Free Writing Prospectus to Preliminary Pricing Supplement No. 3,942

Registration Statement Nos. 333-275587; 333-275587-01

Dated September 13, 2024; Filed pursuant to Rule 433

Morgan Stanley

4-Year SPX Dual Directional Buffered PLUS

This document provides a summary of the terms of the Buffered PLUS. Investors must carefully review the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement referenced below, product supplement, index supplement and prospectus, and the “Risk Considerations” on the following page, prior to making an investment decision.


Summary Terms

Issuer:

Morgan Stanley Finance LLC

Guarantor:

Morgan Stanley

Maturity date:

October 5, 2028

Underlying index:

S&P 500® Index (“SPX”)

Payment at maturity per Buffered PLUS1:

If the final index value is greater than the initial index value:

$1,000 + leveraged upside payment

In no event will the payment at maturity exceed the maximum payment at maturity

If the final index value is less than or equal to the initial index value but has decreased from the initial index value by an amount less than or equal to the buffer amount of 10%:

$1,000 + ($1,000 × absolute index return)

In this scenario, you will receive a 1% positive return on the Buffered PLUS for each 1% negative return on the underlying index. In no event will this amount exceed the stated principal amount plus $100.

If the final index value is less than the initial index value and has decreased from the initial index value by an amount greater than the buffer amount of 10%:

($1,000 × the index performance factor) + $100

Under these circumstances, the payment at maturity will be less than the stated principal amount of $1,000. However, under no circumstances will the Buffered PLUS pay less than $100 per Buffered PLUS at maturity.

Leveraged upside payment:

$1,000 × leverage factor × index percent increase

Index percent increase:

(final index value – initial index value) / initial index value

Absolute index return:

The absolute value of the index percent change. For example, a -5% index percent change will result in a +5% absolute index return.

Initial index value:

The index closing value on the pricing date

Final index value:

The index closing value on the valuation date

Valuation date:

October 2, 2028, subject to postponement for non-index business days and certain market disruption events

Leverage factor:

200%

Buffer amount:

10%. As a result of the buffer amount of 10%, the value at or above which the underlying index must close on the valuation date so that investors do not suffer a loss on their initial investment in the Buffered PLUS is 90% of the initial index value.

Minimum payment at maturity:

$100 per Buffered PLUS (10% of the stated principal amount)

Index performance factor:

Final index value divided by the initial index value

Maximum payment at maturity:

$1,345 per Buffered PLUS (134.50% of the stated principal amount)

Stated principal amount:

$1,000 per Buffered PLUS 

Issue price:

$1,000 per Buffered PLUS

Pricing date:

September 30, 2024

Original issue date:

October 3, 2024 (3 business days after the pricing date)

CUSIP/ISIN:

61776RG99 / US61776RG994

Preliminary pricing supplement:

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1666268/000183988224029283/ms3942_424b2-17717.htm

1All payments are subject to our credit risk

 

 

Hypothetical Payout at Maturity1

 

 

Change in Underlying

Return on Buffered PLUS

+50.00%

34.50%

+40.00%

34.50%

+30.00%

34.50%

+20.00%

34.50%

+17.25%

34.50%

+10.00%

20%

+5.00%

10%

0.00%

0%

-10.00%

10%

-11.00%

-1%

-20.00%

-10%

-30.00%

-20%

-40.00%

-30%

-50.00%

-40%

-60.00%

-50%

-80.00%

-70%

-100.00%

-90%


 

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling toll-free 1-800-584-6837.

Underlying Index

For more information about the underlying index, including historical performance information, see the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement.

Risk Considerations

The risks set forth below are discussed in more detail in the “Risk Factors” section in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement. Please review those risk factors carefully prior to making an investment decision.

Risks Relating to an Investment in the Buffered PLUS

Buffered PLUS do not pay interest and provide a minimum payment at maturity of only 10% of your principal.

The appreciation potential of the Buffered PLUS is limited by the maximum payment at maturity.

The market price of the Buffered PLUS will be influenced by many unpredictable factors.

The Buffered PLUS are subject to our credit risk, and any actual or anticipated changes to our credit ratings or credit spreads may adversely affect the market value of the Buffered PLUS.

As a finance subsidiary, MSFL has no independent operations and will have no independent assets.

The estimated value of the Buffered PLUS is $944.50 per Buffered PLUS, or within $45.00 of that estimate, and is determined by reference to our pricing and valuation models, which may differ from those of other dealers and is not a maximum or minimum secondary market price.

The amount payable on the Buffered PLUS is not linked to the value of the underlying index at any time other than the valuation date.

Investing in the Buffered PLUS is not equivalent to investing in the underlying index.

The rate we are willing to pay for securities of this type, maturity and issuance size is likely to be lower than the rate implied by our secondary market credit spreads and advantageous to us. Both the lower rate and the inclusion of costs associated with issuing, selling, structuring and hedging the Buffered PLUS in the original issue price reduce the economic terms of the Buffered PLUS, cause the estimated value of the Buffered PLUS to be less than the original issue price and will adversely affect secondary market prices.

The Buffered PLUS will not be listed on any securities exchange and secondary trading may be limited.

The calculation agent, which is a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley and an affiliate of MSFL, will make determinations with respect to the Buffered PLUS.

Hedging and trading activity by our affiliates could potentially adversely affect the value of the Buffered PLUS.

The U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Buffered PLUS are uncertain.

Risks Relating to the Underlying Index

Governmental regulatory actions, such as sanctions, could adversely affect your investment in the Buffered PLUS.

Adjustments to the underlying index could adversely affect the value of the Buffered PLUS.

Tax Considerations

You should review carefully the discussion in the accompanying preliminary pricing supplement under the caption “Additional Information About the Buffered PLUS–Tax considerations” concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the Buffered PLUS, and you should consult your tax adviser.


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