10 Best S&P 500 Stocks to Buy For Dividend Growth

2. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS)

5-Year Average Dividend Growth Rate: 21.84%

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) is an American multinational financial services company that offers a wide range of related services to its consumers. The company’s quarterly dividend sits at $0.925 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.30%, as of March 26. It has remained committed to its shareholder commitment, returning $150 million in Q4 to investors through dividends. In addition, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) has raised its payouts at an annual average rate of nearly 22% in the past five years.

On March 14, Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners (MSIP) announced that it had raised $4.1 billion for its latest fund, North Haven Infrastructure Partners IV. The fund is backed by leading institutional investors, including pension funds and sovereign wealth funds. With nearly two decades of experience, MSIP focuses on investing in critical infrastructure such as transportation, digital networks, energy transition, and utilities, aiming to generate long-term value and stable, inflation-protected returns.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reported a revenue of $16.2 billion, marking a 25% increase from the previous year. Net income climbed to $3.7 billion, or $2.22 per diluted share, compared to $1.5 billion, or $0.85 per share, in the same quarter last year. Wealth and Investment Management’s total client assets reached $7.9 trillion, supported by strong market performance and continued net inflows. The company remains focused on its Integrated Firm model, prioritizing strategy, culture, financial strength, and growth to drive long-term shareholder value.