Strategic Investment Outlook 2026

The Institutional Solutions team sets out the key investment themes for the year ahead.

16 December 2025

As we close out a year of geopolitical disruptions, a trade war, market volatility and the relentless AI capex wave, we offer our insights and outlook as investors assess their portfolios and consider the possible paths ahead.

Additional Contributors: Alla Harmsworth, Robertas Stancikas and Maureen Hughes

Strategic Investment Themes for 2026 and Beyond

In this short slide presentation, we outline the main issues investors face over the medium term and the key implications for portfolio design.

Strategic Investment Outlook 2026

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What We Discuss

In this video we outline our key themes for 2026:

Is AI Capex a bubble?
What does AI mean for the labor market?
Does US exceptionalism still hold?
What is the future of the dollar….. and what is the right allocation to gold?
Market concentration and valuation… what does this mean for positioning, risk, active vs passive?

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About the Author

This is a marketing communication. This information is provided by AllianceBernstein Limited, 60 London Wall, London, EC2M 5SJ. Registered in England, No. 2551144. AllianceBernstein Limited is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA - Reference Number 147956). It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or an invitation to purchase any security or other investment. The views and opinions expressed are based on our internal forecasts and should not be relied upon as an indication of future market performance. The value of investments in any of the Funds can go down as well as up and investors may not get back the full amount invested. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This information is directed at Professional Clients only and is not intended for public use.