Earnings Preview: Analysts Expect Morgan Stanley Revenue, Earnings to Dip from Previous Quarter

Get ready for Morgan Stanley MS earnings! Don't be the last to know: The company announces its next round of earnings this Thursday, July 21, 2011.

Wondering what to expect from Morgan Stanley's lastest earnings numbers? We thought so. Here's an advanced look at the company's second quarter earnings report.

Let's Do the Numbers:

Wall Street expects a negative EPS reading of 63 cents per share and revenues of $8.04 billion. We'll have to wait for Thursday to see if Morgan Stanley falls in line with analyst expectations and reports an estimated increase in both EPS and revenue from the year-ago quarter.

Here's how the company's reported EPS has stacked up against analyst estimates in the past:

Quarter	Q1	Q4	Q3	Q2
EPS Estimate	$0.34	$0.35	$0.19	$0.47
EPS Actual	$0.46	$0.43	$0.05	$0.87

Stock Performance:

Shares of Morgan Stanley were trading at $21.09 as of July 15, 2011. Since January 1st, shares of Morgan Stanley have declined 22.2%. For a full 12 months, the return has declined by 18.2%. Given that these returns are generally negative, long-term shareholders are probably a little upset going into this earnings release.

• Long-term shareholders are already wary of 12-month losses prior to the announcement

Average Stock Rating:

The average rating by analysts for Morgan Stanley is a Hold.

Competitors:

Wondering how Morgan Stanley compares to rivals in the same sector? Here are a few of the company's peers.

• Bank of America BAC: Hold with a $0.17 recent quarter EPS
• Citigroup C: Moderate Buy with a $1.09 recent quarter EPS
• General Electric Company GE: Moderate Buy with a $0.31 recent quarter EP

Finally, a description of the main business areas of the company, in case you need a little refresher: Morgan Stanley provides its financial products and services to a group of clients and customers, including corps, governments, financial institutions and individuals.

Take Action:

That's your advanced look at Morgan Stanley's upcoming earnings numbers -- be ready to take quick action if the company's report contains any surprises. Also, check back in with us after the announcement for a full recap and what-to-do-next guide.

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