U.S. Large-Company Bankruptcies Hit 372 in H1, Highest First-Half Total in 16 Years
Updated
Updated · Benzinga · Jul 20
U.S. Large-Company Bankruptcies Hit 372 in H1, Highest First-Half Total in 16 Years
2 articles · Updated · Benzinga · Jul 20
Summary
372 large-company bankruptcies were recorded in the first half of 2026, topping the full-year 2022 total of 317 and marking a fourth straight year-over-year increase for the period.
Higher borrowing costs, rising expenses and geopolitical volatility pushed more companies to seek court protection, while total U.S. bankruptcy filings rose 12% to 310,550 and commercial filings increased 13% to 17,285.
72 filings in May and another 72 in June tied for the third-highest monthly count since July 2020, showing the pace stayed elevated through the end of the half.
50 industrial-company bankruptcies led all sectors, followed by 35 in consumer discretionary and 26 in healthcare, indicating the strain is spread across the economy rather than concentrated in one industry.