In this episode of Making Sense, Rama Variankaval, head of Corporate Advisory at J.P. Morgan, is joined by Evan Junek, global head of Corporate Finance Advisory, to discuss the 15th edition of J.P. Morgan’s annual Corporate Compass report. Together, they unpack the key market trends that defined 2025 — from the rollercoaster of tariffs and geopolitical shifts to the transformative impact of AI on capital spending and corporate strategy. The conversation explores the evolving premium for scale, the rise of focused corporate separations and the changing landscape of capital formation in the U.S. and globally. Discover how companies are navigating uncertainty, pursuing growth and preparing for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in 2026.

Click here to learn more about the Corporate Compass report: https://www.jpmorgan.com/investment-banking/corporate-finance-advisory #report

This episode was recorded on December 18, 2025.

This material was prepared by certain personnel of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates and subsidiaries worldwide and not the firm’s research department. It is for informational purposes only, is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase, sale or tender of any financial instrument and does not constitute a commitment, undertaking, offer or solicitation by any JPMorgan Chase entity to extend or arrange credit or provide any other products or services to any person or entity.

Corporate Compass 2026: Market resilience, AI and geopolitics

Making Sense

Corporate Compass 2026: Market resilience, AI and geopolitics