Fastcompany·2026-01-16 15:51Financial Performance - Goldman Sachs reported a net earnings increase of 12% year-over-year, achieving a profit of $4.62 billion, or $14.01 per share [1] - Morgan Stanley's earnings reached $4.4 billion, or $2.68 per share, compared to $3.71 billion, or $2.22 per share from the previous year [1] Investment Banking Trends - Goldman Sachs experienced a 25% year-over-year increase in investment fee revenues, while Morgan Stanley saw a 47% increase in its investment banking division [3] - Both banks indicated a significant increase in their investment fee backlog, suggesting a rise in pending deal-making activity [3] Market Environment - The Trump administration's deregulatory policies have positively impacted Wall Street, encouraging corporations to pursue mergers and acquisitions [2] - There has been a notable surge in investor interest in artificial intelligence companies and those benefiting from technologies like ChatGPT [2]