Welcome back to the second edition of 2026.
Last week, we launched our new Executive Membership and discussed the "Great Divergence." Many thanks to everyone who upgraded, and we are thrilled to have you in the inner circle.
This week, we are looking at money, specifically, where it will go when it wants to grow in 2026.
For the last 70 years, the U.S. economy has always had a "Kingmaker" industry as a single sector that swallowed a massive share of total capital investment. In 1949, it was farming. In 1982, it was Oil & Gas.
In 2026, the Kingmaker is dead.
As part of our bold predictions for 2026, our latest analysis shows that while Tech leads, its grip on capital is weaker than any dominant industry in history. Here is what the data tells us about the year ahead.
— Insights Team, Rwazi
We give you the business competitive edge you need to trive in 2026.
OUR BOLD PREDICTIONS FOR 2026
Why no single industry will rule the world anymore
Investment Peaks by Industry showing the flow from 1949 to 2025. Data visualisation: Rwazi Insights
We analysed 75 years of investment data to track the "Peak Industries", which are the sectors attracting the highest share of total investment in the U.S. economy. The results reveal a startling trend: Dilution.
Here are the three critical shifts defining the 2026 investment space:
1. The "7% Ceiling": The End of Dominance
The History: In 1949, Farming commanded 12% of all investment. In 1982, Oil & Gas took 11%. Even in the Dotcom boom of 2000, Telecom held 11%.
The Shift: Today, the leading sector, Information & Data Processing, captures just 7%.
The Prediction: The era of the "Monolith Market" is over. Capital is no longer pooling in one massive vertical. It is fragmenting across niche intersections. For 2026, this means "Tech" is no longer a standalone bet, it is a layer. The biggest winners won't be pure software companies, but those applying data processing to other sectors.
2. The "Electric" Comeback (Literally)
The Data: Look at Electric Power. It was the #2 industry in 1949 (7% share). It then vanished from the top ranks for decades. Now, in 2025/26, it has roared back to the #2 spot with a 6% share.
The Why: This is the physical cost of AI. Data centers, EV grids, and computation require massive energy.
The Prediction: The "AI Trade" of 2026 isn't chips; it's Utilities. We are seeing a 1949-style infrastructure boom, but instead of powering post-war factories, we are powering intelligence.
3. The Rise of the "Material World"
The Data: Chemical Products has quietly entered the top 3, capturing 5% of total investment. This sector wasn't even in the top 5 in 2000 or 1982.
The Prediction: Hardware is hard, but it's back. The investment surge in chemicals signals a massive pivot toward battery technology, advanced materials, and biotech. We are moving from a "Bits" economy (Software) back to an "Atoms" economy (Materials).
Key Insight
If you are a business leader looking at this chart, the takeaway is clear: Don't look for the next "Oil & Gas."
There is no single rising tide that will lift all boats. The 2026 market is a mosaic (pun intended). The 7% ceiling means opportunity is everywhere, but it's smaller and more specific.
This analysis is just one layer of the data we track.
Do you want to know which specific emerging markets are driving that "Chemical Products" surge? Or which "Electric Power" utilities are winning the AI contract wars?
Unlock the full intelligence suite with Market Mosaic Premium:
✅ Weekly Sector Deep-Dives: Get the granular data behind the trends.
✅ Live Sector Performance Tracker: Watch the shifts in real-time.
✅ Quarterly Consumer Insights Reports: Free for Premium members.
You’ve read the data. But how well did you synthesise it?
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It takes 3 minutes, and it gives you a "Strategic Insights" for 2026.
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