KPMG finds transformation divide as proactive firms deliver 4.4x returns, revenue gains

A KPMG report titled Transforming with Confidence and Clarity in Volatile Times finds a stark "transformation divide" between organizations that act decisively and those that hesitate, with proactive companies posting 157% total shareholder returns compared with 35.7% for more passive peers and growing revenue at a 20.9% compound annual growth rate versus 6.6% for hesitant companies. The Feb. 18, 2026 release from KPMG International and KPMG LLP uses those figures to describe proactive firms as delivering "4.4 times higher total shareholder returns" and "triple the revenue growth."

KPMG says the findings are based on a mixed-methods approach that surveyed 400 C-suite executives and analyzed the market performance of more than 1,800 public companies, with results characterized as belonging to the "post-pandemic era." The press material, datelined New York, does not provide an exact calendar window for the TSR and CAGR calculations nor a published definition of what the report classifies as "proactive" versus "passive."

The report itself states, "The research finds that in the post-pandemic era, companies that pushed forward with transformation efforts saw 4.4 times higher total shareholder returns (157% vs. 35.7%) and triple the revenue growth (20.9% CAGR vs. 6.6%) compared to their more passive peers." That framing anchors the release's central claim that decisive transformation correlates with materially stronger financial outcomes among the cohort of public companies analyzed.

KPMG's press copy further frames the findings as prescriptive under current disruption: "The research … argues that in an era of constant volatility, the greatest risk is not moving too quickly, but failing to act at all." The release warns that "Market volatility will continue to become a challenge for companies. From geopolitical shocks, economic changes due to the advancement of AI, leaders are expected to be able to make the right decisions for long-term growth."

The release pairs its data with a leadership call to action, quoting a single-name attribution: "Now is the moment for leaders to challenge assumptions, close the execution gap, and build the capabilities that allow organizations to move confidently into the next wave of disruption," Jeanne closed. The report does not provide Jeanne's surname or role in the excerpted materials, an omission KPMG media relations will need to clarify alongside the report's methodological gaps.

Alongside the main analysis, the Feb. 18 materials reference related KPMG initiatives and research including a KPMG LLP Tax AI Accelerator Program described as designed to help corporate tax departments integrate generative AI; an AI at Scale briefing tied to KPMG's Q4 AI Pulse Survey; and KPMG 2026 Perspectives: Local Insights from New York, which notes a 10-point gap between New York business leaders' confidence in their companies' growth and the city's growth. The release carries the firm's banner "Winners don’t wait" and the tagline "KPMG. Make the Difference," and includes calls to download the full report for additional insights.