December 17, 2025 | In the News

CFO Optimism Returns, AI Results Lag

Wakefield Research was thrilled to support Deloitte in a custom research project that found CFO confidence climbed to 6.6 in Q4 2025. That was the highest level since late 2021, as finance leaders grew more optimistic about economic conditions, capital markets, and their own companies’ prospects.

Nearly six in 10 CFOs now believe it’s a good time to take on more risk, even as many dial back expectations for revenue and earnings growth amid softer demand signals.

While at least two-thirds of CFOs have deployed AI in some form, only 21% think it has delivered clear, measurable value so far, making execution, not adoption, the next major test heading into 2026. Read more in Fortune.