Core Insights - Interactive Brokers (IBKR.US) reported Q2 earnings that exceeded Wall Street expectations, driven by a surge in customer trading activity and steady growth in net interest income [1] - Following the earnings release, the company's stock price rose by 4.5% in after-hours trading [1] Financial Performance - Q2 revenue increased by 20.3% to $1.48 billion, surpassing analyst expectations, compared to $1.23 billion in the same period last year [1] - Adjusted earnings per share were $0.51, higher than the anticipated $0.46 [1] - Commission income grew by 27% to $516 million, fueled by increased customer trading volumes [1] - Trading volumes for stocks, options, and futures rose by 31%, 24%, and 18%, respectively [1] - Net interest income rose by 9% to $860 million, benefiting from customer credit balances and securities lending, including a one-time tax credit of $26 million [1] - Other fees and service revenue decreased by 9% to $62 million, primarily due to a $7 million reduction in risk exposure fees, partially offset by a $2 million increase in FDIC clearing fees [1] - Pre-tax profit margin remained stable at 75%, indicating sustained operational efficiency [1] - General and administrative expenses increased by 17%, mainly due to higher advertising expenditures [1] - The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share, payable on September 12 [1] Business Metrics - The number of customer accounts grew by 32% to 3.87 million [2] - Customer equity increased by 34% to $664.6 billion [2] - Daily average revenue trades (DARTs) surged by 49% to 3.55 million [2] - Customer credit rose by 34% to $143.7 billion [2] - Customer margin loans increased by 18% to $65.1 billion [2]