WSO Weekly Wrap-up

April 18, 2026

Hey WSO Monkey,

M&A is officially roaring back, though some shops are clearly still stuck in the mud. This week we’re cringing at arrogant stock pitch fails and debating if starting as an analyst at 27 makes you a senior citizen. We’re also talking about some creative hustle needed to crack an EB. Catch up when you can close the model for five minutes!

-Patrick

Top Discussions

  1. Broke Into M&A IB at (EVR/PJT/CVP) in NYC as an International Non-Tranditional, and Non-Target Student (6 Banking Interviews Received) - "I tried to be super creative with it. One thing that would do, especially if they are a senior banker, because I spend a lot of my time targeting more senior people, is I will try to find if they spoke at an event, a conference, or a panel, and then I will drop in a quote from that and try to reference that so that's the one thing that I did. I also tried to see if they were a college athlete and try to talk about a game that, let's say, the basketball team has or something like that I could reference and show that, hey, I also played the same sports or did the same thing. There are just different ways to be as creative as possible, but the main thing here is around your use of your subject line."

  2. 2026 Q1: GS, JPM, MS, EVR Shine, UBS Falls as M&A Roars Back - "The broader takeaway is simple: the M&A recovery is real, but it is highly concentrated. The firms with clarity of strategy and strong client pull are widening the gap, while those still integrating, restructuring, or recalibrating are falling further behind—and in this cycle, that gap is becoming increasingly hard to close."

  3. Perplexity Stock Pitch Finals - "I have never in my life ever seen such a poor showing. Shame on perplexity for wasting the judges time on kids who cant answer what the PE of their "researched" company trades at, or basic financials. Also these kids are horribly arrogant, the way they talk to these judges is frankly embarrassing for everyone in our generation."

New Due Diligence Insights for an M&A Edge

As the M&A landscape continues to evolve, so do best practices in due diligence. SRS Acquiom keeps a close eye on that evolution in our latest study done in partnership with Mergermarket.

Our 2026 Best Practices in M&A Due Diligence study provides exclusive insights into the latest due diligence dynamics, uncovered through a survey of 150 senior executives at boutique, mid-market, and bulge-bracket U.S. investment banks.

What’s driving increasing complexity and timelines, the shifts in cyber security and tech due diligence, how much VDRs really cost, and more—it’s all here, all ready to help you sharpen your M&A edge.

Top Discussions (contd.)

  1. Q&A + Opinions Welcome; Does Commercial Due Diligence Actually Build ‘Investment + Evaluation’ Muscle Better Than IB? - "On the junior levels the bankers easily win. Then in mid+ potentially the consultants. At Partner level it’s irrelevant. Associate / sr aso to VP is probably the hardest promo hurdle until you go for Partner, so depends on where you want your steep ramp to be."

  2. 27 Too Old as Analyst I? - "I've seen it happen several times, no one cares about the age difference unless you make it an issue, its usually hard to recruit when you're older but you already have an offer in hand so congratulations. Its also more common in Canada to lateral into IB later onto you career."

  3. Q&A: Senior Analyst Working in Private Credit/Private Equity in Latin America - "Don't see many posts focused on Latin America. Feel free to reach out! Economics undergrad from the best university in LatAm. I was involved in several finance clubs and helped structured a PE course in partnership with a professional from Advent. Working with PE/Private Credit since 2019 as an intern. In LatAm, internships are close to a full time job..."

New Podcasts Coming in Hot 🔥

  • Before You Choose a Finance Career, Watch This

  • How I Broke Into GOLDMAN SACHS | Non-Target School

  • How to Break Into Goldman Sachs TMT Investment Banking With No Connections

Hot Jobs 💼

RE Credit Analyst - "The Analyst will assist with loan underwriting and portfolio management functions, working closely with senior originators and management..."

Associate Turnaround and Restructuring - "In this role, you will collaborate closely with professionals at all levels and across a wide range of industries. You will play an active role in diagnosing business challenges, conducting rigorous financial and operational analysis, building financial models, and delivering insights that support strategic decision-making..."

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Investment Banking Vice President - "This involves reviewing AI outputs for correctness, methodological rigour, and commercial relevance—then building evaluation criteria and model answers that reflect how things are actually done at top-tier banks…"

Private Equity Expert - "Mercor is recruiting U.S./UK/Canada/Europe/Australia-based Private Equity Experts for a research project with a leading foundational model AI lab."

Financial Modeling Expert - "In this highly visible role, you will deploy your deep expertise in financial modeling, valuation, and deal structuring to support major investment decisions across diverse sectors..."

WSO Mentor - "Are you an experienced professional with a background in investment banking, private equity, hedge funds, S&T, venture capital, asset management, equity research, quant finance, corporate dev, real estate finance, or top-tier consulting? Passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders? Wall Street Oasis (WSO) is expanding its Mentorship Program, and we're looking for outstanding professionals to join our mentor roster—an elite network supporting students and young professionals as they prepare for high-stakes careers. Whether you’re looking to give back, stay connected to rising talent, or sharpen your coaching skills, this role offers you the chance to make a meaningful impact, remotely and on your schedule..."

On Deck - Training 🎓

All in Eastern Standard Time

Stay Strong,
Patrick Curtis
CEO and Founder, WallStreetOasis.com

WSO Mobile App: iOS | Android

PS - We're also always looking to add resume reviewers and WSO Mentors to our team. Set your own pay (from $40/hr to up to $400/hr) to increase or decrease mentee flow. To submit an application, go here.

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