Use of Proceeds and Hedging
The proceeds we receive from the sale of the notes will be used for general corporate purposes. We will receive, in aggregate, $1,000 per note issued, because, when we enter into hedging transactions in order to meet our obligations under the notes, our hedging counterparty will reimburse the cost of the Agent’s commissions. The costs of the notes borne by you and described on page 2 above comprise the Agent’s commissions and the cost of issuing, structuring and hedging the notes.
Supplemental Information Concerning Plan of Distribution; Conflicts of Interest
The agent may distribute the notes through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley Wealth Management”), as selected dealer, or other dealers, which may include Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc (“MSIP”) and Bank Morgan Stanley AG. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, MSIP and Bank Morgan Stanley AG are affiliates of Morgan Stanley. Selected dealers, including Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, and their financial advisors will collectively receive from the agent, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, a fixed sales commission of $ for each note they sell; provided that dealers selling to investors purchasing the notes in fee-based advisory accounts will not receive a sales commission with respect to such notes.
MS & Co. is our wholly owned subsidiary and it and other subsidiaries of ours expect to make a profit by selling, structuring and, when applicable, hedging the notes. When MS & Co. prices this offering of notes, it will determine the economic terms of the notes such that for each note the estimated value on the pricing date will be no lower than the minimum level described in “The Notes” on page 2.
MS & Co. will conduct this offering in compliance with the requirements of FINRA Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., which is commonly referred to as FINRA, regarding a FINRA member firm’s distribution of the securities of an affiliate and related conflicts of interest. MS & Co. or any of our other affiliates may not make sales in this offering to any discretionary account.
Acceleration Amount in Case of an Event of Default
In case an event of default with respect to the notes shall have occurred and be continuing, the amount declared due and payable per note upon any acceleration of the notes shall be an amount in cash equal to the stated principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Tax Considerations
In the opinion of our counsel, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, the notes will be treated as debt instruments that are issued with original issue discount (“OID”) and without any qualified stated interest for U.S. federal tax purposes, as discussed under “United States Federal Taxation—Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders—General—Original Issue Discount” in the accompanying prospectus supplement. The amount of OID on a note will be provided in the final pricing supplement.
Both U.S. and non-U.S. holders should read the section of the accompanying prospectus supplement entitled “United States Federal Taxation.”
You should consult your tax adviser regarding all aspects of the U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the notes, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.
The discussion in the preceding paragraphs under “Tax Considerations,” and the discussion contained in the section entitled “United States Federal Taxation” in the accompanying prospectus supplement, insofar as they purport to describe provisions of U.S. federal income tax laws or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute the full opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP regarding the material U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in the notes.
Where You Can Find More Information
Morgan Stanley has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus, as supplemented by a prospectus supplement) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, for the offering to which this preliminary pricing supplement relates. You should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the prospectus supplement and any other documents relating to this offering that Morgan Stanley has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Morgan Stanley and this offering. You may get these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Morgan Stanley, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus and the prospectus supplement if you so request by calling toll-free 1-(800)-584-6837.
You may access these documents on the SEC web site at www.sec.gov as follows:
Prospectus Supplement dated April 8, 2026
Prospectus dated April 8, 2026
Terms used but not defined in this preliminary pricing supplement are defined in the prospectus supplement or in the prospectus. As used in this preliminary pricing supplement, the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Morgan Stanley.