Wall Street on track for record-smashing $90B year: New York State comptroller

Key Points:

• Wall Street is projected to achieve a record $90 billion in profits for 2026, a nearly 40% increase from 2025, driven by a surge in AI-related investments and global dealmaking, according to New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office.
• The securities industry posted $45.9 billion in profits in the first half of 2026, up 51.3% from the same period in 2025, with bonuses and average salaries also rising significantly.
• Wall Street's bonus pool expanded by 9% to $49.2 billion in 2025, and the sector added 7,000 jobs, contributing substantially to New York City's economy and tax revenues.
• Despite the strong performance, risks such as persistent inflation, higher interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and stretched stock valuations pose challenges to the market’s momentum.
• The report warns that recent deregulation and staffing cuts at financial watchdog agencies could reduce compliance costs short-term but may increase systemic risks in the financial sector over time.