Options Trades Observed:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th align="right">Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$11.05</td>
<td>$10.95</td>
<td>$10.95</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$116.0K</td>
<td>407</td>
<td align="right">115</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/25/25</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$4.65</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$135.00</td>
<td>$96.0K</td>
<td>881</td>
<td align="right">500</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>05/15/26</td>
<td>$14.25</td>
<td>$14.05</td>
<td>$14.05</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$51.9K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td align="right">56</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$3.45</td>
<td>$3.5</td>
<td>$125.00</td>
<td>$51.8K</td>
<td>607</td>
<td align="right">194</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$6.2</td>
<td>$6.15</td>
<td>$6.15</td>
<td>$150.00</td>
<td>$40.5K</td>
<td>5.1K</td>
<td align="right">71</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Morgan Stanley</h3>
Morgan Stanley is a massive global financial services firm, with offices in 42 countries and more than 80,000 employees as of year-end 2024. The firm cut its teeth in investment banking and institutional trading, where it maintains a strong presence today, but generates the lion share of its income from wealth and asset management franchises, where it boasted $7.9 trillion in client assets at the end of its most recent fiscal year. After reincorporation as a bank holding company in the wake of the great financial crisis, Morgan Stanley also boasts a top 10 banking franchise by deposits, with nearly $400 billion in customer deposits, predominately attributable to cash sweeps from its wealth management and brokerage businesses.
<h3>Current Position of Morgan Stanley</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 2,847,811, with MS's price up by 0.05%, positioned at $140.54.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 85 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Morgan Stanley</h3>
2 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $152.5.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods has elevated its stance to Outperform, setting a new price target at $160. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wells Fargo keeps a Equal-Weight rating on Morgan Stanley with a target price of $145. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Morgan Stanley, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

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JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) is reportedly preparing to offer loans backed by cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>), marking a significant step toward integrating digital assets <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/07/46462610/jpmorgans-plan-to-impose-fees-on-data-aggregators-could-cripple-the-crypto-industry-say-execs-this-would-put-everyone-out-of-business">into traditional finance</a>.
If finalized, the initiative could begin as early as next year, The Financial Times <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/70279a78-6e48-49ec-a0c3-b091e9d87bc1">reported</a> on Tuesday, quoting sources familiar with the bank's plans.
What Happened: While details remain under review and subject to change, the potential move highlights a broader shift among major U.S. banks toward embracing crypto finance.
This development contrasts sharply with CEO Jamie Dimon's earlier stance. 
Once a vocal critic who labeled Bitcoin a &#8220;fraud&#8221; in 2017, Dimon has since softened his rhetoric. 
In May, he said that while he personally doesn't recommend investing in Bitcoin, he supports an individual&#8217;s right to do so.
JPMorgan has already signaled openness to crypto by exploring loans collateralized by cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds.
Lending directly against crypto tokens like Bitcoin and Ethereum would mark a further step into digital asset banking. 
In comparison, rival institutions like Goldman Sachs have not yet adopted crypto as acceptable collateral.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46541603/ethereum-solana-xrp-outpace-bitcoin-is-the-altcoin-trade-here-to-stay">Ethereum, Solana, XRP Outpace Bitcoin: Is The Altcoin Trade Here To Stay?</a>
Why It Matters: A growing shift in political climate, including more favorable regulatory signals from the second Trump administration, is influencing these strategic moves.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>), for example, is reportedly considering enabling crypto trading on its E&#x2A;Trade platform.
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its first major crypto legislation, focusing on stablecoin regulation. 
Large banks welcomed the bill as a way to gain legal clarity and better integrate crypto into mainstream banking. 
Stablecoins, unlike traditional cryptocurrencies, are pegged to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar and are often viewed as less volatile and more compliant.
However, challenges remain. 
To offer loans directly backed by crypto, JPMorgan must first resolve key operational and compliance issues. 
These include handling digital assets from borrowers who default, as the bank does not currently hold crypto on its balance sheet. 
Any new product would likely involve a third-party custodian such as Coinbase (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), which offers crypto custody services.
Though traditionally cautious, JPMorgan has been active in blockchain innovation. 
In 2019, it developed one of the first digital coins issued by a major U.S. bank, further evidence of its evolving stance on the future of finance.
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On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/07/21/final-trades-morgan-stanley-netflix-cognex-and-eqt-corp.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; Sarat Sethi, Managing Partner at DCLA, said Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) reported <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MS/earnings">great earnings.</a>
Morgan Stanley reported second-quarter 2025 earnings of $2.13 on July 16, up from $1.82 a year ago and exceeding the consensus estimate of $2.02. Net earnings increased to $3.54 billion from $3.08 billion. The U.S. bank reported revenue of $16.79 billion, up 12% year-over-year, beating the consensus estimate of $16.11 billion.
Stephen Weiss, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner of Short Hills Capital Partners, said Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NFLX#NASDAQ">NFLX</a>) was unfairly penalized for the quarter. He still thinks it's a good opportunity.
Netflix, on July 17. reported second-quarter revenue of $11.08 billion, up 16% year-over-year. The revenue total beat a Street consensus estimate of $11.04 billion, according to data from Benzinga Pro. The company reported second-quarter earnings per share of $7.19, beating a Street consensus estimate of $7.06.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Amy Raskin, CIO at Chevy Chase Trust, named Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CGNX#NASDAQ">CGNX</a>) as her final trade.
Lending support to her choice, Citigroup analyst Piyush Avasthy, on July 14, raised the price target on the stock from $30 to $37.
Joseph M. Terranova, Senior Managing Director for Virtus Investment Partners, picked EQT Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EQT#NYSE">EQT</a>), which saw a sharp decline on Monday.
EQT will issue its second quarter financial and operating results news release after the closing bell on Tuesday, July 22.
Price Action:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Morgan Stanley shares fell 0.3% to close at $140.47 on Monday.</li>
<li>Netflix shares dipped 5.1% to settle at $1,209.24 during the session.</li>
<li>Cognex shares fell 1% to close at $33.73 during the session.</li>
<li>EQT shares tumbled 9.6% to settle at $53.54 on Monday.</li>
</ul>
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Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the name of Schwab's CEO.
Charles Schwab (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>), one of the largest brokerage firms in the United States, has confirmed plans to launch Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) trading <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43923960/citadel-securities-moves-into-crypto-market-making-following-trumps-crypto-friendly-regulation-push">services for its retail clients.</a>
What Happened: The announcement was made by Schwab CEO Rick Wurster during a conversation with CNBC on Friday, where he said, &#8220;We also anticipate launching Bitcoin and Ether sometime soon so that our clients have access to that… They really want to bring it back to Schwab because they trust us. They want it to sit alongside their other assets."
Wurster noted that a significant number of Schwab clients currently hold a small portion of their crypto, typically 1–2%, at "digital native firms" but prefer consolidating those assets within Schwab's existing wealth management infrastructure.
The firm expects this product rollout to be a growth driver.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46497183/first-strategy-now-mei-pharma-litecoin-joins-bitcoin-as-treasury-asset">First Strategy, Now MEI Pharma: Litecoin Joins Bitcoin As Treasury Asset</a>
Why It Matters: With this move, Charles Schwab joins a growing list of major brokerages offering direct crypto access:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Fidelity Investments launched Bitcoin and Ethereum trading for retail investors through its Fidelity Crypto platform in 2023.</li>
<li>Robinhood (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>) supports trading for several cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>), and Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>), and has been active in crypto custody and wallet products.</li>
<li>Interactive Brokers introduced crypto trading in partnership with Paxos, allowing clients to trade BTC, ETH, Litecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ltc/usd">LTC</a>), and BCH directly through its platform since 2021.</li>
<li>E&#x2A;TRADE, owned by Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>), began offering Bitcoin and Ethereum trading to select clients via third-party partnerships in 2024.</li>
</ul>
Schwab already has indirect crypto exposure through its participation in EDX Markets, a crypto exchange backed by Fidelity, Citadel Securities, and Virtu Financial. However, the forthcoming launch marks Schwab's first direct retail crypto offering.
The development comes as the U.S. Congress advances the CLARITY Act, landmark legislation passed by the House of Representatives in June.
The Act establishes clearer regulatory boundaries between the SEC and CFTC, creates tailored rules for decentralized networks, and provides a structured framework for token classification. 
The CLARITY Act aims to replace the current patchwork of enforcement with defined compliance pathways, giving traditional financial institutions the confidence to enter the digital asset space <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/07/46480331/the-us-just-took-a-big-step-toward-crypto-regulation-heres-what-the-clarity-act-actually-says">with fewer legal uncertainties.</a>
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46494778/67m-for-more-eth-bit-digital-expands-its-ethereum-treasury-beyond-120000-coins">$67M For More ETH: Bit Digital Expands Its Ethereum Treasury Beyond 120,000 Coins</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

$DOGE

$LTC

$SOL

Charles Schwab To Launch Bitcoin, Ethereum Trading Services (CORRECTED)

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 7.8% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 21.85%. Currently, Morgan Stanley has a market capitalization of $224.79 billion. 
Buying $1000 In MS: If an investor had bought $1000 of MS stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $2,712.54 today based on a price of $140.67 for MS at the time of writing.
<h3>Morgan Stanley's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1752851721_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Here's How Much $1000 Invested In Morgan Stanley 5 Years Ago Would Be Worth Today

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) on Wednesday reported a second-quarter 2025 earnings of $2.13, up from $1.82 a year ago and beating the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of $2.02</a>. 
Net earnings increased to $3.54 billion from $3.08 billion. The U.S. bank reported revenue of $16.79 billion, up 12% year over year, beating the consensus of $16.11 billion.
Despite the positive headline figures, Morgan Stanley&#8217;s stock reacted negatively after the earnings release, according to Bank of America (BofA) Securities.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/price-target/25/07/46454599/jpmorgans-q2-outperformance-bolsters-confidence-in-its-2025-outlook">JPMorgan&#8217;s Q2 Outperformance Bolsters Confidence In Its 2025 Outlook</a>
Morgan Stanley&#8217;s provision for credit losses jumped to $196 million, primarily due to growth in the corporate loan portfolio and secured lending facilities, and the impact of a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46441538/morgan-stanleys-wealth-management-adds-59-billion-in-net-new-assets-aum-grows-to-1-71-trillion" rel="noreferrer noopener">moderately weaker macroeconomic outlook</a>.
BofA noted that while Morgan Stanley&#8217;s markets and wealth management divisions had a strong quarter, the stock likely faced pressure due to already high expectations following robust year-to-date gains. Furthermore, its investment banking performance fell short compared to rival JPMorgan (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>).
Meanwhile, JPMorgan, a banking behemoth, reported adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.96, outperforming consensus estimates of $4.48. Its managed net revenue decreased 10% year-over-year to $45.68 billion, and reported net revenue declined 11% to $44.91 billion, though still topping the $44.17 billion consensus estimate.
Looking ahead, analyst Ebrahim Poonawala of BofA revised Morgan Stanley&#8217;s fiscal year 2025/2026 EPS estimates upward to $8.82/$9.52 from $8.58/$9.25, assuming investment banking revenues remain relatively flat year-over-year for fiscal 2025. 
BofA also highlighted Morgan Stanley&#8217;s openness to pursue mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A), despite emphasizing a &#8220;super high&#8221; bar for such deals. Poonawala acknowledged that M&amp;A potential might have influenced the weak stock reaction but stressed Morgan Stanley&#8217;s strong track record in deal-making.
BofA maintains a Buy rating on Morgan Stanley, with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MS/analyst-ratings">price forecast of $154</a>, considering the stock attractively valued at 15 times its estimated 2026 earnings. This valuation is lower than the typical 15-20 times earnings for wealth managers and 20 times for online broker Schwab, suggesting a favorable risk-reward balance for long-term investors in the wealth management sector.
Goldman Sachs noted that Morgan Stanley leaders expressed optimism about the future of primary investment banking, anticipating strong activity from June to continue into the second half of 2025 as corporate teams adapt to the uncertain economic environment. Morgan Stanley&#8217;s solid deal pipeline supports this positive outlook.
Based on the latest earnings and management commentary, Goldman Sachs on Wednesday adjusted Morgan Stanley&#8217;s EPS estimates for 2025, 2026, and 2027 by +1%, -1%, and -1%, respectively. Analyst Richard Ramsden maintained a 2026 price-to-earnings (P/E) target of 14.5x, leading to a slightly reduced price forecast of $146 from $147, while reiterating a Neutral rating.
Price Action: MS stock is trading higher by 0.74% to $140.83 at last check Thursday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/07/46464521/elon-musks-new-ani-ai-avatar-incepts-70-million-meme-coin-on-solana" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Elon Musk&#8217;s New &#8216;Ani&#8217; AI Avatar Incepts $70 Million Meme Coin On Solana</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by Taljat David via Shutterstock

Analyst Color

Earnings

Guidance

Price Target

Reiteration

General

Why Morgan Stanley Offers A Compelling Long-Term Investor Story

<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-17/morgan-stanley-revives-4-billion-finastra-debt-refinancing-plan" title="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-17/morgan-stanley-revives-4-billion-finastra-debt-refinancing-plan">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-17/morgan-stanley-revives-4-billion-finastra-debt-refinancing-plan</a>

'Morgan Stanley Revives $4 Billion Finastra Debt Refinancing Plan' - Bloomberg

Volatility surged across interest rate-sensitive assets Wednesday after reports circulated that President Donald Trump may be preparing to remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46430675/trump-powell-june-inflation-fed-rate-cuts">Powell from his post.</a> The rumors sparked fears over the Fed's independence, triggering a broad flight to gold and a sell-off in the U.S. dollar.
While Wall Street was mostly flat during midday trading in New York, traders were on edge, digesting the potential implications of a leadership shake-up at the central bank. Speculators are already positioning for a more dovish monetary path, anticipating that Powell&#8217;s possible ouster could accelerate future interest rate cuts.
Gold prices jumped sharply, soaring from $3,325 to over $3,377 per ounce within minutes before paring gains to around $3,350.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) rallied 1.2% to $119,000, benefiting from dollar weakness and renewed demand for decentralized assets.
The U.S. dollar index fell 0.3%, on track to snap a four-day winning streak. At the same time, Treasury yields edged slightly lower as bond traders priced in increased political and monetary policy uncertainty.
Economic data released Wednesday added fuel to the rate-cut narrative. The <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46440481/producer-prices-rise-less-than-expected-inflation">Producer Price Index was flat in June</a>, down from a 0.3% gain in May and below the 0.2% consensus forecast. On a year-over-year basis, producer prices rose 2.3%, the slowest pace since September 2024 and softer than the 2.5% economists had expected.
Core PPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, was also unchanged in June. The annual rate dropped to 2.6% from a revised 3.2% in May, falling short of the 2.7% consensus.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Performance In Major U.S. Indices, ETFs</h2>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Major Indices</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>Chg %</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Russell 2000</td>
<td>2,212.86</td>
<td>+0.4%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dow Jones</td>
<td>44,089.92</td>
<td>+0.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>S&amp;P 500</td>
<td>6,246.61</td>
<td>+0.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nasdaq 100</td>
<td>22,845.74</td>
<td>-0.2%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Updated by 12:44 p.m. ET</figcaption></figure>
According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro</a>&nbsp;data:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The&nbsp;Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VOO#NYSE">VOO</a>) flattened at $571.60.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>) inched 0.1% up to $440.42.</li>
<li>The tech-heavy&nbsp;Invesco QQQ Trust Series&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>)&nbsp;dropped 0.3% to $555.24.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>) rose 0.2% to $219.37.</li>
<li>The&nbsp;Health Care&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLV#NYSE">XLV</a>) outperformed, up 1%; the&nbsp;Materials&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>) lagged, down 0.8%.</li>
</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wednesday&#8217;s Stock Movers</h2>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Shares of major banks were mixed despite beating earnings expectations, with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>) finishing flat, Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) slipping 1.4% and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) falling 2.8%.</li>
<li>Other stocks reacting to earnings report included Progressive Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>) up 1.55%, Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) up 6.7%, Prologis Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLD#NYSE">PLD</a>) up 1.9% and Kinder Morgan Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KMI#NYSE">KMI</a>) up 0.4%.</li>
<li>Unity Software Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/U#NYSE">U</a>) surged 13% after Jefferies raised its price target to $35 from $29.</li>
</ul>
Read Now:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/25/07/46448654/real-estate-stocks-sp500-interest-rates">Cheaper Than 2008—Is This Wall Street&#8217;s Forgotten Sector A Screaming &#8216;Buy&#8217;?</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Government

Federal Reserve

Gold, Bitcoin Surge As Trump Eyes Powell Ouster: What's Moving Markets Wednesday?

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Financials sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$61.3K</td>
<td>14.9K</td>
<td>15.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$315.00</td>
<td>$154.0K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>5.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOFI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$13.00</td>
<td>$40.0K</td>
<td>14.2K</td>
<td>5.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>WFC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$87.50</td>
<td>$40.2K</td>
<td>4.3K</td>
<td>4.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HOOD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$66.8K</td>
<td>3.8K</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$95.00</td>
<td>$2.3 million</td>
<td>58</td>
<td>950</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GLXY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/25/25</td>
<td>$23.50</td>
<td>$27.7K</td>
<td>368</td>
<td>816</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$82.0K</td>
<td>5.2K</td>
<td>121</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UPST</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$31.3K</td>
<td>672</td>
<td>52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$28.4K</td>
<td>104</td>
<td>30</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on July 18, 2025. Parties traded 55 contract(s) at a $400.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $61.3K, with a price of $1115.0 per contract. There were 14984 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 15976 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For JPM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 30 day(s) on August 15, 2025. This event was a transfer of 4400 contract(s) at a $315.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $154.0K, with a price of $35.0 per contract. There were 1612 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5637 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding SOFI (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOFI#NASDAQ">SOFI</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 30 day(s) on August 15, 2025. Parties traded 5000 contract(s) at a $13.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.0K, with a price of $8.0 per contract. There were 14273 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5005 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding WFC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WFC#NYSE">WFC</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 30 day(s) on August 15, 2025. Parties traded 2500 contract(s) at a $87.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 25 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $40.2K, with a price of $16.0 per contract. There were 4322 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4691 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding HOOD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 30 day(s) on August 15, 2025. Parties traded 80 contract(s) at a $105.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 13 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $66.8K, with a price of $835.0 per contract. There were 3820 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2131 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PYPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 548 day(s) on January 15, 2027. Parties traded 950 contract(s) at a $95.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $2.3 million, with a price of $2450.0 per contract. There were 58 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 950 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GLXY (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLXY#NASDAQ">GLXY</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 9 day(s) on July 25, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $23.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.7K, with a price of $139.0 per contract. There were 368 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 816 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on July 18, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $130.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $82.0K, with a price of $820.0 per contract. There were 5262 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 121 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding UPST (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPST#NASDAQ">UPST</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 156 day(s) on December 19, 2025. Parties traded 39 contract(s) at a $110.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.3K, with a price of $805.0 per contract. There were 672 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 52 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BN (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BN#NYSE">BN</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 30 day(s) on August 15, 2025. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.4K, with a price of $560.0 per contract. There were 104 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 30 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

GLXY

PYPL

SOFI

UPST

10 Financials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

While the market absorbs a mixed bag of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/07/46435439/dow-tumbles-over-400-points-as-inflation-rises-faster-than-expected-fear-index-moves-to-greed-zone">inflation reports</a> and Fed projections, focus is shifting back to earnings, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings/analyst-color/25/07/46420414/bank-earnings-performance-q2-citigroup-jpmorgan-blackrock-wells-fargo">beginning with the largest banks</a>. Goldman Sachs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) and Bank of America (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) reported on Wednesday and their figures have the financial sector cheering.
But rather than stock-picking their way through spreadsheets and surprise provisions, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs">ETF investors</a> can take a more direct approach: positioning through financial sector funds that provide broad exposure to Wall Street&#8217;s largest names.
The earnings season started on a positive note on Tuesday. Wells Fargo &amp; Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WC#NYSE">WC</a>) topped forecasts with higher-than-expected second-quarter adjusted EPS on July 15, benefiting from higher net interest income and careful cost discipline. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) also exceeded expectations, with solid performances from both its consumer and commercial banking segments.
These initial beats gave hope that the remainder of the large bank group— Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America— could do the same, and they did today. 
Bank of America beat earnings estimates and saw revenue growth. Goldman Sachs also came ahead of estimates, as trading operations generated $840 million more revenue than expected. Morgan Stanley, too, beat earnings estimates on increased trading revenues.
This creates a key window now for ETF investors wanting to ride or hedge against banking sector volatility.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The ETF Earnings Playbook: Financials In Focus</h2>
Bank stocks can sometimes serve as macroeconomic health indicators. Loan expansion, consumer credit, investment banking work, and trading revenues all speak to a larger economic tale. And when sentiment is soaring (as it is currently, with the CNN Fear &amp; Greed Index in the &#8220;Greed&#8221; range), financials may receive a boost or a beating from even small surprises.
Three ETFs are in the limelight this earnings season:
Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLF#NYSE">XLF</a>): The fund, which has an expense ratio of 0.08%, has leadership holdings in JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley.
Why it matters: XLF is the favorite ETF among retail and institutional investors for financials. It&#8217;s diversified across large-cap banks, insurers and asset managers.
The trade: Bullish on big banks beating earnings estimates? XLF provides broad but concentrated exposure.
SPDR S&amp;P Bank ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KBE#NYSE">KBE</a>): This fund has an expense ratio of 0.35% and has exposure to large and regional banks. Among the top holdings are Bancorp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TBBK#NASDAQ">TBBK</a>), Citigroup Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), and Northern Trust Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NTRS#NASDAQ">NTRS</a>).
Why it matters: KBE equal-weights its positions, so it&#8217;s not controlled by the megabanks. That makes it a good bet if you believe the regional banking sector will surprise to the upside, or just remain stable after a rough year.
The trade: Use KBE to get a better handle on the banking sector, particularly if you anticipate positive news beyond the household names.
SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>): Top holdings: Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), Nvidia (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), and, yes, the banks.
Why it matters: SPY is not a financials ETF, but banking earnings tend to lead the overall market in terms of setting the tone. Positive bank earnings can boost investor sentiment across the board.
The trade: For those who think banks will lead the momentum and enhance risk appetite, SPY is a means to participate in that without committing to a single sector.
Although the hot <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/07/46413961/june-inflation-cpi-report">headline inflation print </a>was at 2.7% YoY, core inflation surprisingly came in lower. That could be a green light for the banks, particularly if interest rate expectations are maintained and the loan books are healthy.
Despite this, not everything is rosy. The Dow fell by over 400 points on Tuesday and healthcare and materials pulled the S&amp;P 500 down. But Nasdaq jumped to new highs following Nvidia&#8217;s AI-powered chip romp, illustrating just how divided the market is.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Know Your Risk, Pick Your Basket</h2>
Earnings season is never predictable, but with ETFs, you don&#8217;t have to choose winners and losers stock by stock. Let the sector and investor sentiment do the heavy lifting.
So, whether you&#8217;re placing your bets on big beats or hedging against a letdown, ETFs such as XLF, KBE and SPY provide diversified, accessible ways to make your perspective a reality.
Because nothing speaks greed like doubling down on bank earnings, through ETFs.
Read Next: 
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Photo: Shutterstock

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TBBK

ETF Playbook For Bank Earnings: Big Bets On Goldman, Morgan Stanley, BofA

Market Summary

Benzinga Market Summary: ASML Falls On Uncertain Guidance, Morgan Stanley Falls On Earnings Report, PPI Comes In Below Estimates

Editor&#8217;s Note: The Total Client Assets numbers has been updated
Morgan Stanley&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) reported a second-quarter 2025 earnings of $2.13, up from $1.82 a year ago and beating&nbsp;the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus of $2.02</a>. Net earnings increased to $3.54 billion from $3.08 billion.
The U.S. bank&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.morganstanley.com/content/dam/msdotcom/en/about-us-ir/shareholder/2q2025.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> revenue of $16.79 billion, up 12% year over year, beating the&nbsp;consensus of $16.11 billion.
Morgan Stanley's provision for credit losses jumped to $196 million, primarily driven by growth in the corporate loan portfolio and
secured lending facilities, and the impact of a moderately weaker macroeconomic outlook.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46330576/big-banks-q2-earnings-july-2025" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Bank Stocks Soared In 2025—But This Earnings Season Could Shake Things Up</a>
The firm's expense efficiency ratio was 71% compared to 72% a year ago.
Morgan Stanley's second-quarter Return on Tangible Common Equity was 18.2%, compared to 17.5% a year ago.
Institutional Securities reported net revenues of $7.6 billion, propelled by
Markets businesses on higher client activity, with notable strength in Equity.
Investment Management results reflect net revenues of $1.6 billion, primarily driven by asset management fees on higher average assets under management (AUM) of $1.71 trillion (up 13%). The quarter included positive long-term net flows of $11 billion.
Wealth management delivered net revenues of $7.76 billion on higher asset management revenues, compared to $6.79 billion a year ago. Total client assets grey 8% yer-over-year to $6.49 Trillion.
The business demonstrated continued strength with net new assets of $59 billion and fee-based asset flows of $43 billion for the quarter.
Equity net revenues increased 23% to $3.72 billion, reflecting increases from a year ago across business lines and regions on higher client activity, with robust results in prime brokerage.
Fixed Income net revenues increased 9% from a year ago to $2.18 billion, primarily driven by higher results in macro products and higher client activity in a more volatile market environment. Lower results in commodities partially offset the increase.
On Wednesday, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ted Pick said, "Morgan Stanley delivered another strong quarter. Six sequential quarters of consistent earnings&#8230;reflect higher levels of performance in different market environments. Institutional Securities saw strength and balance across businesses and geographies."
Price Action: MS stock is down 1.38% at $139.64 during the premarket session at the last check Wednesday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/earnings/25/07/46441436/bank-of-america-q2-loans-and-deposits-grow-efficiency-ratio-increases-to-64-58" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bank of America Q2 Loans And Deposits Grow, Efficiency Ratio Increases To 64.58%</a></li>
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Photo via Shutterstock

Movers

Morgan Stanley's Wealth Management Adds $59 Billion In Net New Assets, Total Client Assets Grow To $6.5 Trillion (UPDATED)

WIIM

Morgan Stanley shares are trading lower. The company reported Q2 financial results.

During Conf. Call, Morgan Stanley CFO Reportedly Says IPO Pipeline Is Balanced Between Americas And Asia; M&A Backlog Continues To Build Across Regions; Expects Stable Net Interest Income In Q3 Vs Q2; The Bar Is "Super High" For Inorganic Opportunities

During Conf. Call, Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick Reportedly Says Inorganic Opportunities Would Be Considered If There Is Clear Strategic Alignment; Bank Saw Resumption Of Investment Banking Activity In June; We Remain Constructive On The Market Environment; Not Looking To Make Acquisitions Just For The Sake Of It; We're Looking At Tuck-in Acquisitions

Morgan Stanley Q2 Assets Under Management (Investment Management) $1.71 Trillion

Morgan Stanley Q2 Expense Efficiency Ratio 71%

Press Releases

Morgan Stanley Announces 7.5 Cents Dividend Increase and Authorization of a Renewed $20 Billion Multi-Year Common Equity Share Repurchase Program

Those With a Financial Plan Feel More Confident, Satisfied and Less Financially Worried, Finds Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners Agrees to Sell Red Oak Power Facility

Morgan Stanley Investment Management Closes North Haven Venture Capital Opportunities Fund I With Over $280 Million

Eaton Vance Municipal Bond Fund Announces Tender Offer to Purchase up to 5% of Outstanding Shares

Morgan Stanley Reports Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Results

Long-Term Incentive Plans on the Rise: Morgan Stanley 2025 Single Family Office Compensation Report

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Pulse Survey Reveals Surge in Bullishness as the Market Enters Q3 in Positive Territory

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley Raises the Bar for Active Trader Experience with New Desktop Platform: Power E*TRADE Pro

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management Delivers New Tool to Help Clients Tackle Single Stock Risk

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Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Common Stock

Jefferies Financial Gr

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LPL Financial Holdings Inc. - Common Stock

LPL Finl Hldgs

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Nomura Holdings Inc ADR American Depositary Shares

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Raymond James Financial, Inc. Common Stock

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Charles Schwab Corporation (The) Common Stock

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UP Fintech Holding Limited - American Depositary Shares representing fifteen Class A Ordinary Shares

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BENZINGA GLOBAL

Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
12:37 PMJul 23, 2025	PUT	$140.00	Mar 20, 2026	235	0	500	0	508	TRADE	BEARISH
10:00 AMJul 18, 2025	CALL	$131.00	Aug 29, 2025	32	0	500	NaN	0	SWEEP	BEARISH