14 Best Large Cap Dividend Growth Stocks To Buy Now

3. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS)

5-Year Average Annual Dividend Growth Rate: 21.85%

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) is a global financial services firm based in New York, offering a variety of services, including investment banking, securities, wealth management, and investment management, to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals.

Recently, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) has focused on growing its wealth management division, upgrading its technological infrastructure, and ensuring financial stability to comply with changing regulations. Key factors contributing to its success include improving client services through technology and optimizing asset growth while managing risk within regulatory requirements. In the past 12 months, the stock has surged by nearly 58%.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) reported revenue of $16.2 billion, which showed a 25% growth from the same period last year. The company posted net income of $3.7 billion, or $2.22 per diluted share, compared to $1.5 billion, or $0.85 per diluted share, from the prior-year period. Total client assets increased to $7.9 trillion across Wealth and Investment Management, driven by strong market performance and healthy net new assets. The company is focusing on four key pillars—strategy, culture, financial strength, and growth—which support its Integrated Firm approach and aim to create long-term value for shareholders.

In the past five years, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) has raised its payouts at an annual average rate of nearly 22%. The company has remained committed to its shareholder value, returning $150 million to investors through dividends in the most recent quarter. Currently, it offers a quarterly dividend of $0.925 per share for a dividend yield of 2.7%.