Morgan Stanley Adds Alphabet, Coca-Cola to New 12-Month Stock List
Morgan Stanley refreshed its Vintage Values portfolio, adding Alphabet and Coca-Cola to 15 stocks selected for a one-year hold.
Key points
- Morgan Stanley's new 12-month stock list includes 12 new names, led by Alphabet and Coca-Cola.
- The previous list returned 32.12% over 12 months, beating the S&P 500 by 1,316 basis points.
- Only Amazon, McKesson, and Visa remained on the list from the prior year's portfolio.
Morgan Stanley has updated its Vintage Values list, selecting 15 stocks for a one-year buy-and-hold period. The new roster includes Alphabet and Coca-Cola, replacing most of the previous year’s holdings. According to data reported by cnbc.com, the prior 2026 portfolio returned 32.12% from September 2025 to September 2026, outperforming the S&P 500’s 19% return by 1,316 basis points.
Only three companies carried over from the 2026 list to the 2027 edition: Amazon, McKesson, and Visa. The remaining 12 names are new additions, including Apple, Eli Lilly, Dynatrace, Equinix, and Williams Companies. This high turnover rate indicates a significant shift in the bank’s preferred equity mix for the coming year.
Selection favors quality over momentum
Equity strategist Michelle Weaver stated that the selection process prioritizes company fundamentals, quantitative analysis, and macro exposure. The 2027 list is skewed toward large-cap growth stocks, with 60% of the holdings in the top two quality tiers. This compares to 56% for the broader S&P 500 index, reflecting a deliberate preference for established market leaders.
Weaver described the portfolio as having an "anti-momentum" tilt, meaning the picks are not simply stocks that have performed well recently. Instead, the bank’s analysts identified these companies based on strong bottom-up drivers. The strategy aims to capture value through fundamental strength rather than short-term price action.
Valuation premium over broad market
The 2027 Vintage Values roster is more expensive than the broader market on most valuation measures. This premium pricing reflects the high quality and growth characteristics of the selected companies. Investors are paying up for the perceived stability and long-term earnings potential of these large-cap names.
The list was compiled from more than 50 recommendations submitted by Morgan Stanley’s North America analysts. These submissions were filtered down to 15 stocks based on risk-reward profiles and industry positioning. The final selection represents the firm’s collective view on the most attractive opportunities for a 12-month investment horizon.
