Outlooks & Market Updates

Q1 2026 Private Credit Quarterly Review and Outlook

May 07, 2026

In our latest quarterly review and outlook, MetLife Investment Management explores how private credit markets delivered resilient performance amid a more volatile macro environment, with stable spreads, strong origination activity and continued investor demand for high-quality, well-structured assets.

Key Takeaways:

  • 2026 is off to a strong start with $41.7 billion in Q1 issuance, with more than 40% of the activity sourced through proprietary transactions.
  • Asset-based finance saw $1.8 billion in closed transactions at an average spread of +224 basis points, supported by robust credit fundamentals and structural protections.
  • Infrastructure Debt: $1.7 billion total transactions, well diversified globally and by sector.

Read the full commentary and download the full report for detailed analysis.

Q1 2026 Private Credit Quarterly Review and Outlook