News
August 27, 2026 | Insights
The DEG Market Pulse – Q2 2026
Buyers are back. The mid-market is moving.
Activity is picking up again in the convenience store M&A market.
But this rebound isn’t being driven by the biggest national chains selling off portfolios. It’s happening in the mid-market, where owners are coming to market and regional operators and consolidators are continuing to grow through acquisitions.
The Q2 2026 Market Pulse looks at where deals are getting done, what has changed for buyers, and what owners should understand about today’s market before making a move.
Inside the Q2 2026 issue
- Why the current M&A rebound is concentrated in the mid-market, and what continued industry fragmentation means for owners.
- How a more stable cost of capital and permanent 100% bonus depreciation are changing what buyers can underwrite.
- A look at recent DEG-advised transactions and the types of operators actively acquiring c-store businesses.
- What the latest c-store IPO activity says about access to capital and buyer firepower.
- Why strong buyer interest doesn’t always translate into a closing—and why committed financing matters more than the number of offers.
- The valuation gap facing some owners who built or acquired assets when construction costs and valuations were higher.
- Why succession continues to be one of the biggest reasons owners ultimately decide to sell.
Who it’s for
Owners of mid-market convenience store chains.
You don’t have to be preparing for a sale to find value in the report. The Market Pulse is designed to give operators a clearer picture of what is happening around them—who is buying, what is driving valuations, and where their business may stand in the current market.
Where the analysis comes from
The Market Pulse combines industry data, public-market activity, recent transaction information, and what DEG is seeing firsthand in its own deals.
That includes the conversations happening every day with owners and buyers: who is actively looking, who has committed capital, what buyers are willing to underwrite, and what is actually making it to the closing table.
It’s a practical read on the market from people working in it.
Get the report
The Q2 Market Pulse is free to download.
No form. No waiting. Click below to read the full report and see what DEG is seeing in the market right now.
While you’re here
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