The TRADE 87 - Q1 2026 | Page 70

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Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs’ overall average score in this year’ s survey was 5.56, which lands 38 basis points below the survey average of 5.54 and represents a decrease of 0.31 from 2025. On a category level, the majority of scores fall within the upper end of the good range( 5.00-5.99), with the broker achieving its highest scores in key areas such as speed( 5.91), increased trader productivity( 5.82) and ease of use( 5.81). Goldman’ s lowest performing aspect of service was customer support( 5.15).

In terms of year-on-year performance, reductions were recorded in all categories, ranging from-0.1 for speed to-0.62 for customer support and services. When compared against category benchmarks, Goldman Sachs experienced belowaverage scores across all functional service areas, most notably around customer support(-0.86) and execution consulting and algo monitoring( both-0.54). Other categories such as speed(-0.1), increased trader productivity, ease of use( both-0.14) and order routing logic(-0.19) were broadly in line in with benchmarks.
This year, Goldman Sachs received 78 responses from long-only managers – down from 93 in
2025 – which ranks fifth amongst its peers in terms of the number of submissions. Around 44 % of respondents were from large asset managers with more than $ 50 billion in AUM, whilst midsized firms managing $ 10 to $ 50 billion in assets represented 21 % of the respondent pool. The UK( 24 %) and Europe( 42 %) collectively represented 67 % of the responding traders, with the remainder split across North America( 26 %), APAC( 4 %) and the Middle East( 4 %). The most commonly used performance measurement metrics were VWAP TCA and implementation shortfall TCA. Lastly, 15 % of traders stated they expect to make use of additional algorithmic trading providers over the next 12 months.
Sample feedback from respondents included the following:
• Pleasing improvement in service and product over the last couple of years
• Demand for better block finding in dark venues and higher off-market crossing, such as SIs
• Smart algos that include the auctions
• AI- greater intelligence in working hard, small cap orders
GOLDMAN SACHS RATINGS FOR ALGORITHMIC PERFORMANCE
Increased trader productivity
Reduced market impact
Execution consistency
Cost Speed Anonymity Price improvement Customisation
5.82 5.68 5.54 5.60 5.91 5.49 5.60 5.27
Ease of use
Order routing logic / analysis
Customer support
Execution consulting
Dark pool access
Flexibility and sophistication of SOR
Algo monitoring
Average score
5.81 5.57 5.15 5.24 5.78 5.53 5.33 5.56
KEY STATS Overall Outperformer: NO Category Outperformer: NO

5.91 Highest score( Speed)

5.15 Lowest score( Customer Support)

-0.10

Most improved( Speed)

-0.62

Least improved( Customer Support)
70 // TheTRADE // Q1 2026