Perspective from the Center: Mid-Year 2026 Middle Market Indicator
The Mid-Year 2026 Middle Market Indicator reveals a segment that remains resilient but is becoming more selective about where it invests time, talent and capital.
Insights & Research
Strategy & Growth
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Social Enterprises In The Middle Market
Middle market firms ended 2025 with strong revenue growth, but new data reveals that growth is increasingly concentrated among larger companies.
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Strategy & Growth: The Role of Scale in Middle Market Decision-Making
Research on decision-making in a “tradeoff economy” suggests that company size plays a meaningful role in how leaders evaluate risk, prioritize investment, and pursue growth.
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Drake Cooper Secures it’s Future through 100% Employee Ownership
Learn how a middle market advertising agency transitioned from a founder-led business to a 100% employee-owned company. The case explores how the ESOP structure helped drive growth, improve retention and strengthen financial performance in an industry known for high turnover and ongoing consolidation.
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The Decision-Making Mindsets that Shape Performance
What drives performance in today’s middle market? While industry, size and external conditions all matter, a more fundamental driver lies in how leaders make tradeoff decisions under pressure.
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A View Through An Industry Lens of Year-End 2025 Data
NCMM’s June 2025 Middle Market Indicator data shows that risk priorities and preparedness vary significantly by industry.
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Back-Office Investment Enables Profitable Growth for 4J Energy
In the middle market, growth opportunities often outpace available cash, forcing companies to carefully balance ambition with financial discipline. Learn how one middle market company addressed this challenge by investing in its back office.
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2025 Year-End Center Perspective
Middle market performance in 2025 reflects a year of stability and incremental improvement following earlier fluctuations.
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Year in Review: 2025 Wrapped for the Middle Market
2025 was a year of recalibration for the U.S. middle market.
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Private Equity (and Debt): A Growth Engine for Middle Market Firms
NCMM research shows that private equity and private debt are increasingly filling the gap in lending from traditional banks.
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The 2025 Canadian Middle Market
Building on its 2024 debut, NCMM and Visa’s latest research examines how Canadian middle market companies are navigating changing economic conditions, trade dynamics, and growing investments in technology and AI.
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Transforming Risk to Readiness: A Roadmap for the Lower Middle Market
Lower middle market companies are navigating heightened risks from supply chain disruptions, cybersecurity threats, and rapid digitization.
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