Pace of US bankruptcy filings continues to climb

Core Insights - An elevated level of bankruptcies continues to affect corporate America, with 117 large companies filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 over the 12 months ending June 30, marking an 81% increase from the annual average of 44 from 2005 to 2024 [1][2] Bankruptcy Trends - "Mega-bankruptcies," defined as those by companies with over $1 billion in assets, rose to 32 during the studied period, up from 24 in the previous year and above the 20-year annual average of 23 [2] - The first half of 2023 saw 17 mega-bankruptcies, the highest in any half-year period since the COVID outbreak in 2020 [3] Drivers of Bankruptcies - Major factors cited by large filers include reduced demand or increased costs due to inflation, changes in consumer preferences, high operational and financing costs from elevated interest rates, and challenges in the regulatory and legal landscape [4] - Approximately half of mega-bankruptcy filers reported lasting negative impacts from the COVID pandemic, a decrease from 79% in the previous year [5] Industry Breakdown - The manufacturing sector accounted for the highest share of bankruptcy filings at 30%, followed by services (24%), finance/insurance/real estate (13%), transportation/communications/utilities (10%), and retail trade (10%) [5] Cryptocurrency Sector - The cryptocurrency sector has not experienced any bankruptcies since the first half of 2023, contrasting with the overall trend [6] Market Signals - U.S. financial markets have shown a complex landscape since early 2024, with equities experiencing strong but volatile gains amid economic uncertainties [6][7] - While the S&P 500 has rallied due to optimism around the Federal Reserve's easing monetary policy, credit markets have shown growing concerns, evidenced by widening high-yield credit spreads and increasing delinquency rates in the commercial real estate market [7] Liability Management Transactions - Liability management transactions (LMTs) are on the rise, with 46 completed in 2024, setting a new annual record, and an additional 27 transactions in the first half of 2025 [7]