Morgan Stanley, Diligent Capital Lead Retail M&A Advisers in H1 2026

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) and Diligent Capital have topped the retail M&A advisers league table for the first half of 2026, according to the latest financial advisers ranking released by Retail Insight Network. The ranking is based on the value and volume of M&A deals on which the firms advised.

Details

The league table ranks financial advisers by the total value of deals they advised on, as well as the number of deals. The exact values of the deals led by Morgan Stanley and Diligent Capital were not disclosed in the report, but their top positions indicate significant activity in the retail sector.

Context

The report comes amid a wave of mergers and acquisitions in the retail sector, driven by the need to adapt to changing consumer behavior and rising costs. Morgan Stanley is a global investment bank with a leading M&A advisory practice, while Diligent Capital is a niche player specializing in retail deals.

What It Means for Investors

The top ranking reflects the strength of these firms' businesses in a vital sector and could translate into higher advisory revenues in the second half of the year. However, investors should watch subsequent financial disclosures to gauge the actual impact on Morgan Stanley's earnings.