OREANDA-NEWS. Morgan Stanley's (MS) second quarter 2015 earnings were up nicely relative to the year-ago quarter, despite being slightly down relative to the sequential quarter, according to Fitch Ratings. Fitch believes this quarter's results represent continued evidence that the company's business strategy is gaining more traction, which was one of the key factors highlighted in Fitch's upgrade of the MS's viability rating (VR) to 'a' in May 2015.

Fitch calculated pre-tax profits which exclude CVA/DVA and various other gains/losses amounted to $2.55 billion, or a 1.23% pre-tax adjusted return on ending assets (ROA). This was modestly down from the $2.73 billion, or 1.32% Fitch calculated ROA in 1Q15, but up from $1.8 billion, or a 0.89% Fitch calculated ROA in 2Q14. Fitch views this result as solid, though below that of some larger peers.

Overall net revenue declined 2% from the sequential quarter but was up 13% from the year ago quarter.

Relative to the sequential quarter, investment banking revenue, net interest income (NII) and other revenue increased. The increase in other revenue was due in part to higher results in the company's Japanese joint venture Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. Ltd. Offsetting these increases was lower trading revenue as well as lower commission and fees.

Compared to the year ago quarter higher NII and trading revenue helped drive the favorable year-over-year results, while investment banking net revenue was slightly down.

During the quarter, expenses remained well contained. Relative to the sequential quarter expenses were down 1%, and relative to the year-ago quarter expenses were up only 5%, versus the 13% net revenue growth noted above.

Additionally the company's wealth management compensation ratio (compensation and benefits as a percentage of net revenues) declined to 57% in 2Q15, down from 58% in 1Q'15 and 59% in 2Q'14. This was due reduction of financial advisors (favorably impacting the numerator) and improvements in NII (favorably impacting the denominator).

As noted, the company's wealth management strategy appears to be continuing to gain traction. MS's pre-tax margin in the wealth management segment improved to 23% in 2Q15, up from 22% in the sequential quarter. While the margin is still below that of some stronger peers, it has improved and now is solidly within the company's targeted range. Over time, Fitch believes the margin could further improve.

During the quarter, investment banking net revenue benefited from higher debt and equity underwriting revenue, partially offset by lower advisory revenues, all relative to the sequential quarter. As expected, sales and trading revenue was down sequentially, largely due to lower Fixed Income Currency and Commodities (FICC) revenue partially offset by modest growth in Equities trading revenue.

Revenue in the company's traditional asset management business was more challenged during the quarter, down 2% from the sequential quarter and 4% from the year-ago quarter. Additionally there was $3.4 billion of net outflows in the traditional asset management segment relative to the sequential quarter, which was largely driven by outflows from the company's equity fund offerings.

MS's merchant banking and real estate investment component of the asset management business showed good growth both relative to the sequential and year-ago quarters.

Fitch continues to believe that MS's capital and liquidity position is good. MS's fully phased-in Basel III Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio under the advanced approach was estimated to be 12.5%, up from 11.6% from the sequential quarter. The company's fully phased-in Enhanced Supplementary Leverage Ratio (SLR) was estimated to be 5.3%, above the 5% requirement at the parent company.

Additionally, Fitch believes the company to be in early compliance with the Liquidity Coverage Ratio.