Morgan Stanley and Stifel/KBW were the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial advisers in the financial services sector during 2024 by value and volume, respectively, according to the latest financial advisers league table by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

An analysis of GlobalData’s Deals Database has revealed that Morgan Stanley achieved the leading position in terms of value by advising on $96 billion worth of deals. Meanwhile, Stifel/KBW led in terms of volume by advising on a total of 37 deals.

Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Morgan Stanley saw a remarkable seven-fold increase in the total value of deals it advised on in 2024, compared to the previous year due to the involvement in big-ticket deals. Resultantly, its ranking by value took a leap from ninth position to the top position. During 2024, the US-based firm advised on nine billion-dollar deals* that also included three mega deals valued more than $10 billion.

“Similarly, Stifel/KBW registered improvement in the total number of deals advised by it during 2024 compared to 2023. Its ranking by volume improved from sixth position in 2023 to the top spot in 2024.”

Goldman Sachs occupied the second position in terms of value, by advising on $75.8 billion worth of deals, followed by JP Morgan with $68.8 billion, Barclays with $66.3 billion and Royal Bank of Canada with $52.4 billion.

Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs occupied the second position in terms of volume with 32 deals, followed by JP Morgan with 29 deals, UBS with 29 deals and Evercore with 28 deals.

*≥ $1 billion