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.

Robinhood Markets (NASDAQ:HOOD) shares gained 3.8% in Friday morning trading after Morgan Stanley Research moved the Overweight-rated retail trading app to top pick, owing to "many vectors for growth that’s not yet reflected in valuation and the shareholder base.

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 traders beat analysts’ estimates in the fourth quarter, joining their other Wall Street rivals in reporting a strong end to the year on volatility tied to the US elections and economic data in the final months of 2024.

Shares of Morgan Stanley gained in early trading Thursday, after the bank and broker beat both profit and revenue expectations for the latest quarter, fueled by strength in the equity and bond trading businesses.

Morgan Stanley easily beat fourth-quarter profit and revenue estimates on strong equity trading and IPO activity.

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.

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.