AI Speeds Up Returns in Private Equity as M&A Becomes Top Value Generator for Firms

FTI Consulting (NYSE:FCN) released its 2026 Private Equity Value Creation Index, based on a global survey of 550+ senior private equity leaders.

Rhea-AI Summary

FTI Consulting (NYSE:FCN) released its 2026 Private Equity Value Creation Index, based on a global survey of 550+ senior private equity leaders.

The report finds faster time-to-value across levers, with AI accelerating value creation speed and M&A emerging as the top, but slowest, value driver.

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News Market Reaction – FCN

In the Jun 4 session, FCN gained 0.93%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

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Market Context

This announcement spotlights how AI and M&A are shaping value creation in private equity, with 63% o...

Analysis

This announcement spotlights how AI and M&A are shaping value creation in private equity, with 63% of firms now seeing impact within 12 months and 66% reporting faster AI-driven benefits. For FCN, it extends a series of AI-tagged surveys and capability builds. Investors may monitor how such insights translate into demand for advisory, transactions and analytics services, alongside execution effectiveness and trends seen in recent regulatory filings and earnings.

Key Figures

Survey respondents: more than 550 leaders Faster value creation: 63% within 12 months Prior year impact: 41% within 12 months +5 more

Survey respondents

more than 550 leaders

Global senior private equity leaders in 2026 index

Faster value creation

63% within 12 months

PE firms achieving measurable impact vs 41% last year

Prior year impact

41% within 12 months

Previous survey baseline for time-to-value

AI time-to-value 2026

66% within 12 months

Firms reporting AI-related benefits

AI time-to-value 2025

34% within 12 months

Prior-year AI-related benefits metric

Efficient AI implementation

31% of firms

Report efficient or mostly efficient AI implementation

Exceeded M&A business case

51% of respondents

Respondents reporting M&A outcomes above plan

High performer share

approximately 40% of respondents

Segment exceeding expected returns over past 12 months

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Key Terms

artificial intelligence, mergers and acquisitions, m&a

3 terms

artificial intelligence technical

"found that artificial intelligence (“AI”) is accelerating the speed of value creation"

Artificial intelligence is the ability of computers and machines to perform tasks that typically require human thinking, such as understanding language, recognizing patterns, or making decisions. For investors, it matters because AI can enhance efficiency, uncover new insights, and enable smarter strategies, potentially impacting the value and performance of companies that develop or utilize this technology.

mergers and acquisitions financial

"while mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) has emerged as the industry’s top value driver"

Mergers and acquisitions are processes where companies combine or one company purchases another to grow or improve their business. Think of it like two teams joining forces or one team buying out another to become stronger and more competitive. These activities matter to investors because they can influence a company's value, future growth, and overall market position.

m&a financial

"M&A remains the slowest value creation lever, with only 25% of firms achieving results"

M&A, short for mergers and acquisitions, involves one company combining with or purchasing another company to grow, streamline operations, or gain competitive advantages. For investors, M&A activity can signal potential for increased value, new opportunities, or changes in market dynamics, making it an important factor to watch in the business landscape.

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FTI Consulting’s 2026 Value Creation Index Shows Faster Time-to-Value Across Levers, But Execution Gaps Persist

WASHINGTON, June 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today released its 2026 Private Equity Value Creation Index, a global survey of more than 550 senior private equity leaders, which found that artificial intelligence (“AI”) is accelerating the speed of value creation, while mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) has emerged as the industry’s top value driver despite taking longer to deliver results.

“Private equity leaders can no longer rely on a single lever for value creation. The data shows that AI is delivering faster outcomes, but it’s most effective when embedded into core operational and commercial initiatives,” said Scott Bingham, Global Co-Leader of Transactions at FTI Consulting. “At the same time, M&A has re-emerged as the leading value driver, rewarding firms that treat integration and execution as a core capability.”

Overall, private equity firms are delivering results more quickly, with 63% of respondents achieving measurable impact within 12 months, up from 41% last year. This shift is attributed to the need to generate value faster which is leading to earlier execution during diligence and the increased use of standardized playbooks and technology.

AI: Time-to-Value Doubles as Firms Move from Experimentation to Execution
The survey found a significant increase in the speed of AI-driven results, with 66% of respondents reporting AI-related benefits within 12 months, up from 34% last year. This improvement reflects a shift toward applying AI to a narrower set of established use cases tied to core value creation levers.

Despite faster results, implementation remains uneven. Only 31% of firms report efficient or mostly efficient AI implementation, while the majority describe outcomes as mixed or difficult.

M&A: From Lowest Priority to #1 Value Lever
M&A recorded the most notable shift in this year’s survey, rising from the lowest-ranked lever in 2025 to the top priority for private equity firms in 2026. With organic growth harder to come by, strategic acquisitions have become a primary growth engine. In fact, 51% of respondents report exceeding their M&A business case, one of the top-ranked levers to do so. Respondents who ranked M&A as the top value generator also increased from 7% to 24% year over year.

Yet, M&A remains the slowest value creation lever, with only 25% of firms achieving results within 12 months. Execution also remains a constraint, with just 35% of firms describing M&A implementation as efficient or very efficient, the lowest among all levers.

High Performers Show Consistent Outperformance Across AI and M&A
This year, the report identified a high performer segment representing approximately 40% of respondents. These firms are defined as those that reported exceeding expected returns over the past 12 months. Across both AI and M&A, high performers report stronger outcomes than their peers.

“The firms outperforming in today's environment are those taking an increasingly active, structured approach to value creation”, said Diederick van der Plas, EMEA Co-Chairman and Head of EMEA Corporate Finance. “The results show that high performers deploy growth levers at nearly twice the rate of their peers, alongside AI-enabled execution and disciplined M&A."

Key findings include:

• 46% of high performers rate their M&A implementation as smooth, compared with 29% of other firms, reflecting stronger execution from deal thesis through integration.
• This execution advantage is associated with better M&A outcomes, underscoring that performance is driven by post-close delivery rather than deal volume.
• In AI, high performers are not adopting at materially higher rates, but they are more effective in generating results, with 19% of high performers reporting exceeding their AI business case, compared to 5% of others.
• The data suggests high performers apply AI more deliberately, embedding it into core value creation levers rather than treating it as a standalone initiative.

Read the full report here.

About the 2026 Private Equity Value Creation Index
The 2026 Private Equity Value Creation Index is based on a global survey of 555 senior private equity leaders across 14 countries, between January 19 and February 17, 2026. Respondents assessed nine commercial and operational value creation levers and two enablers, including artificial intelligence, across dimensions such as frequency of use, implementation, time-to-value, performance against business case and 2026 priorities.

About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a leading global expert firm for organizations facing crisis and transformation, with more than 8,100 employees located in 32 countries and territories as of March 31, 2026. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consulting’s services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalized and independently managed. The Company generated $3.8 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2025. More information can be found at www.fticonsulting.com.

FTI Consulting, Inc.
555 12^th Street NW
Washington, DC 20004
+1.202.312.9100

Investor Contact:
Mollie Hawkes
+1.617.747.1791
mollie.hawkes@fticonsulting.com

Media Contact:
Nick Emmons
+1.617.510.1676
nick.emmons@fticonsulting.com

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What is the 2026 Private Equity Value Creation Index from FTI Consulting (NYSE:FCN)?

The 2026 Value Creation Index is a global survey of 550+ senior private equity leaders. According to FTI Consulting, it analyzes how AI and M&A are driving faster value creation and highlights execution challenges across key value levers.

How is AI affecting value creation timelines in FTI Consulting’s 2026 FCN private equity survey?

AI is linked to much faster value realization in private equity. According to FTI Consulting, 66% of respondents report AI-related benefits within 12 months, up from 34% last year, though only 31% rate AI implementation as efficient or mostly efficient.

Why does FTI Consulting’s 2026 Index say M&A is the top value lever for FCN’s private equity clients?

M&A rose from the lowest-ranked lever in 2025 to the top priority in 2026. According to FTI Consulting, 51% of respondents exceeded their M&A business case, and respondents ranking M&A as top value generator increased from 7% to 24% year over year.

What execution gaps did FTI Consulting identify in M&A and AI in the 2026 FCN Value Creation Index?

Execution remains a key constraint across levers. According to FTI Consulting, only 35% of firms view M&A implementation as efficient or very efficient, while just 31% report efficient or mostly efficient AI implementation despite faster time-to-value metrics.

Who are the high performers in FTI Consulting’s 2026 FCN private equity survey and how do they differ?

High performers are firms reporting returns above expectations over the past 12 months. According to FTI Consulting, they deploy growth levers at nearly twice the rate of peers, achieve smoother M&A implementation, and more often exceed their AI business cases.