We recently published a list of 10 Cheap Blue Chip Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) stands against other cheap blue chip stocks to buy according to hedge funds.
The broad-based market anxiety increased as the US policy uncertainty rose, says Fidelity. The financial markets were weighed down by tariff hikes, deregulation, and tighter immigration policies. The global business cycle is now less synchronized. As per the investment management firm, the US seemed to show mid- and late-cycle dynamics in Q1 2025. Furthermore, the diversification across fixed income and non-US assets is of utmost importance amid growth risks. While the gold and commodities gained, the US dollar decline fueled the non-US equities, says Fidelity.
Amidst US Policy Uncertainty, Diversification Remains Critical
As per Fidelity, the uncertainty regarding the direction of US policy impacted the financial markets during Q1, with investors digesting the news related to executive actions, such as tariff increases, deregulation announcements, reduced government staffing and programs, and tougher immigration activities. Also, the worries related to the economic effects of the tariff increases on the global economy saw an increase during the days after the quarter closed. Despite elevated growth risks, the global expansion was intact as of the close of Q1. Fidelity opines that diversification in fixed income assets and non-US assets is essential.
As per the investment manager, the S&P 500 Index delivered a return of −4.3% for Q1 2025, partly because of the performance of growth stocks (−10%). On the other hand, gold (+19%) and commodities (+8.9%) saw robust gains amid higher market uncertainty.
READ ALSO: 7 Best Stocks to Buy For Long-Term and 8 Cheap Jim Cramer Stocks to Invest In.
Investors’ Approach Amidst Fluctuating Economic Indicators
According to Fidelity, the consumer inflation remained rangebound at ~3% during Q1, which was well above the 2% target of the US Fed. The firm anticipates sticky inflation around 3% for the next year, with upside risk resulting from tariff increases. As per the firm, the consumer inflation expectations have increased to multi-decade highs, making it simpler for businesses to pass the increased costs. Coming to the labor, it has remained tight so far, despite increased policy uncertainty, government layoffs, and federal funding cuts, says Fidelity. On the supply side, the broader labor force participation has stalled below the pre-pandemic rate due to slowing immigration as well as demographic constraints.
As per Marci McGregor, Head of Portfolio Strategy (Chief Investment Office), Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank, the next few months can be a good time to play defense. The investors can consider defensive, dividend-paying, and value-oriented stocks. For the long term, the investors can position themselves for when the uncertainty around trade decreases. The volatility can provide a chance to buy assets supporting the long-term strategy at attractive prices, says McGregor.
Our Methodology
To list the 10 Cheap Blue Chip Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds, we scanned the holdings of the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF and chose companies that trade at a forward P/E of less than ~20.0x. We also mentioned the hedge fund sentiments around each stock, as of Q4 2024. Finally, the stocks were arranged in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiments.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
A panoramic view of a financial institution, representing the number of corporations who trust the company’s services.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 64
Forward P/E as of April 18: ~13.2x
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) is a financial holding company that is engaged in providing various financial products and services to governments, financial institutions, and individuals. The company’s diverse business model, spanning investment banking, trading, wealth management, and investment management, positions it well to reap the benefits of improved market conditions. As and when economic conditions strengthen, Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) can see increased activity throughout segments.
While an expected rebound in M&A and IPO activities can fuel strong revenue growth in its investment banking division, the improved market conditions can result in higher trading volumes. Therefore, this diversification enables Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) to benefit from various aspects of market improvement. In Q1 2025, the integrated firm managed to deliver a very strong quarter with record net revenues of $17.7 billion and EPS of $2.60.
The Institutional Securities’ strong performance was aided by its Markets business, with Equity posting a record $4.1 billion in revenues. Also, total client assets of $7.7 trillion throughout Wealth and Investment Management were aided by $94 billion in net new assets. Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS)’s results exhibit consistent execution of its clear strategy to fuel durable growth across its global footprint. Nightview Capital, an investment management company that concentrates exclusively on publicly traded equity strategies, published its Q4 2024 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:
“Finance is transforming. Technology is democratizing access, reshaping wealth management, and enabling entirely new models of investing. From algorithmic trading to digital-first advisory platforms, the sector is evolving rapidly. Investors demand smarter, more sustainable options. The potential is significant, and we are focused on companies shaping how people save, invest, and transact in the years to come.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS): Core Opportunity: Morgan Stanley’s diversified business model supports robust growth across investment banking, wealth management, and investment management.
Key Highlights: Investment Banking Momentum: Revenues rose 55% YoY in Q3 to $1.5 billion, driven by market recovery and large public offerings.
Wealth Management Leadership: Record revenues of $7.2 billion, with total fee-based assets reaching $2.3 trillion.
AI Integration: Cutting-edge partnerships enhance advisor productivity and deepen client relationships.
Investment Case: Morgan Stanley offers a compelling blend of growth and resilience, with strong revenue diversification and a dominant wealth management franchise. Its forward P/E of ~14x suggests attractive valuation upside.”
Overall, MS ranks 10th on our list of cheap blue chip stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the potential of MS as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than MS but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.