Deloitte: CFO Optimism Rises to 6.1 in Q3 as 83% Call US Equities Overvalued

CFO confidence in the economic and business climate rose to 6.1 in the third quarter from 5.9 in Q2, moving into Deloitte's "high" range, according to the firm's quarterly CFO Signals report released September 30, 2026. Ninety percent of surveyed finance chiefs reported greater optimism about their own companies' prospects. The survey covered 200 CFOs at North American companies valued above $1 billion. Risk appetite fell to 53% from 59% in Q2, though it remained above the two-year average of 51.7%. Eighty-three percent of CFOs considered U.S. equity markets overvalued, up 34% from the prior quarter, while equity and debt financing attractiveness held steady. Only 37.5% rated the current North American economy favorably, and 46.5% expect improvement over the next 12 months, down from 64% in Q1. Cybersecurity topped external risks, cited by half of respondents, followed by the economy (49%), inflation (48%) and supply chain disruption (47%).