Equity

Capital Conservation Buffer

Morgan Stanley Capital Conservation Buffer remained flat by 0.0% to $0.15 in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric declined by 10.0%, from $0.17 to $0.15. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Capital Conservation Buffer shows relatively stable performance with a -2.2% CAGR. This decline may warrant attention — for this metric, higher values are generally preferred.

Analysis

StatementBalance Sheet Statement
SectionEquity
CategoryRisk
SignalHigher is better
VolatilityStable
First reportedQ4 2018
Last reportedQ1 2026May 5, 2026

How to read this metric

Higher levels indicate a stronger capital position and greater ability to withstand market volatility, though it may imply lower capital efficiency.

Detailed definition

A mandatory capital requirement designed to ensure financial institutions maintain sufficient capital to absorb losses d...

Peer comparison

Regulated by Basel III and local central bank standards; peers maintain buffers based on their systemic importance.

Metric ID: regulatory_capital_buffer

Historical Data

18 periods
 Q4 '21Q1 '22Q2 '22Q3 '22Q4 '22Q1 '23Q2 '23Q3 '23Q4 '23Q1 '24Q2 '24Q3 '24Q4 '24Q1 '25Q2 '25Q3 '25Q4 '25Q1 '26
Value$0.17$0.17$0.17$0.17$0.17$0.17$0.17$0.17$0.16$0.16$0.16$0.16$0.17$0.17$0.17$0.17$0.15$0.15
QoQ Change+0.0%+0.0%+0.0%+0.6%+0.0%+0.0%+0.0%-2.4%+0.0%+0.0%+0.0%+3.7%+0.0%+0.0%+0.0%-10.0%+0.0%
YoY Change+0.6%+0.6%+0.6%+0.6%-2.4%-2.4%-2.4%-2.4%+3.7%+3.7%+3.7%+3.7%-10.0%-10.0%
Range$0.15$0.17
CAGR-2.0%
Avg YoY Growth-0.9%
Median YoY Growth+0.6%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Morgan Stanley's capital conservation buffer?
Morgan Stanley (MS) reported capital conservation buffer of $0.15 in Q1 2026.
How has Morgan Stanley's capital conservation buffer changed year-over-year?
Morgan Stanley's capital conservation buffer decreased by 10.0% year-over-year, from $0.17 to $0.15.
What is the long-term trend for Morgan Stanley's capital conservation buffer?
Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Morgan Stanley's capital conservation buffer has grown at a -2.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $0.17 to $0.15.
What does capital conservation buffer mean?
The extra capital a bank must hold to survive economic downturns.