Core Viewpoint - The current market environment poses challenges for both Interactive Brokers (IBKR) and BGC Group (BGC), with expectations of subdued trading activity impacting their income potential. However, BGC is positioned to deliver stronger growth and returns compared to IBKR, making it a more attractive investment option [2][3][29]. Group 1: Company Overview - Interactive Brokers is recognized for its advanced electronic trading platforms and global market access, while BGC Group specializes in a wide range of brokerage services, including fixed-income and derivatives trading [2][12]. - Both companies have seen increased trading activities due to market turmoil, but future trading activity is expected to weaken as market participants anticipate lasting economic damage from tariffs [2][3]. Group 2: Financial Performance - IBKR's stock has decreased by 9.7% this year, while BGC's shares have fallen by 6.6% [3]. - IBKR has maintained low compensation expenses relative to net revenues, achieving 14.8% in 2022, 12.1% in 2023, and 11.1% in 2024, with a further reduction to 9.3% in Q1 2025 [6]. - BGC Group's revenues have recorded a CAGR of 1.5% over the past five years, while IBKR's client accounts, total client Daily Average Revenue Trades (DARTs), and net revenues have seen CAGRs of 37%, 26%, and 22%, respectively, from 2019 to 2024 [10][15]. Group 3: Growth Initiatives - IBKR has expanded its global presence with initiatives such as launching a prediction markets hub in Canada and introducing IBKR GlobalTrader for mobile stock trading [7]. - BGC Group has focused on technology-driven services post its spin-off of Newmark, enhancing margins and reducing reliance on traditional models [13]. - BGC has made strategic acquisitions, including OTC Global Holdings for $325 million, which is expected to contribute over $450 million in annual revenues [14]. Group 4: Valuation and Comparisons - IBKR is trading at a 12-month trailing price-to-tangible book (P/TB) of 1.00X, while BGC is at 13.60X, with BGC's premium valuation justified by its superior growth trajectory [20][21]. - BGC's return on equity (ROE) stands at 47.55%, significantly higher than IBKR's 4.97% and the industry average of 11.95% [24]. - BGC's dividend yield is 0.95%, compared to IBKR's 0.63% [26]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IBKR's revenue growth is projected at 4.5% for 2025 and 6.1% for 2026, while BGC's revenue growth is expected to be 20.4% and 14% for the same years [18]. - Analysts are more optimistic about BGC's earnings, forecasting a 23.3% increase for 2025 and 18.4% for 2026, with estimates remaining unchanged [18].

Industry Overview - Fintech is transforming financial management by providing faster, more affordable, and user-friendly services, including digital payments, mobile banking, AI-driven insurance, and blockchain solutions [1] - The fintech sector is particularly popular among Millennials and Gen Z, leading to rapid adoption due to its convenience and digital-first approach [2] - The fintech industry is projected to reach $1.5 trillion in revenues by 2030, indicating significant long-term growth potential [2] Technological Innovations - Fintech merges finance with advanced technologies, enhancing operational efficiency and security through innovations like AI and machine learning [3] - Consumer preferences are shifting towards digital platforms, prompting both fintech startups and traditional financial institutions to innovate [4] Investment Opportunities - Legacy firms are increasingly investing in fintech solutions to remain competitive, creating opportunities for investors in this fast-growing sector [4] - Stocks such as Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR), Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM), and BGC Group, Inc. (BGC) are gaining traction as potential investment opportunities [4] Company Profiles Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR) - IBKR is a fintech leader that has evolved into a tech-first brokerage, automating nearly every aspect of the brokerage process to lower costs [6] - The company offers API-driven solutions and customizable platforms for algorithmic traders, hedge funds, and financial advisors, emphasizing scalability and precision [7] - IBKR's revenue model focuses on monetizing data, interest, and transaction flow, positioning it as a modern fintech firm disrupting traditional financial institutions [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for IBKR's 2025 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 5.8% and 2.1%, respectively [9] Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) - Affirm focuses on providing flexible installment loans at the point of sale, partnering with merchants to offer various payment options [10][12] - The company promotes responsible borrowing with no late fees or hidden charges, enhancing customer experience [11] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AFRM's fiscal 2025 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 36.9% and 96.4%, respectively [14] BGC Group, Inc. (BGC) - BGC Group specializes in brokerage and financial technology, offering both voice/hybrid and fully electronic brokerage services [15] - The company's Fenics platform enhances electronic trading operations, focusing on automation and scalability [16] - BGC's revenue model includes transaction commissions, technology licensing, and data services, supporting its growth in a rapidly evolving financial landscape [17] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BGC's 2025 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 20.4% and 23.2%, respectively [18]

Investors seek growth stocks to capitalize on above-average growth in financials that help these securities grab the market's attention and produce exceptional returns. But finding a growth stock that can live up to its true potential can be a tough task.That's because, these stocks usually carry above-average risk and volatility. In fact, betting on a stock for which the growth story is actually over or nearing its end could lead to significant loss.However, the Zacks Growth Style Score (part of the Zacks ...

Industry Overview - The Zacks Investment Bank industry is poised to benefit from increased trading income due to heightened market volatility and client activity amid geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty [1][4] - Investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and technology are expected to enhance long-term efficiency despite short-term cost pressures [1][5] - The industry consists of firms providing financial products and services, including advisory transactions to corporations, governments, and financial institutions [3] Current Challenges - Underwriting and advisory businesses are facing challenges due to ongoing economic ambiguity, tariff wars, and stalled pro-business policies, which may limit overall revenue growth [2][7] - The M&A rebound has not materialized as expected, leading to economic uncertainty and a slowdown in the U.S. economy [7] Performance Metrics - The Zacks Investment Bank industry ranks 72, placing it in the top 29% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating solid near-term prospects [8][9] - The industry's earnings estimates have been revised upward by 4.8% since December 2024, reflecting growing analyst confidence [10] Stock Market Performance - The Zacks Investment Bank industry has outperformed its sector and the S&P 500 over the past two years, with a collective stock surge of 45.5% compared to 24.6% for the S&P 500 [12] Valuation Insights - The industry has a trailing 12-month price-to-tangible book ratio (P/TBV) of 2.31X, above the five-year median of 2.13X, and is trading at a discount compared to the S&P 500's 11.58X [15][18] Investment Opportunities - **Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (IBKR)**: A global electronic market maker with a market cap of $61.7 billion, shares have increased by 29.9% over the past year [20][23] - **Robinhood Markets, Inc. (HOOD)**: A financial services company with a market cap of $30.6 billion, shares have surged 93.5% over the past year [26][29] - **BGC Group, Inc. (BGC)**: A financial brokerage and technology company with a market cap of $3.7 billion, shares have decreased by 6.1% over the past year [30][33]

Core Points - BGC Group, Inc. will announce its first quarter 2025 financial results on May 7, 2025, at approximately 8:00 a.m. ET, followed by a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET [1][2][3] Group 1 - The conference call for the financial results will be accessible via the company's investor relations website [2][3] - Participants can pre-register for the conference call and listen to a replay on the same website [3] - U.S. and international dial-in numbers for the live call are provided for participants [4] Group 2 - BGC Group, Inc. is a leading global marketplace and financial technology services company, serving a wide range of products including fixed income, foreign exchange, and commodities [5] - The company has partnered with leading global investment banks to create FMX, which includes a U.S. interest rate futures exchange and a spot foreign exchange platform [6]

Here at Zacks, we focus on our proven ranking system, which places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions, to find winning stocks. But we also understand that investors develop their own strategies, so we are constantly looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong companies for our readers.Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors rely on traditional forms of ...

Investors looking for stocks in the Financial - Investment Bank sector might want to consider either BGC Group (BGC) or Tradeweb Markets (TW) . But which of these two stocks presents investors with the better value opportunity right now? Let's take a closer look.We have found that the best way to discover great value opportunities is to pair a strong Zacks Rank with a great grade in the Value category of our Style Scores system. The proven Zacks Rank puts an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revis ...

Core Viewpoint - Macro uncertainty has delayed the IPO timeline, but there is significant pent-up demand for equity issuance, with expectations for a reopening in the second half of 2025 [1] Group 1: Market Outlook - The analyst forecasts a substantial runway for the electronification of fixed-income markets at Tradeweb Markets, capitalizing on political uncertainty in Washington [2] - BGC Group is expected to launch Treasury futures soon, with a projected market share in the $2 billion interest rate futures market surpassing 10% by 2027 [3] - Ongoing geopolitical uncertainty is anticipated to remain a key trading catalyst, despite expected normalization in volumes into the second half of 2025 [4] Group 2: Company Performance - Market structure stocks have seen an average increase of 8% in Q1 2025, with Nasdaq and Virtu Financial lagging behind but expected to achieve over 10% EPS beats [5] - Nasdaq-100 futures experienced a strong growth quarter, up 38% sequentially, contributing to indexing revenue [6] - Virtu Financial is expected to report solid results due to higher industry volumes in options, ETFs, and fixed income [7] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Tradeweb Markets remains dominant in portfolio trading and D2D trading, with impressive month-to-date volume increases of 18% and 11% respectively [8] - MarketAxess Holdings is rated as underperforming, with a price target adjustment, while Tradeweb Markets and other companies like BGC Group and Nasdaq maintain buy ratings with revised price targets [8][9] - Intercontinental Exchange is expected to face near-term cyclical headwinds in its mortgage and listing business, impacting its performance [9][10]

BGC Group, Inc. (BGC) has completed the acquisition of OTC Global Holdings, LP, one of the fastest-growing energy and commodities brokerage firms.Sean Windeatt, Co-CEO of BGC Group, said, “The completion of this acquisition marks a transformative step for BGC, that firmly establishes our company as the world's premier energy, commodities, and shipping broker.”BGC paid $325 million in cash for OTC Global and expects the deal (announced in October 2024) to be immediately accretive to its financials. Moreover, ...

Acquisition expected to be immediately accretive and generate significant value for clients and shareholders NEW YORK, April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- BGC Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: BGC), a leading global brokerage and financial technology company, announced today it completed its previously announced acquisition of OTC Global Holdings, LP ("OTC"), one of the world's fastest growing energy and commodities brokerage firms, for $325 million in a substantially all-cash transaction. With the integration of OTC's highly ...