PR Newswire·Aug 11, 2026, 9:30 AM ET

Middle Market Confidence Holds Near Record Highs as Companies Continue Investing Through Economic Uncertainty

77% of middle market executives rated their company's financial outlook as excellent or very good for the second consecutive survey.
Confidence in the broader U.S. economy remained flat at 51%, widening the gap between company confidence & economic confidence to 26 percentage points.
Companies continue investing in AI, talent, & M&A despite economic uncertainty rather than waiting for conditions to improve.
AI & technology expansion is the top capital investment priority for 54% of middle market companies in 2026.
Businesses with a positive outlook are 26 percentage points more likely to seek additional capital for growth than cautious peers.
Manufacturing & Technology are the most optimistic industries for growth, while reliance on private equity has moderated.
Workforce priorities focus on reskilling existing employees & hiring AI talent to maximize technology value.
Long-term M&A activity is expected to strengthen in 2027 & 2028, especially among larger firms & technology companies.
Cybersecurity remains a consistent investment priority regardless of business outlook as AI adoption accelerates.