Operating Expenses
Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Pre-tax)
Morgan Stanley Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Pre-tax) remained flat by 0.0% to $481.50M in Q4 2025 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 18.7%, from $405.50M to $481.50M. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Pre-tax) shows relatively stable performance with a -2.0% CAGR. This increase may warrant attention — for this metric, lower values are generally preferred.
Analysis
StatementIncome Statement
SectionOperating Expenses
CategoryProfitability
SignalLower is better
VolatilityStable
First reportedQ1 2015
Last reportedQ4 2025Feb 19, 2026
How to read this metric
Rising costs may indicate increased compensation levels or a shift toward equity-heavy pay structures.
Detailed definition
The total pre-tax accounting expense recorded for all share-based payment arrangements, such as stock options and restri...
Peer comparison
Standard metric found in the notes to financial statements for all public companies.
Metric ID:
cat_stock_based_compensation_expense_pretaxHistorical Data
5 years
| FY'21 | FY'22 | FY'23 | FY'24 | FY'25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $2.09B | $1.88B | $1.71B | $1.62B | $1.93B |
| YoY Change | — | -10.1% | -8.9% | -5.1% | +18.7% |
Range$1.62B – $2.09B
CAGR-2.0%
Avg YoY Growth-1.3%
Median YoY Growth-7.0%
Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Pre-tax) at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Morgan Stanley's stock-based compensation expense (pre-tax)?
- Morgan Stanley (MS) reported stock-based compensation expense (pre-tax) of $481.50M in Q4 2025.
- How has Morgan Stanley's stock-based compensation expense (pre-tax) changed year-over-year?
- Morgan Stanley's stock-based compensation expense (pre-tax) increased by 18.7% year-over-year, from $405.50M to $481.50M.
- What is the long-term trend for Morgan Stanley's stock-based compensation expense (pre-tax)?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Morgan Stanley's stock-based compensation expense (pre-tax) has grown at a -2.0% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $2.09B to $1.93B.
- What does stock-based compensation expense (pre-tax) mean?
- The total pre-tax cost of employee stock-based compensation.