Published 5 hours ago • loading... • Updated 13 hours ago

Wall Street bankers shift focus to busy 2026 after cashing in on big deals

Wall Street's investment bankers said they expect a busy 2026 after a windfall from big-ticket deals and listings in 2025, with global revenues crossing $100 billion, Dealogic data showed.
Supportive macro tailwinds including healthy GDP growth, de-regulation and Fed rate cuts in 2025 lowered capital costs, while an unexpected year-end surge had bankers and advisers working through the holidays.
Trading momentum lifted revenues at top U.S. banks as Goldman Sachs reported record equities trading, a 25% jump in investment banking fees, Morgan Stanley surged 47%, and Bank of America rose 1%.
A roster of high-profile companies reportedly exploring IPOs in 2026 now includes OpenAI, SpaceX and Cerebras, while sponsor-led exits are expected to accelerate as private equity and venture capital firms seek exits.
Large transactions signaled a comeback in 2025, led by Electronic Arts' proposed $55 billion take-private, while Wells Fargo advised on two top M&A deals and rose to eighth in announced M&A rankings.

Insights by Ground AI