JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) reported first-quarter revenue that exceeded expectations Tuesday, driven by increased market volatility that boosted equity trading activity.
Market conditions were influenced by geopolitical tensions, including the Iran conflict, as well as concerns over disruptions tied to artificial intelligence technologies. These dynamics contributed to higher trading volumes as clients adjusted portfolios and hedged risk exposures.
Markets revenue rose 20% during the quarter ended March 31, aligning with similar gains reported by peers such as Goldman Sachs.
The bank also benefited from strong dealmaking activity, with executives expressing optimism that 2026 could see a surge in large-scale transactions, including potential IPOs in the AI and space sectors.
During the quarter, JPMorgan served as bookrunner for Amazon’s $37 billion bond issuance and acted as a lead adviser to AES on a $33.4 billion take-private transaction. Advisory fees increased 28%, the highest growth among major Wall Street banks, according to Dealogic data.
On a consolidated basis, adjusted revenue totaled $50.54 billion, surpassing Bloomberg consensus estimates of $49.26 billion. Net income rose to $16.5 billion, or $5.94 per share, compared with $14.6 billion, or $5.07 per share, in the prior-year quarter.
