We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
CME Group Q3 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Decline Y/Y
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
CME Group's Q3 EPS of $2.68 beat estimates by 1.9% but was unchanged year over year.
Revenues slipped 2.9% to $1.5B as lower clearing fees and volumes offset gains in other areas.
Expenses rose 0.8% while record 25.3M daily contracts marked a 10.4% decline from last year.
CME Group Inc. (CME - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of $2.68, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.9%. The bottom line remains unchanged year over year.
Quarterly results reflected declining revenues due to lower clearing and transaction fees and other, as well as lower trading volumes.
CME Group’s revenues of $1.5 billion decreased 2.9% year over year. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due to lower clearing and transaction fees and other factors. The top line matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Total expenses rose 0.8% year over year to $565 million, attributable to higher compensation and benefits, technology, professional fees, and outside services. It exceeded our estimate of $505.6 million.
Operating income decreased 5% from the prior-year quarter to $972.6 million. Our estimate was $1 billion.
Average daily volume (ADV) was a record 25.3 million contracts, down 10.4% year over year. ADV decreased across Energy, Foreign exchange, Equity indexes, and Interest rates product lines. The total average rate per contract was 70.2 cents.
Financial Update
As of Sept. 30, 2025, CME Group had $3.6 billion of cash and marketable securities, down 8.5% from the 2024-end level. As of Sept. 30, 2025, long-term debt was $3.4 billion, up 27.7% from 2024-end. As of Sept. 30, 2025, CME had shareholders' equity worth $28.2 billion, up 6.4% from the end of 2024.
Capital Deployment
CME Group paid out $3.5 billion in dividends during the first nine months of 2025, taking the payout to $29.5 billion since the implementation of the variable dividend policy in early 2012.
Zacks Rank
CME Group currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of 88 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.8%. The bottom line improved 18.9% year over year. The improvement was mainly driven by higher revenues across three divisions and organic growth, partially offset by higher expenses. Nasdaq’s net revenues of $1.3 billion increased 15% year over year.
Organic net revenue growth was 11%. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.7%. Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) increased 10% year over year to $3 billion. Organic growth was 9%. Annualized SaaS revenues increased 12% and represented 38% of ARR.
Upcoming Releases
Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE - Free Report) is set to report third-quarter 2025 results on Oct. 30, before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter earnings per share is pegged at $1.61, suggesting an increase of 3.8% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
ICE’s earnings beat estimates in three of the last four quarters and met in one.
Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (CBOE - Free Report) is set to report third-quarter 2025 results on Oct. 31, before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter earnings per share is pegged at $2.44, suggesting an increase of 9.9% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
CBOE’s earnings beat estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed in one.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
CME Group Q3 Earnings Surpass Estimates, Revenues Decline Y/Y
Key Takeaways
CME Group Inc. (CME - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of $2.68, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.9%. The bottom line remains unchanged year over year.
Quarterly results reflected declining revenues due to lower clearing and transaction fees and other, as well as lower trading volumes.
CME Group Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
CME Group Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | CME Group Inc. Quote
Performance in Detail
CME Group’s revenues of $1.5 billion decreased 2.9% year over year. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due to lower clearing and transaction fees and other factors. The top line matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Total expenses rose 0.8% year over year to $565 million, attributable to higher compensation and benefits, technology, professional fees, and outside services. It exceeded our estimate of $505.6 million.
Operating income decreased 5% from the prior-year quarter to $972.6 million. Our estimate was $1 billion.
Average daily volume (ADV) was a record 25.3 million contracts, down 10.4% year over year. ADV decreased across Energy, Foreign exchange, Equity indexes, and Interest rates product lines. The total average rate per contract was 70.2 cents.
Financial Update
As of Sept. 30, 2025, CME Group had $3.6 billion of cash and marketable securities, down 8.5% from the 2024-end level. As of Sept. 30, 2025, long-term debt was $3.4 billion, up 27.7% from 2024-end. As of Sept. 30, 2025, CME had shareholders' equity worth $28.2 billion, up 6.4% from the end of 2024.
Capital Deployment
CME Group paid out $3.5 billion in dividends during the first nine months of 2025, taking the payout to $29.5 billion since the implementation of the variable dividend policy in early 2012.
Zacks Rank
CME Group currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Another Peer Release
Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of 88 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.8%. The bottom line improved 18.9% year over year. The improvement was mainly driven by higher revenues across three divisions and organic growth, partially offset by higher expenses. Nasdaq’s net revenues of $1.3 billion increased 15% year over year.
Organic net revenue growth was 11%. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.7%. Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) increased 10% year over year to $3 billion. Organic growth was 9%. Annualized SaaS revenues increased 12% and represented 38% of ARR.
Upcoming Releases
Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE - Free Report) is set to report third-quarter 2025 results on Oct. 30, before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter earnings per share is pegged at $1.61, suggesting an increase of 3.8% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
ICE’s earnings beat estimates in three of the last four quarters and met in one.
Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (CBOE - Free Report) is set to report third-quarter 2025 results on Oct. 31, before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter earnings per share is pegged at $2.44, suggesting an increase of 9.9% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
CBOE’s earnings beat estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed in one.