MORGAN STANLEY
For the period ended Dec 31, 2025. Filed Feb 19, 2026.
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FY2025 · Filed Feb 19, 2026
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16. Regulatory Requirements
- Regulatory Requirements
Regulatory Capital Framework
The Firm is an FHC under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and is subject to the regulation and oversight of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve”). The Federal Reserve establishes capital requirements for the Firm, including “well-capitalized” standards, and evaluates the Firm’s compliance with such capital requirements. The OCC establishes similar capital requirements and well-capitalized standards for the Firm’s U.S. bank subsidiaries, including, among others, MSBNA and MSPBNA (together, “U.S. Bank Subsidiaries”). The regulatory capital requirements are largely based on the Basel III capital standards established by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and on certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. In addition, many of the Firm’s regulated subsidiaries are subject to regulatory capital requirements, including regulated subsidiaries registered as swap dealers with the CFTC or conditionally registered as security-based swap dealers with the SEC or registered as broker-dealers or futures commission merchants.
Regulatory Capital Requirements
The Firm is required to maintain minimum risk-based and leverage-based capital ratios under regulatory capital requirements. A summary of the calculations of regulatory capital and RWA follows.
Risk-Based Regulatory Capital. Risk-based capital ratio requirements apply to Common Equity Tier 1 (“CET1”) capital, Tier 1 capital and Total capital (which includes Tier 2 capital), each as a percentage of RWA, and consist of regulatory minimum required ratios plus the Firm’s capital conservation buffer requirement. Capital requirements require certain adjustments to, and deductions from, capital for purposes of determining these ratios.
Capital Buffer Requirements
| AtDecember 31,2025 | AtDecember 31,2024 | At December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standardized | Standardized | Advanced | |
| Capital buffers | |||
| Fixed 2.5% buffer | —% | —% | 2.5% |
| SCB | 4.3% | 6.0% | N/A |
| G-SIB capital surcharge | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% |
| CCyB1 | —% | —% | —% |
| Capital conservation buffer requirement | 7.3% | 9.0% | 5.5% |
- The CCyB can be set up to 2.5% but is currently set by the Federal Reserve atzero.
The capital conservation buffer requirement represents the amount of CET1 capital the Firm must maintain above the minimum risk-based capital requirements in order to avoid restrictions on the Firm’s ability to make capital distributions,
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
including the payment of dividends and the repurchase of stock, and to pay discretionary bonuses to executive officers. The Firm’s capital conservation buffer requirement computed under the standardized approaches for calculating credit risk and market risk RWA (“Standardized Approach”) is equal to the sum of the SCB, G-SIB capital surcharge and CCyB. The capital conservation buffer requirement computed under the applicable advanced approaches for calculating credit risk, market risk and operational risk RWA (“Advanced Approach”) is equal to the sum of a fixed 2.5% buffer, G-SIB capital surcharge and CCyB. Based on 2025 data, the Firm estimates that its G-SIB Surcharge will potentially increase in the future from 3.0% to 3.5%. This change, if it occurs, would not take effect before January 1, 2028.
Risk-Based Regulatory Capital Ratio Requirements
| AtDecember 31,2025 · AtDecember 31,2024 · At December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Minimum | ||||
| Standardized · Standardized · Advanced | ||||
| CET1 capital ratio | 4.5% | 11.8% | 13.5% | 10.0% |
| Tier 1 capital ratio | 6.0% | 13.3% | 15.0% | 11.5% |
| Total capital ratio | 8.0% | 15.3% | 17.0% | 13.5% |
- Required ratios represent the regulatory minimum plus the capital conservation buffer requirement.
Risk-Weighted Assets
RWA reflects both the Firm’s on- and off-balance sheet risk, as well as capital charges attributable to the risk of loss arising from the following:
Credit Risk: The failure of a borrower, counterparty or issuer to meet its financial obligations to the Firm;
Market Risk: Adverse changes in the level of one or more market prices, rates, indices, volatilities, correlations or other market factors, such as market liquidity; and
Operational Risk: Inadequate or failed processes or systems from human factors or from external events (e.g., fraud, theft, legal and compliance risks, cyberattacks or damage to physical assets).
The Firm’s risk-based capital ratios are computed under both (i) the Standardized Approach and (ii) the Advanced Approach. The credit risk RWA calculations between the two approaches differ in that the Standardized Approach requires calculation of RWA using prescribed risk weights, whereas the Advanced Approach utilizes models to calculate exposure amounts and risk weights. At December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, the differences between the actual and required ratios were lower under the Standardized Approach.
Leverage-Based Regulatory Capital. Leverage-based capital requirements include a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4%, a minimum SLR of 3% and an enhanced SLR capital buffer of at least 2%.
The Firm’s Regulatory Capital and Capital Ratios
Risk-based capital
| Standardized | ||
|---|---|---|
| $ in millions | At December 31, 2025 | At December 31, 2024 |
| Risk-based capital | ||
| CET1 capital | $83,153 | $75,095 |
| Tier 1 capital | 92,728 | 84,790 |
| Total capital | 103,449 | 95,567 |
| Total RWA | 552,515 | 471,834 |
| Risk-based capital ratio | ||
| CET1 capital | 15.0% | 15.9% |
| Tier 1 capital | 16.8% | 18.0% |
| Total capital | 18.7% | 20.3% |
| CET1 capital | 11.8% | 13.5% |
| Tier 1 capital | 13.3% | 15.0% |
| Total capital | 15.3% | 17.0% |
- Required ratios are inclusive of any buffers applicable as of the date presented.
Leverage-based capital
| $ in millions | At December 31, 2025 | At December 31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Leverage-based capital | ||
| Adjusted average assets1 | $1,383,314 | $1,223,779 |
| Supplementary leverage exposure2 | 1,717,775 | 1,517,687 |
| Leverage-based capital ratio | ||
| Tier 1 leverage | 6.7% | 6.9% |
| SLR | 5.4% | 5.6% |
| Tier 1 leverage | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| SLR | 5.0% | 5.0% |
Adjusted average assets represents the denominator of the Tier 1 leverage ratio and is composed of the average daily balance of consolidated on-balance sheet assets for the quarters ending on the respective balance sheet dates, reduced by disallowed goodwill, intangible assets, investments in covered funds, defined benefit pension plan assets, non-cash after-tax gain on sale from assets sold into securitizations, investments in our own capital instruments, certain deferred tax assets and other capital deductions.
Supplementary leverage exposure is the sum of Adjusted average assets used in the Tier 1 leverage ratio and other adjustments, primarily: (i) for derivatives, potential future exposure and the effective notional principal amount of sold credit protection offset by qualifying purchased credit protection; (ii) the counterparty credit risk for repo-style transactions; and (iii) the credit equivalent amount for off-balance sheet exposures.
Required ratios are inclusive of any buffers applicable as of the date presented.
U.S. Bank Subsidiaries’ Regulatory Capital and Capital Ratios
The OCC establishes capital requirements for the U.S. Bank Subsidiaries, and evaluates their compliance with such capital requirements. Regulatory capital requirements for the U.S. Bank Subsidiaries are calculated in a similar manner to the Firm’s regulatory capital requirements, although G-SIB capital surcharge and SCB requirements do not apply to the U.S. Bank Subsidiaries.
The OCC’s regulatory capital framework includes Prompt Corrective Action (“PCA”) standards, including “well-capitalized” PCA standards that are based on specified regulatory capital ratio minimums. For the Firm to remain an FHC, its U.S. Bank Subsidiaries must remain well-capitalized in accordance with the OCC’s PCA standards. In addition,
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
failure by the U.S. Bank Subsidiaries to meet minimum capital requirements may result in certain mandatory and discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the U.S. Bank Subsidiaries’ and the Firm’s financial statements.
At December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, MSBNA and MSPBNA risk-based capital ratios are based on the Standardized Approach rules.
MSBNA’s Regulatory Capital
| Well-Capitalized Requirement · RequiredRatio1 · At December 31, 2025 · At December 31, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ in millions · Amount · Ratio · Amount · Ratio | ||||||
| Risk-based capital | ||||||
| CET1 capital | 6.5% | 7.0% | $25,545 | 20.3% | $22,165 | 20.1% |
| Tier 1 capital | 8.0% | 8.5% | 25,545 | 20.3% | 22,165 | 20.1% |
| Total capital | 10.0% | 10.5% | 26,423 | 21.0% | 22,993 | 20.9% |
| Leverage-based capital | ||||||
| Tier 1 leverage | 5.0% | 4.0% | $25,545 | 10.1% | $22,165 | 9.7% |
| SLR | 6.0% | 3.0% | 25,545 | 7.6% | 22,165 | 7.4% |
MSPBNA’s Regulatory Capital
| Well-Capitalized Requirement · RequiredRatio1 · At December 31, 2025 · At December 31, 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $ in millions · Amount · Ratio · Amount · Ratio | ||||||
| Risk-based capital | ||||||
| CET1 capital | 6.5% | 7.0% | $17,298 | 26.1% | $16,672 | 26.1% |
| Tier 1 capital | 8.0% | 8.5% | 17,298 | 26.1% | 16,672 | 26.1% |
| Total capital | 10.0% | 10.5% | 17,665 | 26.6% | 17,004 | 26.6% |
| Leverage-based capital | ||||||
| Tier 1 leverage | 5.0% | 4.0% | $17,298 | 7.0% | $16,672 | 7.7% |
| SLR | 6.0% | 3.0% | 17,298 | 6.8% | 16,672 | 7.5% |
- Required ratios are inclusive of any buffers applicable as of the date presented. Failure to maintain the buffers would result in restrictions on the ability to make capital distributions, including the payment of dividends.
Additionally, MSBNA is conditionally registered with the SEC as a security-based swap dealer and is registered with the CFTC as a swap dealer. However, as MSBNA is prudentially regulated as a bank, its capital requirements continue to be determined by the OCC.
Other Regulatory Capital Requirements
MS&Co. Regulatory Capital
| $ in millions | AtDecember 31, 2025 | AtDecember 31, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Net capital | $19,272 | $18,483 |
| Excess net capital | 13,905 | 13,883 |
MS&Co. is registered as a broker-dealer and a futures commission merchant with the SEC and the CFTC, respectively, and is registered as a swap dealer with the CFTC.
As an Alternative Net Capital broker-dealer, and in accordance with Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) Rule 15c3-1, Appendix E, MS&Co. is subject to minimum net capital and tentative net capital requirements
and operates with capital in excess of its regulatory capital requirements. As a futures commission merchant and registered swap dealer, MS&Co. is subject to CFTC capital requirements. In addition, MS&Co. must notify the SEC if its tentative net capital falls below certain levels. At December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, MS&Co. exceeded its net capital requirement and had tentative net capital in excess of the minimum and notification requirements.
Other Regulated Subsidiaries
Certain other subsidiaries are also subject to various regulatory capital requirements. Such subsidiaries include the following, each of which operated with capital in excess of their respective regulatory capital requirements as of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, as applicable:
MSSB, a registered U.S. broker-dealer and introducing broker for the futures business, is subject to, respectively, the minimum net capital requirements of the SEC and CFTC.
MSIP, a London-based broker-dealer subsidiary, is subject to the capital requirements of the Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA”). MSIP is also conditionally registered with the SEC as a security-based swap dealer and registered with the CFTC as a swap dealer. It currently complies with home-country capital requirements in lieu of SEC and CFTC capital requirements pursuant to applicable substituted compliance rules.
MSESE, together with its subsidiary Morgan Stanley Bank AG (“MSBAG”) (the “MSESE Group”), is subject to the capital requirements of the European Central Bank, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority and the German Central Bank. MSESE operates branches in Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden that are also regulated by the relevant authorities in each jurisdiction. As of December 31, 2025, MSESE was conditionally registered with the SEC as a security-based swap dealer and registered with the CFTC as a swap dealer. After becoming a fully licensed credit institution under the EU Capital Requirements Regulation in January 2026, MSESE became a Regulation K subsidiary of the Firm and is no longer subject to the SEC and CFTC substituted compliance rules for capital requirements.
MSMS, a Tokyo-based broker-dealer subsidiary, is subject to the capital requirements of the Financial Services Agency. MSMS is also registered with the CFTC as a swap dealer but is currently complying with home-country capital requirements in lieu of CFTC capital requirements pursuant to applicable substituted compliance rules.
MSCS, a U.S. entity and the Firm’s primary non-bank security-based swap dealer, was conditionally registered with the SEC as a security-based swap dealer, registered with the SEC as an OTC derivatives dealer and registered with the CFTC as a swap dealer as of December 31, 2025. On February 14, 2026, MSCS was divided into two entities, one operating a Fixed Income business and a second operating an Equities business. The Fixed Income business was merged into MSBNA, and the Equities business
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
continues to be subject to the minimum net capital requirements of the SEC and CFTC.
MSCG, a U.S. entity, is registered with the CFTC as a swap dealer and is subject to its capital requirements.
Certain other U.S. and non-U.S. subsidiaries of the Firm are subject to various securities, commodities and banking regulations, and capital adequacy requirements promulgated by the regulatory and exchange authorities of the countries in which they operate. These subsidiaries have also consistently operated with capital in excess of their local capital adequacy requirements.
Restrictions on Payments
The regulatory capital requirements referred to above, and certain covenants contained in various agreements governing indebtedness of the Firm, may restrict the Firm’s ability to withdraw capital from its subsidiaries. The following table represents net assets of consolidated subsidiaries that may be restricted as to the payment of cash dividends and advances to the Parent Company.
| $ in millions | AtDecember 31,2025 | AtDecember 31,2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted net assets | $59,985 | $49,914 |
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