Perspectives

Market Trends

Investment Banking Quarterly 1Q 2023

Mar 29, 2023

Stephens begins our 90th year of business, and although a lot has changed, much has remained the same. We provide unvarnished advice and precise execution on the full array of investment banking services.

Market Trends

Family Offices: The Secret Source that’s Funding the Dislocation in the Oil & Gas Investment Market

Mar 23, 2023

For the last three years, mergers & acquisitions in oil & gas firms have held steady at about 100 a year. But during this period, many traditional investors—especially those in private equity—have decreased their investment activity in this industry sector.

Market Trends

Software Company Valuations in a Volatile Interest Rate Environment

Mar 20, 2023

Cut through the noise and understand how markets think about valuation

One of the most important enterprise valuation drivers—specifically for Software as a Service (SaaS) businesses—is revenue growth. During the pandemic, SaaS company revenue multiples were at an all-time high in both the public and private capital markets. In a historically low interest rate environment, “growth-at-all-costs” became an unfortunately familiar phrase.

Market Trends

Debt Capital Markets Group | 2022 in Review

Jan 5, 2023

The Stephens Debt Capital Markets team concluded another productive year, helping clients navigate a challenging credit market in 2022

Market Trends

Stephens Investment Banking Quarterly Update: July 2022

Jul 14, 2022

We have modified the approach to our IB Quarterly Update. While historically we have focused on content relevant to each industry group, we have determined that the macro trends impacting businesses may be more helpful.

Market Trends

Expect further M&A acceleration in UK-based asset and wealth management

Jun 1, 2022

As markets continue to digest the effects of the crisis in Ukraine and the ongoing pandemic recovery, fresh momentum has returned to the M&A space for asset and wealth management companies.

Market Trends

Financial Sponsors Update: Healthcare Services Spotlight

May 23, 2022

Financial sponsors continue to show significant interest in critical outsourced services supporting the U.S. healthcare system. In particular the healthcare linen management space has received considerable attention, given the dynamics surrounding the business model.

Market Trends

M&A and Private Investment Remain Strong, Despite Headlines to the Contrary

Apr 28, 2022

On the surface, it may appear that M&A and private investment activity in the Technology sector lost momentum in the first quarter of 2022. However, a deeper assessment of market dynamics reveals that deal activity remains strong on a historical basis, with strategic buyers and financial investors still actively looking to execute transactions this year.

Market Trends

Stephens Investment Banking Quarterly Update: April 2022

Apr 21, 2022

During a quarter that was highlighted by shifting monetary policies and increased geopolitical tensions, we continued to advise our clients on a wide range of transactions. This edition of the Quarterly Update features exclusive perspectives from senior bankers in every sector and subsector that we serve, on major trends that have emerged so far this year and what to look for in the months ahead.

Market Trends

The Race to Empower Consumers and Support Practitioners

Mar 23, 2022

The Healthcare IT space experienced record-breaking M&A and capital-raising activity in 2021, and this pace may be poised to continue throughout 2022 – particularly for companies investing in the augmentation of their cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms.