The consolidation wave of 2026 will not be a rising tide that lifts all boats. Instead, it will be defined by a stark bifurcation in asset desirability and deal rationale. On one side of the ledger, "Analog" healthcare services, encompassing veterinary, dental, ophthalmology and fertility clinics will witness continued intensified "buy-and-build" activity. This is driven principally by private equity (PE) sponsors seeking to arbitrage highly fragmented markets, particularly i