August 2026 Tier List [Buyside]

Following is a tier-list for mostly buyside exits, but also prestige/compensation/deal-flow

S+: PJT RSSG, Evercore M&A, GS TMT, MS M&A, MS Menlo TMT, Centerview HC

S: Centerview NYC M&A/Generalist, Qatalyst, GS FIG, Evercore RX, Moelis LA, Lazard RX, GS Industrials, GS Healthcare

A+: Moelis NY M&A/RX, JPM Healthcare, Lazard PEI/Power & Infrastructure, Lazard Industrials, MS Media & Communications, PWP RX, PWP Healthcare, PJT M&A

A: Lazard Healthcare, Evercore Industrials, Evercore Consumer, Evercore FIG, JPM Diversified Industrials, JPM Media & Communications, Raine, M. Klein

A-: BofA M&A/Sponsors, Citi M&A/Sponsors, HL RX

B+: BofA Industrials, BofA Healthcare, Citi Industrials, Citi Healthcare, Barclays M&A, Barclays Sponsors

B: UBS M&A, UBS Healthcare, Wells Fargo M&A, Deutsche Bank Sponsors, Jefferies M&A, Jefferies Healthcare

B-: Guggenheim M&A, Guggenheim Healthcare, RBC M&A, RBC Sponsors, Nomura M&A

C+: Middle-market/generalist groups at larger banks without consistently differentiated MF/UMM buyside placement.

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Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s a tier list for buyside exits, prestige, compensation, and deal flow as of August 2026:

S+ Tier

  • PJT RSSG
  • Evercore M&A
  • GS TMT
  • MS M&A
  • MS Menlo TMT
  • Centerview HC

S Tier

  • Centerview NYC M&A/Generalist
  • Qatalyst
  • GS FIG
  • Evercore RX
  • Moelis LA
  • Lazard RX
  • GS Industrials
  • GS Healthcare

A+ Tier

  • Moelis NY M&A/RX
  • JPM Healthcare
  • Lazard PEI/Power & Infrastructure
  • Lazard Industrials
  • MS Media & Communications
  • PWP RX
  • PWP Healthcare
  • PJT M&A

A Tier

  • Lazard Healthcare
  • Evercore Industrials
  • Evercore Consumer
  • Evercore FIG
  • JPM Diversified Industrials
  • JPM Media & Communications
  • Raine
  • M. Klein

A- Tier

  • BofA M&A/Sponsors
  • Citi M&A/Sponsors
  • HL RX

B+ Tier

  • BofA Industrials
  • BofA Healthcare
  • Citi Industrials
  • Citi Healthcare
  • Barclays M&A
  • Barclays Sponsors

B Tier

  • UBS M&A
  • UBS Healthcare
  • Wells Fargo M&A
  • Deutsche Bank Sponsors
  • Jefferies M&A
  • Jefferies Healthcare

B- Tier

  • Guggenheim M&A
  • Guggenheim Healthcare
  • RBC M&A
  • RBC Sponsors
  • Nomura M&A

C+ Tier

  • Middle-market/generalist groups at larger banks without consistently differentiated MF/UMM buyside placement.

This ranking reflects a combination of buyside exit opportunities, prestige, compensation, and deal flow trends.

Sources: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/2017-tiers-based-on-exit-opps?customgpt=1, A Definitive Prestige Tier List of Everything, Ranking Investment Banks in 2021, Top IBD Groups / Firms 2020 (Exits)

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
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Career Advancement Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 08 97.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 02 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Evercore No 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.8%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.8%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

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August 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (50) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (25) $178
  • Intern/Summer Associate (14) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (75) $101
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