Deloitte CFO Survey: Confidence Recovers Amid Uneven Economic Outlook
Deloitte's latest CFO Signals™ report indicates North American chief financial officers' confidence in their own companies rebounded in Q3 2026, even as executives remain cautious about the broader economy.
New York – Chief financial officers (CFOs) in North America saw their confidence in their own companies rise in the third quarter of 2026, despite a continued uneven outlook for the wider economy. Deloitte's CFO Signals™ survey reveals that while executives are optimistic about their firms' financial prospects, their appetite for risk is cooling and concerns about technology are increasing.
The survey's CFO Confidence Score edged up to 6.1 from 5.9 in the previous quarter, returning to the "high" confidence range. A significant 90% of surveyed CFOs expressed optimism about their companies' financial performance. However, only 37.5% rated the current North American economy favorably.
Technology-related concerns emerged as a prominent challenge. The deployment of new technologies, including generative AI, was cited as the most significant internal concern by 50% of respondents. Cybersecurity topped the list of external worries, also cited by 50% of CFOs.
CFOs showed a slight decrease in their willingness to take on greater risks, with 53% believing it is a good time for such actions, down from 59% in the prior quarter. Financing options remained relatively attractive, with 55% finding equity financing appealing and 50% viewing debt financing favorably.
Growth expectations presented a mixed picture. CFOs anticipate revenue to grow by 4.6% and capital expenditures to increase by 4.3% over the next year. However, expectations for earnings, dividends, wages, and hiring saw a decline.