Marked against last year's 10-K:
cut words struck through, new words highlighted and underlined.
Accounting Policies 251 words changed in this paragraph; it is 32% similar to last year's version.
The Firm’s designated fair value hedges consist of interest rate swaps designated as hedges of changes in the benchmark interest rate of certain fixed-rate AFS securities and senior borrowings. The Firm also designates interest rate swaps as fair value hedges of changes in the benchmark interest rate of certain fixed rate deposits. The Firm is permitted to hedge the full, or part of the contractual term of the hedged instrument. The Firm uses regression analysis to perform an ongoing prospective and retrospective assessment of the effectiveness of these hedging relationships. For qualifying fair value hedges of benchmark interest rates, the change in the fair value of the derivative, offset by the change in the fair value attributable to the change in the benchmark interest rate risk of the hedged asset (liability), is recognized in earnings each period as a component of Interest income (expense). For AFS securities, the change in fair value of the hedged item due to changes other than the risk being hedged will continue to be reported in OCI. When a derivative is de-designated as a hedge, any basis adjustment remaining on the hedged asset (liability) is amortized to Interest income (expense) over the remaining life of the asset (liability) using the effective interest method. For certain AFS securities, the Firm also applies the portfolio layer method of hedge accounting, which permits prepayable and non-prepayable assets to be included in the portfolio and allows more of the portfolio to be hedged. Further, the portfolio layer method of accounting requires that basis adjustments are maintained at the portfolio level and not allocated to individual items until certain de-designation events occur. The amount designated as hedged is the sum of the notional amounts of all outstanding layers in each portfolio. Refer to Note 6 and Note 7 to the financial statements for additional information on portfolio layer method hedging.
Source: Item 8, Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies, 10-K 0000895421-26-000086 vs Item 8, Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies, 10-K 0000895421-25-000304
Legal Proceedings 138 words changed in this paragraph; it is 63% similar to last year's version.
Beginning in February of 2024, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“MSSB”) and E*TRADE Securities LLC (“E*TRADE Securities”), among others, have been named as defendants in multiple putative class actions pending in the federal district courts for the District of New Jersey and SDNY. The class action claims have been brought on behalf of brokerage, advisory and retirement account holders, alleging various contractual, fiduciary, and statutory claims (including under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C. §1962(c)-(d)) that MSSB and/or E*TRADE Securities failed to pay a reasonable rate of interest on its cash sweep products. All matters pending in the SDNY (which focus solely on MSSB’s cash sweep program) were consolidated into one action styled Estate of Sherlip, et al. v. Morgan Stanley, et al. An amended class action complaint was filed on August 15, 2025. On September 12, 2025, MSSB moved to dismiss the complaint. The cases are at an early stage with motions for consolidation matters pending in the District of New Jersey (which includes claims against both MSSB and transfer currently pending. E*TRADE Securities) have been consolidated into one action styled In re E*TRADE Cash Sweep Litigation, No. 2:24-cv-00603. The Firm awaits the appointment of lead counsel and, thereafter, the filing of a consolidated complaint in that matter. Together, the complaints seek, inter alia, certification of a class classes of plaintiffs, unspecified compensatory damages, equitable and injunctive relief, and treble damages. The Firm is also responding to requests from state securities regulators regarding brokerage account cash balances swept to the affiliate bank deposit program.
Source: Item 3, via Note 14 – Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies, 10-K 0000895421-26-000086 vs Item 3, via Note 14 – Commitments, Guarantees and Contingencies, 10-K 0000895421-25-000304
MD&A 116 words changed in this paragraph; it is 58% similar to last year's version.
For the 2024 2025 capital planning and stress test cycle, we submitted our capital plan and company-run stress test results to the Federal Reserve on April 5, 2024. 7, 2025. On June 26, 2024, September 30, 2025, the Federal Reserve published summary results announced that it had reduced Morgan Stanley’s SCB from 5.1% to 4.3%, effective on October 1, 2025 in response to the Firm seeking reconsideration of its supervisory stress tests of each large BHC, preliminary SCB announced in which the projected decline in our CET1 ratio in the severely adverse scenario increased from the prior annual supervisory stress test by 50 basis points, from 4.1% to 4.6%. Following the publication of the supervisory stress test results, we announced that our SCB will be 6.0% from October 1, 2024 through September 30, June 2025. In addition to the projected decline in our Common Equity Tier 1 ratio in the severely adverse scenario, our SCB reflects the increase in our common stock dividend in the dividend add-on. Together with other features of the regulatory capital framework, this SCB results in an aggregate Standardized Approach Common Equity Tier 1 CET1 ratio of 13.5%. 11.8%. Generally, our SCB is determined annually based on the results of the supervisory stress test.
Source: Item 7, 10-K 0000895421-26-000086 vs Item 7, 10-K 0000895421-25-000304
Risk Factors 99 words changed in this paragraph; it is 77% similar to last year's version.
We are subject to numerous political, economic, legal, compliance, tax, operational, franchise and other risks that are inherent in operating in many countries, including risks of possible nationalization, expropriation, price controls, capital controls, exchange controls, increased taxes, levies and tariffs, cybersecurity, data transfer and outsourcing restrictions, regulatory scrutiny regarding the use of new technologies, prohibitions on certain types of foreign and capital market activities, limitations on cross-border listings and other restrictive governmental actions, as well as the outbreak of hostilities or political and governmental instability, including tensions between China the U.S. and its significant trading partners, such as China, as well as the U.S., the expansion or escalation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine or in the Middle East, or the initiation outbreak or escalation of hostilities or terrorist activity around the world world, and the potential associated impacts on global and local economies and our operations. In many countries, the laws and regulations applicable to the securities and financial services industries and multinational corporations are uncertain, evolving and subject to sudden change or may be inconsistent with U.S. law. It may also be difficult for us to determine the exact requirements of local laws in every market or adapt to changes in law, which could adversely impact our businesses. Our inability to remain in compliance with local laws in a particular market could have a significant and negative effect not only on our business in that market but also on our reputation generally. We are also subject to the risk that transactions we structure might not be legally enforceable in all cases.
Source: Item 1A, 10-K 0000895421-26-000086 vs Item 1A, 10-K 0000895421-25-000304