JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley execs see M&A boom continuing into late 2026

Executives from JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley anticipate a continued surge in mergers, acquisitions, and IPOs, potentially setting new records in late 2026. Despite ongoing macroeconomic concerns, such as geopolitical tensions and inflation, the focus on strategic growth is driving dealmaking.

Global transaction volumes have already seen a substantial increase, reaching $2.6 trillion in the first half of 2026, up 30% from the previous year. This pace, however, is still below the 2021 peak of $5.3 trillion. Dorothee Blessing, co-head of global investment banking at JPMorgan Chase, stated that strategic dealmaking is on the rise and that boardroom discussions are centered on growth.

Private equity firms, after a cautious start to the year, are increasingly re-engaging in M&A and IPOs, particularly when they are confident in their ability to execute deals. Skeptics point to potential headwinds including the Iran conflict, elevated energy prices, and trade policy uncertainties. Nevertheless, executives are navigating these complexities by focusing on their strategic agendas.