⚠️CHART OF THE WEEK: US bankruptcies hit a 15-year high

In Q1, 188 big companies declared a bankruptcy in the US

Author

Global Markets Investor
April 19, 2025

188 US large companies declared bankruptcy in Q1 2025, the most in 15 years. This is up 35% from 139 recorded last year.

In 2024, big bankruptcies reached 694, the most in 14 years. These are public companies with either assets or liabilities above $2 million or private companies with either assets or liabilities above $10 million.

⚠️US large bankruptcies hit the highest level since the aftermath of the Great Financial Crisis:

The number of bankruptcy filings in the US reached 694 in 2024

globalmarketsinvestor.beehiiv.com/p/us-large-bankruptcies-hit-the-highest

This is still way below the Great Financial Crisis levels. In other words, the current level of bankruptcies might be associated with a mild recession.

Among sectors, industrials recorded the most bankruptcies last quarter of 32.

This was followed by consumer discretionary and healthcare, at 24 and 13.

As a huge amount of debt matures, companies increasingly struggle to refinance and repay their debt at much higher interest rates than before 2022.

🚨US layoffs are surging at a recessionary pace

February job report showed a lot of labor market weakness

globalmarketsinvestor.beehiiv.com/p/us-layoffs-are-surging-at-a-recessionary-pace

⚠️Portfolio performance review for Q1 2025

Assessment of my long-term investment portfolio as of March 2025

globalmarketsinvestor.beehiiv.com/p/portfolio-performance-review-for-q1-2025

⚠️US bankruptcies are skyrocketing

Is the US economy heading into a recession?

globalmarketsinvestor.beehiiv.com/p/us-bankruptcies-are-skyrocketing

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