SmarterDividends
MS

Morgan Stanley

MS

Financial Services · Capital Markets · Stock · quarterly payer

$179.49

Fairly valued · -13% Add to Portfolio

Forward Yield

2.56%

Annual Dividend

$4.60

Payout Ratio

32%

5-Yr Growth

22.4%

Ex-Date

Oct 30, 2026

Frequency

Quarterly

Key facts about MS's dividend

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Oct 24, 2026, Morgan Stanley (MS) has a forward dividend yield of 2.56%, based on an annual dividend of $4.60 per share and a share price of $179.49.
  • As of Oct 24, 2026, MS's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is A (82 out of 100), which rates the dividend as very safe.
  • By SmarterDividends' count, Morgan Stanley (MS) has raised its dividend for 12 consecutive years as of Oct 24, 2026.
  • MS last cut its regular dividend in 2009.
  • MS's next ex-dividend date is Oct 30, 2026, with payment on Nov 13, 2026. Shares must be owned before that date to receive the dividend.
  • As of Oct 24, 2026, MS pays out 32% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
  • MS's dividend has grown at an average rate of 22.4% a year over the past five years.
  • As of Oct 24, 2026, MS's 2.56% yield is 18% below its five-year average yield of 3.12%.
  • As of Oct 24, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for MS is $156.77 per share, 13% below the $179.49 share price, so MS screens as fairly valued.
  • Morgan Stanley (MS) pays its dividend quarterly, 4 times a year.
  • Morgan Stanley (MS) has raised its regular dividend 22 times and cut it 2 times across the 135 payments on record since 1993. Its most recent change was a 15.0% increase to $1.15 per share, going ex-dividend on Jul 31, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Jul 29, 2009.
  • Morgan Stanley (MS) has declared its first higher dividend of the year in July in 5 of the last 5 years; its most recent raise, 15.0%, was declared on Jul 15, 2026.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "MS Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Oct 24, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/MS

Summary

As of Oct 24, 2026, Morgan Stanley (MS) yields 2.56% ($4.60 a year per share), has a dividend safety grade of A (82/100) and has 12 consecutive years of dividend increases on record.

Is MS a good dividend stock?

Yes

Morgan Stanley (MS) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 2.56% ($4.60/yr), with 12 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Advantages

  • 12 consecutive years of dividend growth
  • Comfortable payout ratio (32%)
  • Strong 22.4% 5-yr dividend growth
  • 89% total price return over 5 years
  • Top-tier dividend safety score

Risks

  • Cut its dividend in 2009

Key Data

Dividend Yield
2.56%
Payout Ratio
32%
Annual Dividend
$4.60
5-Yr Avg Growth
22.4%
Ex-Dividend Date
Oct 30, 2026
Years of Growth
12
Frequency
quarterly
Beta
1.21
Market Cap
$281.9B
P/E Ratio
14.6
5-Yr Total Return
89%
52-Week Range
$152.80 – $232.25
Dividend Safety
A · 82/100
Ever Cut?
Yes (2009)

MS dividend raises and cuts

Morgan Stanley (MS) has raised its regular dividend 22 times and cut it 2 times across the 135 payments on record since 1993. Its most recent change was a 15.0% increase to $1.15 per share, going ex-dividend on Jul 31, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Jul 29, 2009.

Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Jul 31, 2026Raise$1.00 → $1.15+15.0%
Jul 31, 2025Raise$0.925 → $1.00+8.1%
Jul 31, 2024Raise$0.850 → $0.925+8.8%
Jul 28, 2023Raise$0.775 → $0.850+9.7%
Jul 28, 2022Raise$0.700 → $0.775+10.7%
Jul 29, 2021Raise$0.350 → $0.700+100.0%
Jul 30, 2019Raise$0.300 → $0.350+16.7%
Jul 30, 2018Raise$0.250 → $0.300+20.0%
Jul 27, 2017Raise$0.200 → $0.250+25.0%
Jul 27, 2016Raise$0.150 → $0.200+33.3%
Apr 28, 2015Raise$0.100 → $0.150+50.0%
Apr 28, 2014Raise$0.0500 → $0.100+100.0%
Show all 24 changes since 1994
Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Jul 29, 2009Cut$0.0670 → $0.0500−25.4%
Apr 28, 2009Cut$0.270 → $0.0670−75.2%
Jan 12, 2005Raise$0.250 → $0.270+8.0%
Jan 7, 2004Raise$0.230 → $0.250+8.7%
Jan 10, 2001Raise$0.200 → $0.230+15.0%
Jan 10, 2000Raise$0.120 → $0.200+66.7%
Jan 14, 1999Raise$0.100 → $0.120+20.0%
Jan 15, 1998Raise$0.0700 → $0.100+42.9%
Feb 27, 1997Raise$0.0550 → $0.0700+27.3%
Feb 28, 1996Raise$0.0400 → $0.0550+37.5%
Feb 23, 1995Raise$0.0313 → $0.0400+28.0%
Feb 23, 1994Raise$0.0250 → $0.0313+25.0%
Every MS payment →Download every raise and cut (CSV)
MS ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Oct 30, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →MS dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MS a good dividend stock?

Yes. Morgan Stanley (MS) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 2.56% ($4.60/yr), with 12 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Is MS undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, MS's fair value is about $156.77 versus a $179.49 share price — so it looks fairly valued (-13% vs. fair value).

Is MS's dividend safe?

MS has a dividend-safety grade of A (82/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 12-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 2009, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is MS's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for MS is about $156.77 per share, about 13% below the current $179.49 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is MS a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data MS screens as "yes" and fairly valued. Morgan Stanley (MS) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 2.56% ($4.60/yr), with 12 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will MS cut its dividend?

MS earns a dividend-safety grade of A (82/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 2009). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does MS pay a dividend?

Yes. Morgan Stanley pays a quarterly dividend of about $4.60 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 2.56%.

What is MS's dividend yield?

As of Oct 24, 2026, MS's forward dividend yield is 2.56%, based on a $4.60 annual dividend and a $179.49 share price.

What is MS's dividend per share?

As of Oct 24, 2026, MS pays $4.60 per share per year, distributed on a quarterly basis.

What is MS's dividend payout ratio?

As of Oct 24, 2026, MS's payout ratio is 32% of trailing 12-month earnings — a comfortable level that leaves room to keep raising the dividend.

How many years has MS grown its dividend?

As of Oct 24, 2026, MS has increased its dividend for 12 consecutive years.

When is the next MS ex-dividend date?

As of Oct 24, 2026, the next ex-dividend date on record for MS is Oct 30, 2026.

MS Dividend News

MS
IncreaseMS·Aug 24, 2026

Morgan Stanley Raises Quarterly Dividend 15.0% to $1.15

Morgan Stanley lifted its quarterly dividend 15.0% to $1.15, backed by record quarterly results, excess capital and a renewed buyback authorization.

Income Calculator

At $4.60 / yr per share

Per payment (quarterly)$115.00
Annual$460.00
Monthly avg$38.33

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