In today’s ultra-competitive market, it’s not enough to know where the hottest sectors are. You have to know where to find the hidden gems — the small companies with huge potential that most dealmakers miss. What’s more, you need an efficient way to focus your efforts on companies that are ready to sell.
For this report, we analyzed data from Datasite and MergerLinks’ latest Dealmakers League Report to identify the four industries that are best positioned to keep gaining momentum in 2026.
Then we took it a step further. We analyzed the most promising subsectors in each industry to see how many hidden gems are waiting to be discovered — and how many of those are showing strong signs of intent to sell.
Read on to discover where your team should consider digging for gold.
Key Takeaways
- The utilities industry looks poised to lead the pack in 2026. A 610% spike in deal value signals that demand for AI data centers and electrification isn't slowing down anytime soon.
- Healthcare's growth is set to scale. Aging demographics and a shift toward home-based care are creating a steady pipeline of acquirable mid-market targets.
- The balance in the finance, insurance, and real estate space is rare — and telling. When deal volume and value double simultaneously, it's a sign of true momentum, not a statistical fluke.
- Drilling down into niche spaces to find your competitive edge requires full market visibility. Grata provides dealmakers with the verified intelligence they need to find hidden gems in the tiniest nooks and crannies of their industries.
Methodology
How the Top Dealmakers of 2025 Revealed the High-Momentum Industries of 2026
The M&A world is undergoing a paradigm shift as AI evolves and infiltrates nearly every industry across the globe. Winning deals requires even more hustle, persistence, and expertise than ever. Dealmakers have to think strategically and act deliberately.
The 2025 Dealmakers Report from Datasite and MergerLinks ranks the top global M&A investment bankers and lawyers by verified deal value and volume. We analyzed where and how these elite dealmakers were investing to see where we can expect elevated activity levels this year.
We focused on four key factors from the data to identify the sectors most likely to keep picking up speed in 2026:
1. Growth Acceleration
We calculated the change in volume and value growth rates between 2024 and 2025 to identify sectors showing accelerating momentum rather than current growth.
2. Recovery Trajectories
We identified sectors that experienced negative growth in 2024 and then positive growth in 2025. These turnarounds often indicate the beginning of ongoing momentum cycles.
3. Growth Alignment
We prioritized sectors showing positive growth in both volume and value. Increases in both categories indicate broader trends rather than views skewed by a few mega-deals or many small transactions.
4. Multi-Year Consistency
We examined sector growth patterns over the last five years to distinguish sustainable trends from short-term spikes.
The industries covered in this report passed all four tests.
What Is a ‘Hidden Gem’ Company?
We define a hidden gem as a company on the Grata platform that has not been engaged with yet. These companies are waiting to be discovered, and many have high Seller Intent scores.
What Is a Seller Intent Score?
Grata’s Seller Intent feature monitors aggregated, anonymized research at scale to flag companies that are actively in the early stages of exploring a sale.
This real-time in-market intelligence is translated into a dynamic Intent score within Grata, updated weekly, and tracked over time. This allows teams to spot accelerating sale preparation long before a banker is hired or a process launches. To summarize: these are actionable, off-market opportunities.
To learn more about how Seller Intent works, download the whitepaper here.
Utilities — Strongest Momentum
The utilities space tops the list of high-momentum industries in 2026. Electricity needs are skyrocketing as demand for AI data centers, manufacturing reshoring, and digitization around the world continues to climb. The rising demand is fueling M&A as firms look to scale up to adapt.
Deal volume in the space grew by 60% in 2025 — an extraordinary change of pace after a 50% decline in 2024. Deal value increased by 610% year-over-year.
The surge is also reflected in search activity for utilities companies on the Grata platform.
Below, we highlight opportunities in the top utilities sub-sectors.
Where to Look for Hidden Gems
Water, Sewage, & Other Systems
Municipal wastewater infrastructure construction is surging as existing structures age, the impacts of climate change intensify, and government funding is deployed in massive swaths.
General Freight Trucking
The general freight trucking sector appears to be recovering from a prolonged downturn as capacity tightens, carrier exits accelerate, and freight rates settle at higher levels.
Electric Power Generation, Transmission, & Distribution
As mentioned above, demand for electric power generation, transmission, and distribution services is on the rise as AI continues to proliferate.
The graphic above shows the number of hidden gem companies in each sector that have Seller Intent scores above 20, indicating significant intent to sell. These are undiscovered, actionable companies in the Grata platform.
Healthcare — Strong Recovery with Scale
Deal volume in the healthcare space grew by 40% in 2025, while deal value ballooned by whopping 240%. With an aging population, faster adoption of AI tools in the space, and rising gross spending on pharmaceuticals, the industry is expected to continue gaining momentum through 2026.
Where to Look for Hidden Gems
Offices of Physicians
Care delivery is shifting from atute hospital settings to ambulatory care centers and private offices. As a result, the offices of physicians sector is picking up steam in 2026.
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
The rise of AI is also driving growth in the medical and diagnostic laboratories space. Also contributing to the sector’s growth are the expansion of genomics, the rise of point-of-care diagnostics, and increased investment.
Home Healthcare Services
The US population is aging rapidly, and the elderly are more frequently opting to “age in place.” Advancements in AI technology are also enabling a shift from hospitals to home-based healthcare services.
The graphic above shows the number of hidden gem companies in each sector that have Seller Intent scores above 20, indicating significant intent to sell. These are undiscovered, actionable companies in the Grata platform.
Financial, Insurance, & Real Estate (FIG) — Perfect Growth Alignment
The FIG sector, which includes finance, insurance, and real estate, saw significant growth in 2025, particularly in the EMEA region. The space achieved 100% year-over-year growth in both volume and value, demonstrating rare balanced expansion.
This momentum is expected to continue through 2026.
Where to Look for Hidden Gems
Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation & Brokerage
With interest rate cycles stabilizing and renewed retail investor participation, trading volumes and demand for brokerage services are expected to rise in 2026. Additionally, growing complexity in financial markets drives more clients toward professional intermediaries.
Insurance Agencies & Brokerages
Rising awareness of risk, from climate-related events to cyber threats, is pushing individuals and businesses to expand their coverage. Insurance agencies and brokerages stand to benefit as the intermediaries navigating an increasingly complex insurance landscape.
Offices of Real Estate Agents & Brokers
Easing monetary policy and pent-up demand from years of elevated borrowing costs are expected to unlock transaction activity. The residential and commercial real estate segments are showing signs of recovery as affordability gradually improves.
The graphic above shows the number of hidden gem companies in each sector that have Seller Intent scores above 20, indicating serious intent to sell. These are undiscovered, actionable companies in the Grata platform.
Consumer Goods — Sustained Multi-Year Growth
The consumer goods industry is on something of a hot streak, with sustained growth over several consecutive years. Deal value in North America has climbed by 650% over the last 5 years. It skyrocketed by 260% in 2025 alone. In the EMEA region, consumer goods deals have seen value grow by 210% over the last 5 years.
We expect that momentum to continue through this year.
Where to Look for Hidden Gems
Electronics & Appliance Retailers
During the pandemic years, consumers largely put off upgrading their electronics and appliances. That trend has since dissipated, and, with a new wave of AI-integrated consumer devices hitting the market, spending is expected to rise again. Retailers are well-positioned to capture demand as product innovation accelerates across categories.
Building Material & Supplies Dealers
A rebound in housing construction and a sustained home renovation trend are fueling demand for building materials, which is further supported by infrastructure investment and the need to retrofit properties for energy efficiency standards.
The graphic above shows the number of hidden gem companies in each sector that have Seller Intent scores above 20, indicating serious intent to sell. These are undiscovered, actionable companies in the Grata platform.
Discover More Hidden Gems with Grata
Digging up hidden gems in your market is fast, easy, and precise with Grata’s powerful, proprietary AI and verified, investment-grade data.
Get the coverage, data depth, and comprehensive workflows that private market dealmakers need — all in one sleek, user-friendly platform.
Schedule a demo today to get started.
