Global M&A hit $4.8 trillion in 2025, the second-biggest year ever recorded, and the first half of 2026 broke the all-time first-half record at $2.8 trillion.

Healthcare M&A is running its best stretch since before Covid, with biotech deal value hitting $106 billion by early June 2026, and a specific set of banks is eating the fees.

Confused which investment bank to target? This guide breaks down what makes Goldman, JPMorgan, Evercore, Centerview, and 7 other top banks different, and who should actually apply to each.