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    Lauren Ng

    Vice President and analyst at Morgan Stanley

    Lauren Ng is a Vice President and analyst at Morgan Stanley in New York City, specializing in financial services and investment research. She has contributed to Morgan Stanley since 2019, supporting coverage on a range of major corporate clients and delivering actionable insights for institutional investors. Lauren’s current role builds on a foundation of several years in financial analysis, and she consistently provides research that aids clients in making informed investment decisions, though specific published performance metrics and client company lists are not publicly available. She holds standard industry credentials for her position and has developed expertise in market trends and equity analysis within one of the world's leading financial firms.

    Lauren Ng's questions to Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings (OLLI) leadership

    Lauren Ng's questions to Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings (OLLI) leadership • Q2 2025

    Question

    Lauren Ng, on for Simeon Gutman, asked what specifically drove the higher merchandise margin (better buying vs. product mix) and requested a breakdown of the 5% Q2 comp between ramping new stores and mature stores.

    Answer

    EVP and CFO Robert Helm attributed the higher merchandise margin primarily to strong deal flow with better-than-expected margins and lower shrink, noting that product mix was in line with expectations. Regarding the comp drivers, he stated that the company saw broad-based strength across all store cohorts and vintages, rather than it being driven by a specific group.

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    Lauren Ng's questions to Leslie's (LESL) leadership

    Lauren Ng's questions to Leslie's (LESL) leadership • Q3 2025

    Question

    Lauren Ng of Morgan Stanley, on for Simeon Gutman, asked how the company's high leverage ratio is affecting its ability to execute its strategic plan and inquired about any supply chain constraints.

    Answer

    Interim CFO & Treasurer Tony Iskander asserted that reducing debt is the top capital priority and that the company maintains sufficient liquidity, having recently paid off its revolver. CEO Jason McDonell clarified that recent inventory reductions were driven by internal optimization efforts, not external supply issues, and were achieved while simultaneously improving in-stock rates.

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    Lauren Ng's questions to BEST BUY CO (BBY) leadership

    Lauren Ng's questions to BEST BUY CO (BBY) leadership • Q1 2026

    Question

    Lauren Ng, on behalf of Simeon Gutman at Morgan Stanley, asked to reconcile positive category sentiment with the updated comp guidance and inquired about the gross margin cadence from the new marketplace.

    Answer

    CFO Matt Bilunas explained the updated guidance of -1% to +1% incorporates Q1 trends and then layers on the estimated impact from tariffs. He stated that margin benefits from the marketplace and ads are expected in the second half of the year, with the marketplace being accretive to the full-year operating income rate.

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    Lauren Ng's questions to AUTOZONE (AZO) leadership

    Lauren Ng's questions to AUTOZONE (AZO) leadership • Q3 2025

    Question

    Lauren Ng, on behalf of Simeon Gutman at Morgan Stanley, asked about the drivers of the strong 5% domestic comp, questioning the split between company initiatives and market demand, and asked about future focus areas for commercial growth.

    Answer

    CEO Philip Daniele attributed the vast majority of the sales growth to company-specific initiatives, such as improved execution, the expansion of hubs and mega hubs, and enhanced product assortments, which are driving market share gains. He reiterated that the commercial strategy remains focused on local assortments, hub deployment, and improving delivery speed.

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    Lauren Ng's questions to AUTOZONE (AZO) leadership • Q3 2025

    Question

    Lauren Ng, on behalf of Simeon Gutman at Morgan Stanley, asked about the drivers behind the strong 5% domestic comp, seeking to understand the split between company initiatives and underlying market demand, and inquired about future focus areas for the commercial business.

    Answer

    CEO Philip Daniele attributed the vast majority of the sales growth to company-specific initiatives, including improved execution, the rollout of hubs and mega hubs, and enhanced product assortments. For the commercial business, he reiterated the focus on improving local store assortments, deploying hubs, and refining delivery strategies to reduce fulfillment times.

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    Lauren Ng's questions to Petco Health & Wellness Company (WOOF) leadership

    Lauren Ng's questions to Petco Health & Wellness Company (WOOF) leadership • Q3 2024

    Question

    Lauren Ng of Morgan Stanley, on for Simeon Gutman, asked about the drivers of the consumables segment improvement, specifically if it was ticket-driven or from new customers.

    Answer

    Executive Joel Anderson attributed the consumables strength to fundamental retail execution, including better in-stock positions from a new inventory system, improved inventory flow, and competitive pricing. CFO Brian LaRose added that the fresh and frozen food category was a standout performer, growing 20% year-over-year.

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