Morgan Stanley, Charles Schwab, Leidos, and Others Featured in CNBC's 'Final Trades'
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Sep 30 2025
0mins
Should l Buy MS?
Source: Benzinga
Morgan Stanley and Analyst Ratings: Joe Terranova from Virtus Investment Partners selected Morgan Stanley as his final trade, while Citigroup's Keith Horowitz maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $130 to $155.
Exxon Mobil's Deal with Rosneft: Exxon Mobil has entered an agreement with Russia's Rosneft to explore recovering losses from its 2022 withdrawal, potentially reclaiming a $4.6 billion write-down.
Performance of Selected Stocks: Leidos Holdings, chosen by Stephen Weiss, saw a price target increase from $185 to $210, while shares of Charles Schwab and iShares Ethereum Trust ETF also experienced gains.
Market Trends: Charles Schwab reported a 15% growth in total client assets year-over-year, benefiting from high share prices and Federal Reserve rate cuts.
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Analyst Views on MS
Wall Street analysts forecast MS stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 160.450
Low
132.00
Averages
185.00
High
219.00
Current: 160.450
Low
132.00
Averages
185.00
High
219.00
About MS
Morgan Stanley is a global financial services company. The Company is engaged in providing a range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. Its segments include Institutional Securities, Wealth Management and Investment Management. Its Institutional Securities segment provides a variety of products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions and ultra-high net worth clients. Its Wealth Management segment provides an array of financial services and solutions to individual investors and small to medium-sized businesses and institutions. Its Investment Management segment provides a range of investment strategies and products that span geographies, asset classes, and public and private markets to a diverse group of clients across institutional and intermediary channels. Its investment banking services consist of capital raising and financial advisory services, including the underwriting of debt and other products.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Rating and Price Target: Morgan Stanley initiated coverage of Brazilian digital bank Agibank with an overweight rating and a $21 price target, implying a 100% upside from Friday's close, indicating the market's underappreciation of its growth potential.
- IPO Performance: Since going public last month, AGI shares have slipped 12.5%, priced at $12 per share during the IPO, reflecting investor concerns about long-term profitability, despite analysts highlighting its attractive valuation.
- Loan Portfolio Advantage: Agibank's INSS-backed loans represent 79% of its loan book, with this stable growth sector expected to accelerate as rates ease, which analysts believe will further enhance market share.
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- Enhanced Partnerships: Morgan Stanley is expanding its operational efficiency and entering new markets through collaborations with technology firms and digital asset infrastructure providers, which are expected to strengthen its competitive position and support sustainable growth.
- Acquisition Strategy Deepens: In January 2026, Morgan Stanley acquired EquityZen to deepen its investment in high-growth private companies, broadening investment opportunities for its wealth management clients, reflecting its focus on the private market.
- Digital Asset Expansion: Morgan Stanley's partnership with Zerohash aims to launch cryptocurrency trading on its E*TRADE platform, expected to begin in the first half of 2026, positioning the bank to compete with existing crypto trading platforms while integrating digital assets into its ecosystem.
- Japanese Market Integration: Morgan Stanley is deepening its 15-year alliance with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group by merging certain operations within their Japanese brokerage joint ventures, enhancing service capabilities for institutional clients and further solidifying profitability in the Japanese market.
See More
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- Market Uncertainty: Investors are facing heightened uncertainty due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East, particularly with volatile oil prices and escalating geopolitical tensions, leading to fluctuating market sentiments that require cautious decision-making.
- CrowdStrike Opportunity: Morgan Stanley upgraded CrowdStrike to a buy-equivalent rating, designating it as a 'top pick', indicating strong market confidence in its cybersecurity capabilities, especially amid current geopolitical tensions that may increase demand for cybersecurity solutions.
- Sustained Demand: Despite cost pressures, the demand for CrowdStrike's products and services remains robust, particularly driven by the proliferation of artificial intelligence, as companies view cybersecurity spending as essential and unlikely to be cut back due to economic pressures.
- Long-Term Investment Strategy: In times of high uncertainty, Jim Cramer advises investors to stay calm and focus on long-term trends, with CrowdStrike's market performance and growing demand providing a solid margin of safety, making it a suitable candidate for long-term holding.
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- Massive Market Opportunity: According to Precedence Research, the global eVTOL market is currently valued at approximately $5 billion, with projections soaring to $216 billion by 2035, reflecting an astounding annual growth rate of 52%, highlighting Archer's significant potential in urban transportation.
- Strategic Partnerships: Archer has formed strategic alliances with AI leaders Palantir and Nvidia, underscoring the immense interest from major companies in next-generation aviation technology, which could provide robust support for its future growth.
- Significant Investment Risks: With a market capitalization of $4.6 billion, Archer would need to capture 20% of the eVTOL market to turn a $10,000 investment into $100,000, facing intense competition both domestically and internationally, particularly in China.
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- Tech Stock Rating Changes: Intuit was upgraded to buy from hold by Rothschild & Co Redburn, with its stock rising over 30% since late February, although it remains down 28.5% for the year, reflecting a recovery in market confidence in its software products.
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