3 Stocks to Buy From the Prospering Investment Banking Industry

Core Insights - The Zacks Investment Bank industry is poised for growth due to improved clarity on trade and monetary policy, a resilient economy, and lower financing costs, which are expected to enhance M&A and underwriting activities in 2026 [1][5] - Investment in AI and technology may increase short-term costs but is anticipated to improve long-term operational efficiency, making companies like Morgan Stanley, Robinhood, and Piper Sandler attractive investment opportunities [2] Industry Overview - The Zacks Investment Bank industry includes firms that provide financial products and services, focusing on advisory transactions for corporations, governments, and financial institutions globally. The industry has evolved from initial public offerings and M&As to include securities research and investment management [3] Key Trends - The underwriting and advisory sectors are recovering after a slump due to geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainty, with optimism for a rebound fueled by a business-friendly administration and potential tax cuts [4] - Market volatility has increased since 2022, driven by geopolitical challenges, which has led to heightened client activity and solid trading income for investment banks [6] Technology and Efficiency - Investment banks are investing in innovative trading platforms and AI, which are expected to enhance operational efficiency despite rising technology-related expenses in the short term [7] Industry Ranking and Performance - The Zacks Investment Bank industry ranks 29 out of over 240 Zacks industries, indicating solid near-term prospects, with earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 revised upward by 12.9% and 1%, respectively [8][9] - The industry has outperformed the S&P 500 and the broader finance sector, with a collective stock increase of 38.4% over the past year compared to 17.9% for the S&P 500 [11] Valuation Metrics - The industry has a trailing 12-month price-to-tangible book ratio (P/TBV) of 3.12X, which is above the five-year median of 2.20X, but still represents a discount compared to the S&P 500's 12.78X [15][17] Investment Opportunities - Morgan Stanley: A diversified investment banking firm with a market cap of $280.5 billion, expected to benefit from a favorable macroeconomic backdrop and a projected earnings increase of 22.8% and 5.8% for 2025 and 2026, respectively [19][23] - Robinhood: A financial services company with a market cap of $107.4 billion, focusing on global expansion and innovative financial products, with expected earnings growth of 79.8% and 17.9% for 2025 and 2026 [25][29] - Piper Sandler: An investment bank with a market cap of $5.7 billion, experiencing robust growth through strategic acquisitions, with projected earnings improvements of 22.5% and 6.2% for 2025 and 2026 [31][34]