Daniel A. Simkowitz, who serves as co-president of Morgan Stanley, sold 14,690 shares of common stock on April 17, 2026, for roughly $2.78 million, according to a Form 4 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The reported trade executed at prices between $188.72 and $189.65.
The timing of the sale coincided with Morgan Stanley shares trading near their 52-week high of $194.59, after the stock had rallied approximately 77.6% over the prior 12 months. The Form 4 filing also shows Simkowitz disposed of an additional 8,000 shares of common stock in the same reporting period.
Following these transactions, Simkowitz's direct holdings stand at 365,802.079 shares of Morgan Stanley common stock. He additionally holds 1,805.331 shares indirectly through a 401(k) plan, as disclosed in the filing.
Independent analysis noted in the filing's accompanying commentary indicates that, at current market levels, Morgan Stanley's stock appears slightly overvalued. The same analysis references the availability of an in-depth Pro Research Report for Morgan Stanley, among more than 1,400 U.S. equities, for investors seeking expanded research on the company.
These insider sales occurred in the aftermath of Morgan Stanley reporting record results for the first quarter of 2026. The firm posted earnings per share of $3.43, beating the consensus expectation of $3.02 by 13.58%. Revenue totaled $20.58 billion, above the anticipated $19.7 billion.
Following the quarterly disclosure, several brokerages updated their views and targets. UBS reiterated a Buy rating with a price target of $196.00. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised its price target to $218 from $210 while maintaining an Outperform rating, citing continued revenue growth across Morgan Stanley's core businesses. Citizens reiterated a Market Perform rating and highlighted the firm's favorable positioning alongside improving key performance indicators in trading, investment banking, and Global Wealth Management.
Within the company, the wealth management division reported total revenues slightly ahead of Street expectations and delivered a pre-tax margin of 30%. Morgan Stanley's return on tangible common equity was reported at 27%, a metric the firm attributed to the performance of its wealth management operations.
Taken together, the insider sale, the near-term valuation commentary, and the quarter's robust financials provide a snapshot of activity inside and outside the firm: executive selling at elevated share prices, an analyst view that current valuation may be modestly rich, and operational results that prompted positive analyst reactions and target revisions.