Wall Street Banks Post Record Profits as AI Infrastructure Becomes Largest Investment Boom in U.S. History

Wall Street's largest banks are experiencing a historic surge in profits driven by a massive wave of financing and dealmaking tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure—a buildout on track to exceed all previous investment cycles in American history. The five largest U.S. investment banks reported a combined $114 billion in capital markets revenue in the first half of 2026, up 31.5% year-over-year, with AI-related financing and advisory work emerging as the dominant earnings driver.