Major restaurant chains face shifting consumer behavior, not declining demand. Post-pandemic price hikes widened gaps between restaurant and grocery costs, driving value-conscious diners toward affordable options. Nick Setyan, Senior Restaurant Equities Research Analyst, delves into how the shift towards rational consumer behavior is reshaping the restaurant industry through its next phase of growth.

Notwithstanding some cautionary headwinds, liquidity is abundant, valuations are robust, debt and equity markets are performing well and upside exists for fiscal stimulus and “Big Beautiful Bill” benefits. These positives, coupled with a pro-business administration and accommodating regulatory leadership, make for a conducive dealmaking environment. We see a strong pipeline for dealmaking for corporates and the potential for enhanced participation by financial sponsors. We expect market activity to broaden beyond Big Tech, with more mid-market transactions alongside the mega deals. Barring any unforeseen geopolitical grey or black swans, 2026 should offer opportunities for dealmaking, whether initial public offerings (IPOs), mergers & acquisitions (M&A) or leveraged buyouts (LBOs), across sectors.

Every major platform shift in internet history – from the Dotcom boom of the 1990s to the mobile revolution a decade later – has redefined how consumers engage online and unlocked new categories of business. With AI adoption surging and becoming a new interaction layer of the internet, will it similarly reshape the economics of the web? Senior Internet Equity Research Analyst Lloyd Walmsley digs into the technological and behavioral shifts underway.

NPower creates pathways to economic prosperity by launching digital careers for military-connected adults and young adults from low-income communities. It provides tuition-free training that produces graduates with top industry certifications.

The AI boom is transforming nearly every corner of the market, but software – once the engine of tech growth – is struggling to keep pace, underperforming chip and hardware stocks by nearly 30 points year to date. However, the market may be missing a bigger picture, says Enterprise Software Analyst Gregg Moskowitz. Is software truly at risk? And which companies will emerge as winners, and which will be left behind? Read our latest Insights to learn how AI is reshaping the sector.

The race for AI dominance is no longer decided by computing power, but by physical infrastructure – the substations, transmission lines, gas pipelines, and cooling systems that fuel large servers and data centers. For the Engineering and Construction industry, the buildout of large-scale infrastructure projects represents more than a short-term opportunity. Maheep Mandloi, Mizuho’s Senior Clean Energy Equity Research Analyst, explains that it’s the foundation of a multi-decade growth cycle as technology and industrial development converge.

Everyone learns differently, and Tech Unlimited embraces that. They have been uncovering pathways to computer science discovery for neurodiverse students and young adults through courses incorporating technology training and social-emotional learning to ignite unlimited futures.

Industrials and chemicals are entering a new phase as global pressures and innovation reshape the competitive landscape. Following years of expansion, oversupply and geopolitical shifts are forcing strategic pivots. Mizuho Equity Research Analysts Brett Linzey, Saurabh Dhir, and John Roberts unpack how M&A, AI, and policy shifts are redefining resilience and growth.

E-commerce is entering a new era as artificial intelligence reshapes the online shopping experience. After years of stagnation, with U.S. online retail penetration hovering around 20%, AI agents are poised to disrupt the status quo. David Bellinger, Senior US Consumer Equities Research Analyst, explores how generative AI is transforming consumer behavior, redefining search, and challenging the economics of retail.