Morgan Stanley said its profit more than doubled in the fourth quarter, fueled by its investment banking and trading businesses. Profit surged 145% to $3.71 billion. That amounted to $2.22 per share,

Morgan Stanley’s stock outpaced gains in other financial stocks Thursday, after the bank and broker forecast a robust flow of deals as it beat both profit and revenue expectations for the latest quarter.

Morgan Stanley's profit increased in the fourth quarter, fueled by a wave of dealmaking and stock sales that drove its revenue to a full-year record. Investment banking fees gained from a surge in mergers and acquisitions as sentiment was boosted by a strong U.

Morgan Stanley’s institutional securities group, which houses its investment banking and trading businesses, reported revenue of $7.3 billion in the fourth quarter, a 49% jump from $4.9 billion a year earlier.

CNBC's Leslie Picker joins 'Squawk Box ' to report on the company's quarterly earnings results.

Jefferies analyst Daniel Fannon updated the firm's outlook on Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) shares, raising the price target to $151 from $144, while reaffirming a Buy rating on the stock. The company, currently trading at $135.

Morgan Stanley’s profit more than doubled in the fourth quarter, fueled by a wave of dealmaking and stock sales that drove its revenue to a full-year record. The earnings rounded out a robust quarter for Wall Street banks,