Goldman S&P 500‑Linked Notes: 125% Upside, 10% Buffer
GS Finance Corp. (guaranteed by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.) is offering medium‑term notes linked to the S&P 500® Index that pay no interest and can be automatically called.
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
GS Finance Corp. (guaranteed by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.) is offering medium‑term notes linked to the S&P 500® Index that pay no interest and can be automatically called. For each $1,000 face amount, investors receive $1,095 if the underlier on the call observation date is greater than or equal to the initial level; otherwise the maturity cash payment depends on the S&P 500’s performance, a 125% upside participation rate and a 10% buffer (buffer level = 90% of the initial level). The notes have an original issue price equal to face amount, an underwriting discount of 1.75%, and aggregate face amount shown of $2,206,000. Trade date is May 7, 2026, original issue date May 12, 2026, call observation date May 14, 2027, call payment date May 19, 2027, determination date May 8, 2028, and stated maturity May 11, 2028. Investors bear market risk in the underlier and the credit risk of GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.; the notes are cash‑settled and not equity or deposit instruments.
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Insights
Legal structure and tax characterization are explicitly limited and uncertain.
The offering is a book‑entry medium‑term note issued by GS Finance Corp. and guaranteed by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. The pricing supplement and referenced supplements govern terms; the notes are cash‑settled and carry issuer/guarantor credit risk.
Tax treatment is uncertain: counsel’s opinion treats the notes as a pre‑paid derivative contract, but the supplement states that the IRS could assert a different characterization; investors should consult tax advisors.
Payoff mixes capped upside, leveraged participation, and a limited buffer with full credit exposure.
The payoff provides 125% upside participation above the initial level on maturity (if not called) and a 10% buffer that mitigates losses only up to that threshold; below the buffer the loss formula applies and can produce substantial principal loss (example: a final level at 23% of initial yields a 33% cash settlement).
Liquidity is limited: the notes are unlisted, market making is non‑guaranteed, and the original issue price exceeds the model estimated value (underwriting discount 1.75%), which will compress over a stated schedule.
Key Figures
Key Terms
Automatic call financial
Buffer rate / Buffer amount financial
Pre‑paid derivative contract regulatory
Book‑entry form financial
Offering Details
FAQ
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What payoff does GS (GS Finance Corp.) offer if the notes are automatically called?
How does the maturity cash settlement work for the GS S&P 500‑linked notes?
What are the key dates for these GS notes (trade, issue, call, maturity)?
What credit and liquidity risks apply to the GS Finance Corp. notes?
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.


