Goldman Sachs said it has managed in excess of $1 trillion of announced mergers and acquisitions so far in 2026, marking the largest half-year total recorded by any investment bank, the firm said in a LinkedIn post that cited Dealogic data.
The bank said the figure comes after it served as lead left underwriter on SpaceX’s landmark initial public offering. SpaceX completed its public listing in New York on Friday.
Goldman pointed to strong activity across M&A and trading markets. The firm highlighted that global M&A volumes had already topped $2.6 trillion this year, and that trading volumes were reaching all-time highs as clients managed a range of risk events. In a separate post, Chief Executive David Solomon said: "With global M&A volumes already exceeding $2.6 trillion this year as AI and strategic consolidation reshape entire industries, as well as trading volumes reaching all-time highs as clients navigate a range of risk events, we are operating in an innovation supercycle."
The burst of dealmaking arrives amid expectations on Wall Street for a robust year for M&A despite uncertainty tied to the conflict in the Middle East. Executives cited a softer regulatory approach under U.S. President Donald Trump and growing momentum in artificial intelligence as supportive factors for strategic consolidation.
Goldman also reported a notable increase in fee revenue from its investment banking division. Investment banking fees rose to $2.84 billion in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 48% increase from the same period a year earlier.
The firm retained its position as the top global M&A adviser in 2026, a ranking it held after securing the top spot in 2025, according to Dealogic. JPMorgan Chase is listed as the second-ranked adviser.
The developments outlined by Goldman reflect concentrated activity across deal origination, underwriting and trading as market participants respond to technology-driven consolidation and shifting regulatory expectations. The bank emphasized its role in both advisory and underwriting work while pointing to elevated volumes across global M&A and trading desks.