Financial giant Morgan Stanley ( MS) is due to report its third-quarter results on Thursday. Let's see how the charts are set up ahead of time for this Action Alerts PLUS holding. 
In this daily bar chart of MS, below, we can see the bigger picture that prices have doubled in the past 12 months. MS has slipped below the rising 50-day moving average line but remains well-positioned above the 200-day line. The On-Balance-Volume (OBV) line shows a little weakness from early September, suggesting some caution by traders ahead of the coming earnings release. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) oscillator is below the zero line but close to an upside crossover and cover shorts buy signal.
In this weekly Japanese candlestick chart of MS, below, we see a mostly positive picture. Prices are in an uptrend above the rising 40-week moving average line. The weekly OBV line has been strong since the first quarter of 2020 and shows only minor softness the past couple weeks. The MACD oscillator is well above the zero line but has crossed to the downside for a take profit sell signal.
In this daily Point and Figure chart of MS, below, the software is projecting a downside price target of $89 but a trade at $106 will refresh the uptrend.
In this weekly Point and Figure chart of MS, below, we use close-only price data and a five-box price reversal filter. Here the chart shows a potential longer-term price target of $186.
Bottom line strategy: Even though I used to work at Morgan Stanley as a technical analyst after it acquired Smith Barney I have no special knowledge of its quarterly performance numbers. The charts are not showing a pattern of longer-term weakness so I would stay long MS ahead of the report. Risk to $91. Look to add to longs or initiate new longs above $106.
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