AI Boom Could Disrupt $3.5 Trillion Credit Markets
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 days ago
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Should l Buy UBS?
Source: Newsfilter
- Rising Default Risks: UBS analyst Matthew Mish anticipates that leveraged loans and private credit markets could see $75 billion to $120 billion in new defaults by year-end, reflecting the pressure AI transformation places on companies, particularly software and data services firms owned by private equity.
- Delayed Market Reaction: Mish notes that the market has been slow to react to the rapid advancements in AI technology, leading investors to reassess credit risks, especially after software firms were hit hard, indicating that credit markets may be the next area affected.
- Credit Crunch Risks: Mish warns that if the pace of AI transition accelerates, default rates could double, potentially triggering a credit crunch in loan markets, affecting funding channels and causing broader economic repercussions.
- Industry Classification Impact: Mish categorizes companies into three groups, indicating that those creating foundational large language models like Anthropic and OpenAI may emerge as winners, while private equity-owned software firms with high debt levels face greater risks, highlighting a reshuffling of winners and losers within the industry.
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Analyst Views on UBS
Wall Street analysts forecast UBS stock price to rise
11 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
2 Hold
2 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 42.260
Low
39.12
Averages
52.09
High
71.73
Current: 42.260
Low
39.12
Averages
52.09
High
71.73
About UBS
UBS Group AG is a Switzerland-based holding company and conducts its operations through UBS AG and its subsidiaries. The company operates as a wealth manager with focused asset management and investment banking capabilities and a capital-light and cash-generative business model. The Company comprises four business divisions: Global Wealth Management, which provides tailored advice and solutions to its clients around the globe; Personal & Corporate Banking division provides comprehensive financial products and services to private, corporate and institutional clients in Switzerland; Asset Management division offers investment capabilities and styles across all traditional and alternative asset classes, as well as advisory support to institutions; Investment Bank provides investment advice, financial solutions and capital markets access to institutional, corporate and wealth management clients.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Rising Default Risks: UBS analysts project that corporate loan defaults could reach between $75 billion and $120 billion over the next year, particularly impacting software and data services firms owned by private equity, thereby exacerbating instability in the credit markets.
- Delayed Market Reaction: Analysts note that the market has been slow to respond to the rapid advancements in AI technology, with many investors failing to timely recalibrate their views on credit evaluations, leading to an underestimation of credit risks that could trigger broader credit tightening.
- Potential Credit Crisis: In a worst-case scenario, default rates could double the baseline estimates, resulting in a sharp decline in liquidity in the credit markets, creating what is known as a 'tail risk' that could severely impact many companies.
- Industry Classification Impact: Mish categorizes companies into three groups, indicating that creators of foundational large language models like Anthropic and OpenAI are likely to emerge as winners, while high-debt private equity-owned software firms face greater survival pressures and may be eliminated in the AI transformation.
See More
- Rising Default Risks: UBS analyst Matthew Mish anticipates that leveraged loans and private credit markets could see $75 billion to $120 billion in new defaults by year-end, reflecting the pressure AI transformation places on companies, particularly software and data services firms owned by private equity.
- Delayed Market Reaction: Mish notes that the market has been slow to react to the rapid advancements in AI technology, leading investors to reassess credit risks, especially after software firms were hit hard, indicating that credit markets may be the next area affected.
- Credit Crunch Risks: Mish warns that if the pace of AI transition accelerates, default rates could double, potentially triggering a credit crunch in loan markets, affecting funding channels and causing broader economic repercussions.
- Industry Classification Impact: Mish categorizes companies into three groups, indicating that those creating foundational large language models like Anthropic and OpenAI may emerge as winners, while private equity-owned software firms with high debt levels face greater risks, highlighting a reshuffling of winners and losers within the industry.
See More
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