Highlights from the report:

• CFO confidence score came in at 5.7, slightly up from last quarter's 5.4 reading.

• Economy still viewed cautiously. Just 19% of CFOs view North America's current economy as "good," a slight decrease from last quarter's 23%.

• Growth signals strengthened, with CFOs raising forecasts for revenue, earnings, dividends, capital expenditures, domestic hiring and salaries/wages.

• Risk appetite remains muted. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of CFOs believe now is not a good time to take greater risks.

• Top external risks: inflation (50%), followed by cybersecurity and interest rates.

• Top internal risks: talent (51%), efficiency/productivity (50%), and cost management (47%).

• Sentiment about the capital markets remained split: 20% of respondents view equity markets as extremely undervalued; 22% say they're extremely overvalued.

Scale: Introduced in Q2 2025, the new metric measures CFO "confidence" in economic conditions, risk taking and other confidence factors. The maximum score is XX.

Why it matters:
This quarterly report is a barometer of CFO sentiment and forward-looking strategies. In an environment demanding both caution and clarity, Deloitte's CFO Signals offers insight into how the stewards of corporate strategy are thinking, investing, and planning for what's next.