
Goldman Sachs Investment Banking is a division of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., a publicly traded American investment bank founded in 1869 and headquartered in New York City, trading on NYSE under ticker GS. The division ranked number one worldwide in both announced and completed M&A advisory in 2025 and anchors Goldman's Global Banking & Markets segment, which generated $41.45 billion in FY2025 net revenues.
Parent Company
Founded
1869
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Goldman Sachs Investment Banking | The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | Division |
Goldman Sachs began in 1869 when Marcus Goldman opened a commercial paper business in Lower Manhattan. The firm's investment banking pedigree formed through the early twentieth century, including underwriting the 1906 Sears, Roebuck IPO, one of the first major retail stock offerings, and pioneering methods of valuing companies on earnings rather than assets.
The modern advisory franchise rose under Sidney Weinberg, who led the firm from 1930 to 1969 and built deep corporate relationships, including a decades-long Ford Motor Company relationship that produced the landmark 1956 Ford IPO. The firm established itself as the premier M&A advisor in the 1980s and 1990s, advising on era-defining transactions.
After converting to a public company in 1999, Goldman's investment banking division expanded globally. The firm led league tables through the dot-com era, the 2000s LBO boom, the post-2008 recovery, and the 2021 SPAC and tech M&A surge. In 2025, the division delivered the second-highest investment banking fees in firm history and retained the top global M&A ranking it has held for decades.
What does Goldman Sachs do?
Goldman Sachs provides investment banking advisory (M&A, restructuring), underwriting (IPOs, debt issuance), securities trading (equities, fixed income, currencies, commodities), asset management for institutional clients, and private wealth management for ultra-high-net-worth individuals. The firm serves corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals globally. In FY2025, the firm ranked #1 globally in announced and completed M&A.
Is Goldman Sachs publicly traded?
Yes, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol GS. The company went public in May 1999, ending 130 years as a private partnership. There is no controlling shareholder. Major institutional holders include Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Corporation. The firm has a market capitalization exceeding $150 billion as of 2026.
What is Goldman Sachs' annual revenue?
Goldman Sachs reported FY2025 net revenues of $58.28 billion, up 9 percent from $53.51 billion in FY2024. Net earnings were $17.18 billion, and diluted EPS was $51.32. Global Banking & Markets contributed $41.45 billion, Asset & Wealth Management contributed $16.68 billion, and Platform Solutions contributed $151 million. The firm increased its quarterly dividend by 12.5 percent to $4.50 per share beginning in Q1 2026.
Who is Goldman Sachs' CEO?
David Solomon has served as Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs since October 2018 (CEO) and January 2019 (Chairman), succeeding Lloyd Blankfein. Under Solomon's leadership, the firm has grown revenues by 60 percent since its 2020 Investor Day, improved returns by 500 basis points, and delivered total shareholder returns of more than 340 percent. Solomon led the strategic retreat from consumer banking and the refocus on institutional businesses.
When was Goldman Sachs founded?
Goldman Sachs was founded in 1869 by Marcus Goldman in New York City as a commercial paper business. Samuel Sachs joined in 1882, and the firm was renamed Goldman Sachs & Co. The firm joined the New York Stock Exchange in 1896 and went public in 1999 after 130 years as a private partnership, raising approximately $3.7 billion in its IPO.
What was the 1MDB scandal?
The 1MDB scandal involved Goldman Sachs helping raise approximately $6.5 billion for the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB between 2012 and 2013. The funds were looted by Malaysian officials and their associates. Goldman Sachs paid approximately $2.9 billion to the U.S. Department of Justice in 2020 and reached additional settlements with other regulators, with total costs exceeding $5 billion. Former Goldman Sachs partner Tim Leissner pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money and violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
What is happening with the Apple Card?
In 2025, Goldman Sachs signed an agreement to transition the Apple Card program to another issuer. The transition resulted in $2.26 billion in markdowns on the outstanding credit card portfolio as the loans were transferred to held for sale, largely offset by a $2.48 billion reserve reduction. The firm also transitioned the General Motors card program. These actions effectively complete Goldman Sachs' exit from consumer banking, which began in 2022 and involved approximately $3 billion in cumulative losses.
The division operates under firm-wide ESG advisory and sustainable finance commitments. Goldman's role in the 1MDB scandal remains its defining ethics case: the firm paid more than $5 billion in global settlements in 2020 over its role in the Malaysian fund's bond offerings, including a deferred prosecution agreement.
Goldman Sachs ranked number one in global M&A advisory in 2025 per Dealogic and LSEG league tables, and consistently wins Institutional Investor and Euromoney awards for advisory and underwriting excellence.
1MDB scandal (2020): Goldman paid over $5 billion in penalties globally for its role underwriting $6.5 billion in bonds for Malaysia's 1MDB fund, from which billions were looted. A Goldman partner was convicted in the US.
Archegos fallout (2021): Goldman was a prime broker to Archegos Capital and moved quickly to unwind positions, limiting its losses relative to peers but drawing scrutiny over risk management practices shared across prime brokerage.
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truist Financial | USA | 2020 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Market Positioning: Goldman Sachs Investment Banking competes with 1 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Finance FintechOwned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual)
Global asset management firm headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and subsidiary of MassMutual, managing investments across fixed income, real estate, and private markets.
Barings is privately owned, unlike Goldman Sachs Investment Banking which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Finance FintechOwned by Bloomberg L.P.
Industry-standard financial data and analytics platform used by approximately 325,000 subscribers at banks, hedge funds, and institutional investors worldwide.
Bloomberg Terminal is privately owned, unlike Goldman Sachs Investment Banking which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Finance FintechOwned by Mastercard Incorporated
Flagship card brand and payment network of Mastercard Incorporated, the world's second-largest payment network, covering credit, debit, and prepaid cards globally.
Mastercard operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Finance FintechOwned by Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America
American asset management brand with about $1.4 trillion in assets under management, operating as the investment management arm of TIAA since 2014.
Nuveen is privately owned, unlike Goldman Sachs Investment Banking which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Finance FintechOwned by TD Bank, N.A.
TD Bank is the U.S. retail banking brand of Toronto-Dominion Bank, operating about 1,100 East Coast branches as "America's Most Convenient Bank" under a federal asset cap since 2024.
TD Bank is privately owned, unlike Goldman Sachs Investment Banking which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Finance FintechOwned by Trading 212
UK-based commission-free trading platform offering stocks, ETFs, and crypto to over 4.5 million clients across Europe.
Trading 212 is privately owned, unlike Goldman Sachs Investment Banking which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Discover popular brands and companies in the Finance & Fintech category and related searches from other users.

Block's buy-now-pay-later brand, offering interest-free installment payments across a global merchant network, acquired in 2022 for $29 billion.

Comprehensive investment management technology platform developed by BlackRock, providing portfolio management, risk analytics, and trading solutions for institutional investors and asset managers.

Apple's mobile payment and digital wallet service enabling contactless payments and financial transactions on Apple devices.