Finance Leaders Reported Rising Economic Confidence

CFOs are increasingly looking to acquire competitors as their three-year economic outlook improved through August.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Corporate Finance

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of interlocking metal beams and a solid architectural block, representing corporate expansion and economic structure. — Finance leaders reported a significant rise in economic confidence, with 68% of CFOs now planning for aggressive corporate acquisitions over the next three years. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you feel the U.S. economy is currently headed in a positive direction?

Data collected by U.S. Bank between August 5 and August 26, 2026, revealed that 68% of senior finance leaders hold a positive three-year economic outlook, up from 58% in the spring. This shift suggests a strengthening appetite for corporate dealmaking despite ongoing concerns regarding technological disruption.

Why it matters

Finance leaders now view resilient wholesale and consumer demand as a foundation for growth, leading many to leverage market volatility as a strategic window for expansion. As 71% of respondents identified geopolitical uncertainty as a source of business opportunity, companies are increasingly shifting from defensive posturing to aggressive M&A.

In a survey of 1,000 U.S. senior finance leaders, 57% reported a higher likelihood to pursue acquisitions over the next 12 months. This confidence coincides with a 6.1 out of 10 score on the Deloitte CFO confidence index for the third quarter of 2026.

The players

U.S. Bank

A major U.S. financial institution that provides corporate banking services and conducts regular research on executive sentiment.

Deloitte

A global professional services firm that monitors corporate confidence and economic trends through quarterly reporting.

The details

Executives are navigating market shifts by prioritizing M&A, divestiture, and strategic partnerships to mitigate the impact of digital disruption. While 24% of leaders cited technological change as a top-three concern, the increased comfort with these shifts allows management teams to capitalize on temporary price dips in valuation. Consequently, firms are positioning capital toward growth as they weigh the potential for consolidation against macroeconomic pressures.

Spring 2026: The prior U.S. Bank CFO survey period occurred.
August 5-26, 2026: Data was collected for the latest U.S. Bank CFO report.
Q3 2026: The Deloitte CFO survey was conducted.
Next 12 months: The window in which companies plan to increase acquisition activity.
Three-year outlook: The forecasting period used by CFOs to measure long-term economic prospects.

Market Landscape

This trend of executive optimism follows the trajectory established by the Deloitte CFO Survey index, which has tracked shifts in North American economic sentiment. These findings reflect a broader industry pivot toward expansion as companies move to outpace competitors through structured inorganic growth.

Operators should evaluate whether current market valuations in their space present an opportunity for strategic acquisition or divestiture. Consider re-examining your M&A pipeline and partnership agreements to ensure your firm is prepared to act if competitor volatility creates buying potential.

The takeaway

The data suggests that finance leaders are increasingly viewing macroeconomic volatility as a green light for strategic growth. Operators should monitor their own acquisition costs and benchmark them against the 57% of firms actively planning to expand their footprint over the next year.