Financing: The Part That Pays RentWide moat

Goldman Sachs (GS) — moat facet

Goldman turned hedge-fund lending into a rent roll, and it has grown every year while trading revenue went up and down.

The steadiest part of Goldman's trading business is not trading at all. It is financing: prime brokerage, repurchase agreements and structured lending to the funds and institutions that trade with it. Record financing revenues were $11.4 billion in 2025, and the firm puts the compound growth rate at 17% from 2021 to 20251. The series ran $6.03 billion, $7.20 billion, $7.89 billion, $9.28 billion and $11.45 billion across those five years2, close to double3.

FICC and equities financing revenues ($bn)6.0320217.2020227.8920239.28202411.452025Goldman Sachs Q4 2025 earnings presentation
Up every year, nearly doubling in four.

Financing was 37% of combined FICC and equities revenue in 20254. On the restated basis, FICC financing grew from $2,832 million in 2023 to $4,251 million in 2025, and equities financing from $5,060 million to $7,195 million5.

The reason this matters is that financing is paid like rent. A hedge fund that borrows against its positions pays interest every day it holds them, whether markets are busy or quiet. Intermediation, by comparison, averaged $17.6 billion a year from 2021 to 2025 and ranged from $15.8 billion to $19.6 billion6. Financing rose every year across the same period7.

It also ties clients in. A fund that keeps its securities, margin loans and derivative collateral with one prime broker faces real work to move them, which is why the business tends to stay where it is once placed.

By line item, the equities business earned net interest income of $674 million in 2025, a small part of its total; most of its revenue came through market making and commissions8. The first half of 2026 brought equities financing of $5,867 million, up from $3,351 million, and FICC financing of $2,278 million, up from $2,109 million9.

The second quarter of 2026 continued the run, with record FICC financing of $1,216 million and equities financing of $3,259 million10. A rent roll is proved when business is slow. If financing revenue fell in a year when Goldman had not cut its balance sheet, clients would have moved their books elsewhere.

Moat trajectory: Widening

Financing $6.0bn (2021) to $11.4bn (2025).

The number that tests this moat
Moat Explorer calc
FICC plus equities financing revenue, latest quarter
$4,475M (Q2 2026: FICC $1,216M + Equities $3,259M)

The recurring part of trading revenue; a decline while the balance sheet held would mean clients were moving their prime books.

How it's calculated: FICC financing plus equities financing, Q2 2026 earnings release.
Source: Moat Explorer calculation from Goldman Sachs filings ↗
⚠ Threats to the moat
⚠ THREAT 01
Financing Is Lending to Leveraged Funds
Goldman's fastest-growing revenue is a loan book to hedge funds, secured but growing faster than the capital behind it.
References
  1. ReportedRecord financing revenues were $11.4 billion in 2025, and the firm puts the compound growth rate at 17% from 2021 to 2025.
    Goldman Sachs fourth-quarter 2025 earnings presentation and strategy update, Form 8-K exhibit 99.2 - Global Banking & Markets: league tables, wallet share, clients, financing and intermediation. — FY2025 · publ. 15 January 2026 · source ↗
  2. ReportedThe series ran $6.03 billion, $7.20 billion, $7.89 billion, $9.28 billion and $11.45 billion across those five years, close to double.
    Goldman Sachs fourth-quarter 2025 earnings presentation and strategy update, Form 8-K exhibit 99.2 - Global Banking & Markets: league tables, wallet share, clients, financing and intermediation. — FY2025 · publ. 15 January 2026 · source ↗
  3. Moat Explorer calcThe series ran $6.03 billion, $7.20 billion, $7.89 billion, $9.28 billion and $11.45 billion across those five years, close to double.
    Moat Explorer calculation from Goldman Sachs' reported figures ($ millions unless stated; calendar years). Growth: net revenues 2025 58,283 / 53,512 - 1 = 8.9%, about 9%; 2022 47,365 / 59,339 - 1 = -20.2%; net earnings 2022 11,261 / 21,635 - 1 = -47.9%, nearly half; pre-tax earnings 21,852 / 10,739 = 2.03 times, about double; compensation 18,906 / 16,706 - 1 = 13.2%; total operating expenses 37,544 / 33,767 - 1 = 11.2%; preferred dividends 876 / 751 - 1 = 16.6%; CEO pay 47 / 39 - 1 = 20.5%; equities 16,535 / 11,549 - 1 = 43.2%; FICC 14,522 / 12,150 - 1 = 19.5%; FICC intermediation 10,271 / 9,318 - 1 = 10.2%; FICC financing 4,251 / 2,832 - 1 = 50.1%; Global Banking & Markets 41,453 / 29,994 - 1 = 38.2%; GBM pre-tax 17,574 / 11,000 - 1 = 59.8%; advisory 4,726 / 3,299 - 1 = 43.3%; underwriting (1,784 + 2,829) / (1,153 + 1,763) = 4,613 / 2,916 - 1 = 58.2%; investment banking fees 9,339 / 6,215 - 1 = 50.3%; 9,339 - 6,215 = 3,124, about $3.1 billion; Q2 2026 pace 3,395 x 4 = 13,580, 13,580 / 9,339 = 1.45; financing 11.45 / 6.03 = 1.90, close to double; intermediation best/worst 19.6 / 15.8 = 1.24; equity underwriting Q2 985 / 428 - 1 = 130%; H1 2026 equities 12,742 / 8,493 - 1 = 50%. Assets under supervision: 4,041 / 3,606 - 1 = 12.1% (six months); 3,606 / 3,137 - 1 = 15.0%; Q2 2026 rise 4,041 - 3,650 = 391 = inflows 230 + appreciation 161; management and other fees 11,538 / 10,415 - 1 = 10.8%; historical principal investments 9.4 - 6.0 = 3.4 billion; alternatives target 750 - 459 = 291 billion, 291 / 4.5 = 64.7, about 65 a year; 291 x 0.58% = 1.69 billion, about 1.7 billion; Shell mandate 40 / 4,041 = 1.0%; AWM ROE 12.5 + 2.3 = 14.8, near 15%. Shares of revenue: GBM 15,520 / 20,338 = 76.3% (Q2 2026), 41,453 / 58,283 = 71.1% (2025), 29,994 / 46,254 = 64.8% (2023); AWM 16,679 / 58,283 = 28.6% (2025), 16,316 / 53,512 = 30.5% (2024), 14,202 / 46,254 = 30.7% (2023), 4,597 / 20,338 = 22.6% (Q2 2026); equities 7,416 / 15,520 = 47.8% of the segment in Q2 2026; advisory 4,726 / 58,283 = 8.1%; GBM pre-tax 17,574 / 21,852 = 80.4%; FICC plus equities 14,522 + 16,535 = 31,057; Q2 2026 financing 1,216 + 3,259 = 4,475; durable revenues 26.3 / 58.283 = 45.1% (2025), 12.2 / 36.546 = 33.4% (2019); GBM assets 1,582,670 / 1,809,320 = 87.5%; brokered and sweep deposits (47 + 34) / 501 = 16.2%; compensation 18,906 / 37,544 = 50.4% of operating expenses; preferred dividends 876 / 17,176 = 5.1% of net earnings; financing against alternatives fees 11.45 / 2.37 = 4.8, about five times. Margins: GBM pre-tax margin 17,574 / 41,453 = 42.4% (2025), 11,000 / 29,994 = 36.7% (2023); AWM 4,127 / 16,679 = 24.7% (2025), 4,865 / 16,316 = 29.8% (2024), 1,763 / 14,202 = 12.4% (2023). Balance sheet and capital: total assets 2,128 / 1,675.972 - 1 = 27.0% (end-2024 to June 2026); equity 121,996 to about 123,000, almost unchanged; deposits 558 / 433 - 1 = 28.9%, about 29%; loans to deposits 261 / 558 = 46.8%, about 47%; JPMorgan deposits 2,559,320 / 501,000 = 5.1 times; CET1 headroom 12.9 - 11.4 = 1.5 points, about 150 basis points; a repeat of the first-half fall 12.9 - (14.3 - 12.9) = 11.5%; basic shares 298.4 / 322.9 - 1 = -7.6%, about 8% fewer; TBVPS 335.49 / 316.02 - 1 = 6.2%; buyback price 935.45 / 984.57 - 1 = -5.0%; first-half ROE 21.7 - 1.7 = 20.0%; Platform Solutions pre-tax losses 783 + 1,047 + 1,989 + 2,175 + 1,075 = 7,069, about $7.1 billion. Valuation: trailing twelve months to June 2026 net revenues 58,283 - 29,645 + 37,565 = 66,203; net earnings 17,176 - 8,461 + 12,258 = 20,973; diluted EPS 51.32 - 25.07 + 38.51 = 64.76; P/E 283,220 / 20,973 = 13.5; P/S 283,220 / 66,203 = 4.28; year-end P/E 263.64 / 17.176 = 15.35 (2025), 179.75 / 14.276 = 12.59 (2024), 125.80 / 8.516 = 14.77 (2023), 128.08 / 21.635 = 5.92 (2021); 52-week high 935.45 / 1,153.99 - 1 = -18.9%, about 19% below; Morgan Stanley gap 308.32 - 283.22 = 25.1 billion; market value on basic shares 298.4 x 935.45 = 279.1 billion. Further: Platform Solutions provisions against revenue (old basis) 1,728 / 1,502 = 115% (2022), 1,135 / 2,378 = 47.7%, about 48% (2023), 1,540 / 2,427 = 63.5%, about 63% (2024); 2021 to 2022 revenue fall 59,339 - 47,365 = 11,974, about $12 billion; Q2 2026 equities less Q1 7,416 - 5,326 = 2,090; AWM revenue 2025 16,679 / 16,316 - 1 = 2.2%; liquidity products 1,065 / 4,041 = 26.4%, about a quarter; AUS year on year 4,041 / 3,293 - 1 = 22.7%, about 23%; alternatives 459 / 2,976 = 15.4% of long-term AUS; private banking and lending H1 2026 638 + 689 = 1,327, x 2 = 2,654, near $2.7 billion; VaR factors before diversification 82 + 65 + 19 + 30 = 196; GBM Q1 2026 12,738 / 17,227 = 73.9%, about 74%; transaction banking and private bank deposits (70 + 101) / 501 = 34.1%, about a third; GBM assets share 87.5%, nearly nine-tenths; EMEA 2025 14,155 / 12,250 - 1 = 15.6%, about 16%; unsecured long-term borrowings 285,500 / 242,634 - 1 = 17.7%, about 18%; JPMorgan deposits 2,559,320 / 2,406,032 - 1 = 6.4%; Goldman deposits 501 / 433 - 1 = 15.7%, about 16%; H1 2026 financing 2,278 + 5,867 = 8,145; Q2 2026 compensation 6,104 / 4,685 - 1 = 30.3%; diluted shares 321.4 / 306.5 - 1 = 4.9%, about 5%; advisory 2025 4,726 / 3,534 - 1 = 33.7%, about 34%; underwriting 2025 (1,784 + 2,829) / (1,677 + 2,521) = 4,613 / 4,198 - 1 = 9.9%, about 10%; debt share of underwriting 2,829 / 4,613 = 61.3%, about three-fifths; wealth channel 1,041 / 862 - 1 = 20.8%, about 21%; CET1 ratio 101,657 / 790,640 = 12.86%; 101,657 / 800,640 = 12.70%, so 10 billion of RWAs costs about 16 basis points; GBM pre-tax Q2 2026 7,499 / 4,075 - 1 = 84.0%; market value 2025 263.64 / 179.75 - 1 = 46.7% - Global Banking & Markets arithmetic: growth rates, revenue shares and margins. — FY2019-Q2 2026 · publ. September 2026 · source ↗
    Method: Arithmetic on figures reported in Goldman Sachs' Forms 10-K and 10-Q, its earnings releases and presentations, JPMorgan's Form 10-K and market data; operands shown in the source line.
  4. ReportedFinancing was 37% of combined FICC and equities revenue in 2025.
    Goldman Sachs fourth-quarter 2025 earnings presentation and strategy update, Form 8-K exhibit 99.2 - Global Banking & Markets: league tables, wallet share, clients, financing and intermediation. — FY2025 · publ. 15 January 2026 · source ↗
  5. ReportedOn the restated basis, FICC financing grew from $2,832 million in 2023 to $4,251 million in 2025, and equities financing from $5,060 million to $7,195 million.
    Goldman Sachs Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - segment results on the basis restated in the fourth quarter of 2025: net revenues by line, pre-tax earnings, return on equity, average common equity, loans and assets by segment for 2023-2025 - Global Banking & Markets segment results. — FY2023-FY2025 · publ. 25 February 2026 · source ↗
  6. ReportedIntermediation, by comparison, averaged $17.6 billion a year from 2021 to 2025 and ranged from $15.8 billion to $19.6 billion.
    Goldman Sachs fourth-quarter 2025 earnings presentation and strategy update, Form 8-K exhibit 99.2 - Global Banking & Markets: league tables, wallet share, clients, financing and intermediation. — FY2025 · publ. 15 January 2026 · source ↗
  7. ReportedFinancing rose every year across the same period.
    Goldman Sachs fourth-quarter 2025 earnings presentation and strategy update, Form 8-K exhibit 99.2 - Global Banking & Markets: league tables, wallet share, clients, financing and intermediation. — FY2025 · publ. 15 January 2026 · source ↗
  8. ReportedBy line item, the equities business earned net interest income of $674 million in 2025, a small part of its total; most of its revenue came through market making and commissions.
    Goldman Sachs Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 - segment results on the basis restated in the fourth quarter of 2025: net revenues by line, pre-tax earnings, return on equity, average common equity, loans and assets by segment for 2023-2025 - Global Banking & Markets segment results. — FY2023-FY2025 · publ. 25 February 2026 · source ↗
  9. ReportedThe first half of 2026 brought equities financing of $5,867 million, up from $3,351 million, and FICC financing of $2,278 million, up from $2,109 million.
    Goldman Sachs second-quarter 2026 earnings results, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - segment and line revenues for the quarter and half, earnings, balance sheet, capital, VaR, assets under supervision and the dividend increase - Global Banking & Markets revenue by line for the quarter and half. — Q2 2026 · publ. 14 July 2026 · source ↗
  10. ReportedThe second quarter of 2026 continued the run, with record FICC financing of $1,216 million and equities financing of $3,259 million.
    Goldman Sachs second-quarter 2026 earnings results, Form 8-K exhibit 99.1 - segment and line revenues for the quarter and half, earnings, balance sheet, capital, VaR, assets under supervision and the dividend increase - Global Banking & Markets revenue by line for the quarter and half. — Q2 2026 · publ. 14 July 2026 · source ↗
Sources
Generated September 28, 2026