MORGAN STANLEY

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Executive Summary

Overview of Financial Results

Consolidated Results—Full Year Ended December 31, 2023

•The Firm reported net revenues of $54.1 billion and net income of $9.1 billion against a mixed market backdrop and a number of headwinds.

•The Firm delivered ROE of 9.4% and ROTCE of 12.8% (see “Selected Non-GAAP Financial Information” herein).

•The Firm expense efficiency ratio was 77%. The ratio was negatively impacted by severance costs of $353 million, an FDIC special assessment of $286 million, higher legal expenses relating to a specific matter of $249 million and integration-related expenses of $293 million.

•At December 31, 2023, the Firm’s Standardized Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 15.2%.

•Institutional Securities reported net revenues of $23.1 billion reflecting lower completed activity in Investment Banking and lower results in Equity and Fixed Income on reduced client activity and a less favorable market environment compared to a year ago.

•Wealth Management delivered net revenues of $26.3 billion, reflecting mark-to-market gains on investments associated with certain employee deferred cash-based compensation plans (“DCP investments”) compared with losses in the prior year and higher Net interest revenues. The pre-tax margin was 24.9%. The business added net new assets of $282.3 billion, representing a 6.7% annualized growth rate from beginning period assets.

•Investment Management reported net revenues of $5.4 billion and AUM increased to $1.5 trillion.

Net Income Applicable to Morgan Stanley

Earnings per Diluted Common Share

2023 Compared with 2022

•We reported net revenues of $54.1 billion in 2023 compared with $53.7 billion in 2022. For 2023, net income applicable to Morgan Stanley was $9.1 billion, or $5.18 per diluted common share, compared with $11.0 billion, or $6.15 per diluted common share in 2022.

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis

•Compensation and benefits expenses of $24,558 million in 2023 increased 7% from the prior year, primarily due to higher expenses related to certain employee deferred cash-based compensation plans linked to investment performance (“DCP”) and higher salary expenses, partially offset by lower expenses related to outstanding deferred equity compensation.

2023 Compensation and benefits expenses included $353 million of severance costs, primarily associated with the employee action recorded in the second quarter of 2023.

•Non-compensation expenses of $17,240 million in 2023 increased 6% from the prior year, primarily driven by an FDIC special assessment of $286 million, increased spend on technology, higher costs related to exits of real estate and higher legal expenses, including $249 million related to a specific matter.

The Provision for credit losses on loans and lending commitments of $532 million in 2023 was primarily related to deteriorating conditions in the commercial real estate sector, including provisions for certain specific loans, mainly in the office portfolio, and modest growth in certain other loan portfolios. The Provision for credit losses on loans and lending commitments of $280 million in 2022 was due to portfolio growth and deterioration in the macroeconomic outlook.

Business Segment Results

Net Revenues by Segment 1

Net Income Applicable to Morgan Stanley by Segment 1

1. The amounts in the charts represent the contribution of each business segment to the total of the applicable financial category and may not sum to the total presented on top of the bars due to intersegment eliminations. See Note 22 to the financial statements for details of intersegment eliminations.

•Institutional Securities net revenues of $23,060 million in 2023 decreased 5% from the prior year, primarily reflecting lower results across businesses.

•Wealth Management net revenues of $26,268 million in 2023 increased 8% from the prior year, primarily reflecting gains on DCP investments compared with losses in the prior year and higher Net interest revenues.

•Investment Management net revenues of $5,370 million in 2023 were relatively unchanged from the prior year, reflecting a decrease in Asset management and related fees revenues offset by an increase in Performance based income and other revenues.

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Net Revenues by Region 1

1. For a discussion of how the geographic breakdown of net revenues is determined, see Note 22 to the financial statements.

•Americas net revenues in 2023 increased 4%, primarily driven by results within the Wealth Management business segment and Other net revenues within the Institutional Securities business segment, partially offset by lower results across businesses within the Institutional Securities business segment.

•EMEA net revenues in 2023 decreased 11%, primarily driven by lower results across businesses within the Institutional Securities business segment.

•Asia net revenues in 2023 decreased 5%, primarily driven by lower results across businesses within the Institutional Securities business segment.

Selected Financial Information and Other Statistical Data

1. The expense efficiency ratio represents total non-interest expenses as a percentage of net revenues.

2. ROE and ROTCE represent earnings applicable to Morgan Stanley common shareholders as a percentage of average common equity and average tangible common equity, respectively.

3. Represents a non-GAAP financial measure. See “Selected Non-GAAP Financial Information” herein.

4. Pre-tax margin represents income before provision for income taxes as a percentage of net revenues.

5. For a discussion of Liquidity resources, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources— Balance Sheet—Liquidity Risk Management Framework—Liquidity Resources” herein.

6. Includes loans held for investment, net of ACL, loans held for sale and also includes loans at fair value, which are included in Trading assets in the balance sheet.

7. Book value per common share and tangible book value per common share equal common shareholders’ equity and tangible common shareholders’ equity, respectively, divided by common shares outstanding.

8. Client assets represents Wealth Management client assets and Investment Management AUM. Certain Wealth Management client assets are invested in Investment Management products and are also included in Investment Management’s AUM.

9. For a discussion of our capital ratios, see “Liquidity and Capital Resources—Regulatory Requirements” herein.

Economic and Market Conditions

The market environment in 2023 remained mixed, characterized by inflationary pressures and uncertainty regarding the future path of interest rates, which remained persistently high. Towards the end of the year, the market environment improved from prior quarters with the expectation of lower interest rates going into 2024. However, there is continued uncertainty regarding the timing and pace of these rate reductions along with concerns regarding heightened geopolitical risks that could impact the capital markets in 2024. The market environment impacted our businesses in 2023, as discussed further in “Business Segments” herein, and, to the extent that it continues to remain uncertain, could adversely impact client confidence and related activity.

For more information on economic and market conditions, and the potential effects of geopolitical events and acts of war or aggression on our future results, refer to “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements.”

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Selected Non-GAAP Financial Information

We prepare our financial statements using U.S. GAAP. From time to time, we may disclose certain “non-GAAP financial measures” in this document or in the course of our earnings releases, earnings and other conference calls, financial presentations, definitive proxy statements and other public disclosures. A “non-GAAP financial measure” excludes, or includes, amounts from the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We consider the non-GAAP financial measures we disclose to be useful to us, investors, analysts and other stakeholders by providing further transparency about, or an alternate means of assessing or comparing our financial condition, operating results and capital adequacy.

These measures are not in accordance with, or a substitute for, U.S. GAAP and may be different from or inconsistent with non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Whenever we refer to a non-GAAP financial measure, we will also generally define it or present the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, along with a reconciliation of the differences between the U.S. GAAP financial measure and the non-GAAP financial measure.

We present certain non-GAAP financial measures that exclude the impact of mark-to-market gains and losses on DCP investments from net revenues and compensation expenses. The impact of DCP is primarily reflected in our Wealth Management business segment results. These measures allow for better comparability of period-to-period underlying operating performance and revenue trends, especially in our Wealth Management business segment. By excluding the impact of these items, we are better able to describe the business drivers and resulting impact to net revenues and corresponding change to the associated compensation expenses.

Compensation expense for DCP awards is calculated based on the notional value of the award granted, adjusted for changes in the fair value of the referenced investments that employees select. Compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period relevant to each separately vesting portion of deferred awards.

We invest directly, as principal, in financial instruments and other investments to economically hedge certain of our obligations under these DCP awards. Changes in the fair value of such investments, net of financing costs, are recorded in net revenues, and included in Transactional revenues in the Wealth Management business segment. Although changes in compensation expense resulting from changes in the fair value of the referenced investments will generally be offset by changes in the fair value of investments recognized in net revenues, there is typically a timing difference between the immediate recognition of gains and losses on our investments and the deferred recognition of the related compensation expense over the vesting period. While this timing difference

may not be material to our Income before provision for income taxes in any individual period, it may impact the Wealth Management business segment reported ratios and operating metrics in certain periods due to potentially significant impacts to net revenues and compensation expenses. For additional information on DCP, refer to “Other Matters” herein.

The principal non-GAAP financial measures presented in this document are set forth in the following tables.

Reconciliations from U.S. GAAP to Non-GAAP Consolidated Financial Measures

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Non-GAAP Financial Measures by Business Segment

1. Net revenues and compensation expense are adjusted for DCP for both Firm and Wealth Management business segment. See “Other Matters” herein for more information.

2. Average common equity and average tangible common equity for each business segment is determined using our Required Capital framework (see “Liquidity and Capital Resources—Regulatory Requirements—Attribution of Average Common Equity According to the Required Capital Framework” herein). The sums of the segments’ Average common equity and Average tangible common equity do not equal the Consolidated measures due to Parent Company equity.

3. The calculation of ROE and ROTCE by segment uses net income applicable to Morgan Stanley by segment less preferred dividends allocated to each segment as a percentage of average common equity and average tangible common equity, respectively, allocated to each segment.

Return on Tangible Common Equity Goal

We have an ROTCE goal of 20%. Our ROTCE goal is a forward-looking statement that is based on a normal market environment and may be materially affected by many factors.

See “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” herein for further information on market and economic conditions and their potential effects on our future operating results.

ROTCE represents a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information on non-GAAP measures, see “Selected Non-GAAP Financial Information” herein.