The M & A market appears to be heating up, and Goldman Sachs is betting stocks such as TripAdvisor and Zoom Communications could benefit. Regional bank Fifth Third announced Monday it would acquire rival Comerica for nearly $11 billion in an all-stock deal . The deal sent Comerica shares higher by 13%. AMD also skyrocketed 35% after it reached a deal with OpenAI that could lead to the ChatGPT parent taking a 10% stake in the semiconductor manufacturer. The growing enthusiasm in the dealmaking world comes as companies see the Trump administration as more supportive of M & A activity, with the White House easing regulations across industries. Goldman Sachs has a few names in mind that could get an M & A boost in the near future. The bank compiles a U.S. M & A Candidates basket, which is made up of companies Goldman analysts think have at least a 15% chance of being acquired over the next year. TripAdvisor and Zoom Communications made the list. The two stocks are up sharply over the past six months with the former advancing nearly 36% and the latter gaining 19.5%. Three other stocks that made Goldman’s basket are Unity Software, financial software maker nCino and “Grand Theft Auto” game maker Take-Two Interactive. Unity has more than doubled over the past six months, while Take-Two has soared 32%. Shares of nCino are also up 22% in that time. To be sure, it’s not confirmed that any of the companies listed here are in talks regarding or exploring a deal. However, if the M & A market continues to heat up, investors may want to take a look at these names. ( Learn the best 2026 strategies from inside the NYSE with Josh Brown and others at CNBC PRO Live. Tickets and info here . )
