Form 4: Morgan Stanley Director Acquires Stock Units

Morgan Stanley Director Lynn J. Good acquired 227.151 deferred stock units at $168.757 per unit, increasing her beneficial ownership to 1,895.761 shares.

Summary

• Lynn J. Good, a Director at Morgan Stanley, acquired 227.151 shares of Common Stock on December 1, 2025.
• The acquisition was in the form of deferred stock units granted under the Morgan Stanley Directors' Equity Capital Accumulation Plan.
• These units were granted in lieu of cash retainers for service on the Morgan Stanley Board of Directors.
• Each stock unit is convertible into one share of Common Stock.
• The transaction price per unit was $168.757.
• Following this transaction, Lynn J. Good beneficially owns a total of 1,895.761 shares.

Sentiment

Score: 6

Explanation: The sentiment is slightly positive as a director's acquisition of shares, even as compensation, indicates alignment with shareholder interests. However, it is a routine transaction and not indicative of extraordinary performance or strategic shifts.

Positives

• Director Lynn J. Good's acquisition of deferred stock units aligns her interests with those of shareholders, demonstrating confidence in Morgan Stanley's future performance.
• The grant is part of a structured equity compensation plan, indicating a commitment to long-term value creation for directors.

Future Outlook

This filing does not contain specific forward-looking statements or guidance regarding Morgan Stanley's future performance or strategic direction, beyond the inherent long-term nature of equity compensation plans.

Industry Context

Insider transactions, such as director stock acquisitions, are common in the financial services industry as a component of executive and board compensation. These transactions are often viewed by the market as an indicator of management's confidence in the company's prospects, aligning their financial interests with those of shareholders.

Corporate Governance

Related Party Transactions

• The grant of deferred stock units to Director Lynn J. Good under the Directors' Equity Capital Accumulation Plan constitutes a related party transaction, as it involves compensation provided by the issuer to a member of its board of directors.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The transaction aligns the director's financial interests with shareholders, potentially fostering greater accountability and a focus on long-term value creation.
• Employees: No direct impact on employees is indicated by this filing.

Next Steps

• The deferred stock units are convertible into shares of Common Stock at a 1-to-1 ratio, which will occur according to the terms of the Directors' Equity Capital Accumulation Plan.

Key Dates

Keywords

Morgan Stanley, MS, Insider Transaction, Form 4, Director Compensation, Stock Units, Equity Accumulation Plan, Financial Services