The top teams for sales and corporate access are here. 

AI-driven dispersion and macroeconomic uncertainty made 2026 a year in which U.S. investors needed more help separating signal from noise. They turned to the sell-side teams that could put them in front of management and guide them through the volatility.

Extel’s latest results show who delivered. In corporate access, Morgan Stanley is voted No. 1 in the U.S., up from second last year, based on responses from 1,047 buy-side individuals at 564 firms. Jefferies climbs to second, BofA Securities jumps from fifth to third, and J.P. Morgan and UBS take fourth and fifth.

Olivia Lee, head of corporate access at Jefferies, says there were times this year when investors felt as though they were gripping the floor during an earthquake, which made in-person meetings with management more valuable than ever. Jen Fink, head of Americas corporate access at BofA Securities, says demand again outpaced supply, with clients’ needs growing in both breadth and sophistication.

In sales, J.P. Morgan is the new No. 1 generalist team, up from second, with Morgan Stanley is second and UBS rising from fifth to third. Morgan Stanley continues to lead the specialist ranking. Jose Yearwood, co-head of Americas cash equities sales at J.P. Morgan, describes a year of two halves, with a historic first half followed by sharply rising stock-specific volatility. Warren Ginsberg, head of U.S. advisory sales at UBS, calls it a rollercoaster, adding that clients have placed greater value on experienced salespeople to help them navigate it.

Across both articles, the leaders agree that AI is improving efficiency but raising the premium on trusted relationships. As Daniel Gaviria, global head of corporate access at Morgan Stanley, puts it, the technology makes direct engagement with management teams and experts even more important.

Read the full articles on corporate access and sales.