GS Finance notes tied to S&P 500 with 17.22% buffer
The offered notes are unsecured, cash‑settled, principal‑at‑risk notes issued by GS Finance Corp.The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc..
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
The offered notes are unsecured, cash‑settled, principal‑at‑risk notes issued by GS Finance Corp.The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.. The notes reference the S&P 500® Index with an initial underlier level of 6,368.85 (set on March 27, 2026). The aggregate face amount is $2,000,000 and each $1,000 face amount pays at maturity on April 15, 2027 an amount determined by the index performance from March 27, 2026 to the determination date (April 12, 2027).
Key economic features: no periodic interest; a buffer of 17.22% (buffer level 82.78% of initial) that produces an absolute positive return if the index decline is within the buffer; a buffer rate ≈ 120.8% that magnifies losses if the final index is below the buffer level; and a capped upside of $1,100 per $1,000 face amount. Credit risk of GS Finance Corp. and The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. applies.
Positive
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Negative
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Insights
Legal and tax framing: the notes are structured, cash‑settled, and carry uncertain tax treatment.
The notes are characterized in counsel opinion as a pre‑paid derivative contract, but the tax treatment is expressly described as uncertain; the issuer will treat the notes in line with its stated opinion absent contrary guidance. Holders should note potential exposure to 871(m) and FATCA rules.
Material legal dependencies include the guarantee by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., the senior indenture terms, and the prospectus supplements listed. Any change in tax or regulatory interpretation could alter timing or character of income recognized by holders.
Economic mechanics: capped upside, asymmetric downside with a magnifier below the buffer.
The notes provide upside participation up to a fixed cap ($1,100 per $1,000) and convert moderate index declines into positive returns via the absolute underlier return feature when declines are within 17.22%. If the index falls more than the buffer, losses are amplified by the buffer rate (~120.8%), potentially resulting in total loss.
Investors should weigh lack of interest, issuer/guarantor credit risk, and limited secondary market liquidity disclosed in the supplement; market value prior to maturity can be materially lower than face.
Key Figures
Key Terms
Buffer rate financial
Absolute underlier return financial
Maximum upside settlement amount financial
Pre‑paid derivative contract regulatory
FATCA withholding regulatory
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What does GS (GS Finance Corp.) guarantee mean for these notes?
How is the cash settlement at maturity calculated for GS notes linked to the S&P 500?
What is the buffer and how does it affect potential losses?
Will these notes pay interest during their term?
What are the key dates for these notes (trade, issue, determination, maturity)?
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

