Market Dynamics - US stock exchanges' trading hours may change, impacting Hong Kong and California [1]

Summary of Key Points Core Viewpoint - The total short interest in Nasdaq securities has decreased slightly from the previous reporting period, indicating a potential shift in market sentiment towards these securities. Group 1: Nasdaq Global Market - At the end of the settlement date of July 15, 2025, short interest in 3,260 Nasdaq Global Market securities totaled 13,792,841,090 shares, down from 14,138,758,851 shares reported for the prior settlement date of June 30, 2025, reflecting a decrease in short interest [1] - The mid-July short interest represents 2.37 days of average daily volume compared to 2.59 days for the prior reporting period, indicating a reduction in the time it would take to cover short positions [1] Group 2: Nasdaq Capital Market - Short interest in 1,647 securities on The Nasdaq Capital Market totaled 2,853,251,720 shares at the end of the settlement date of July 15, 2025, an increase from 2,790,159,938 shares in the previous reporting period [2] - This represents an average daily volume of 1.00 day, consistent with the previous reporting period [2] Group 3: Overall Nasdaq Securities - In total, short interest in all 4,907 Nasdaq securities amounted to 16,646,092,810 shares at the July 15, 2025 settlement date, down from 16,928,918,789 shares at the end of the previous reporting period [3] - This reflects an average of 1.84 days of average daily volume, compared to 1.72 days for the prior reporting period, suggesting a slight increase in the time to cover short positions overall [3]

Core Insights - Nasdaq reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share of 85 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.3% and reflecting a 24% year-over-year improvement [1][8] - The company's shares rose 1% in pre-market trading due to this outperformance [1] - Revenue growth was driven by higher revenues across three divisions and organic growth, although this was partially offset by increased expenses [1] Financial Performance - Nasdaq's net revenues reached $1.3 billion, marking a 13% year-over-year increase, with organic net revenue growth at 12% [2][8] - Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) grew 10% year over year to $2.9 billion, with organic growth at 9% [2] - Annualized SaaS revenues increased by 13%, accounting for 37% of ARR [2] Segment Performance - Capital Access Platforms' adjusted revenues were $527 million, up 9% year over year, driven by higher revenues across all business lines [3] - Financial Technology adjusted revenues were $464 million, reflecting a 10% increase, also supported by higher revenues from all business lines [3] - Solutions business revenues rose 10% year over year to $991 million, driven by strong growth in Index and Financial Technology [3] Market Services and Expenses - Market Services' net revenues increased by 21% year over year to $306 million, surpassing estimates [4] - Adjusted operating expenses were $585 million, an 8% increase from the previous year, reflecting investments in technology and personnel [4] - Adjusted operating income was $721 million, up 16% year over year, with an operating margin of 55%, expanding by 200 basis points [5] Financial Position - As of June 30, 2025, Nasdaq had cash and cash equivalents of $927 million, a 49% increase from the end of 2024 [6] - Long-term debt decreased by 4.4% to $8.7 billion [6] - The company generated $746 million in cash flow from operations during the reported quarter [6] Capital Deployment - Nasdaq returned $155 million to shareholders through dividends and $100 million through stock repurchases in Q2 2025 [9] - The board approved a dividend of 27 cents per share, payable on September 26, 2025 [9] - As of June 30, 2025, $1.5 billion remained under the board-authorized share repurchase program [9] Guidance - Nasdaq raised its 2025 non-GAAP expense guidance to a range of $2.295-$2.335 billion from the previous range of $2.265-$2.325 billion [8][10] - The company forecasts a non-GAAP tax rate for 2025 to be between 22.5% and 24.5% [10]

Market Trends & Trading Volume - CBOE thrives on high trading volumes and volatility [1] - People are trading options to an extent that has never been seen before [2] - Trading is hot, with both institutions and retail participating [6] Company Performance & Stock Analysis - CBOE's stock is one of the best returning stocks since its IPO in the summer of 2010, with approximately 850% return versus the S&P 500's approximately 640% in the same period [2] - CBOE is considered a fantastic company with one of the best charts in the market, making it one of the best stocks [3] - CBOE's earnings are scheduled for August 1st [3] Competitors & Industry Peers - Other companies benefiting from similar trends include Robin Hood, CME (more concentrated in futures), and IBKR [5] - IBKR released another great earnings report and is adding new accounts at a record rate [5][6] Trading Products & Instruments - High volumes are seen in trading the VIX, S&P 500 options (37 million contracts), and S&P 100 (OEEX) [3]

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street anticipates a year-over-year increase in earnings for Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) due to higher revenues, with actual results being crucial for stock price movement [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - ICE is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.76 per share, reflecting a +15.8% change year-over-year, and revenues of $2.52 billion, which is an 8.8% increase from the previous year [3]. - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 1.14% higher in the last 30 days, indicating a positive reassessment by analysts [4]. Earnings Surprise Prediction - The Zacks Earnings ESP model shows a positive Earnings ESP of +0.51% for ICE, suggesting analysts are optimistic about the company's earnings prospects [12]. - A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, especially when combined with a Zacks Rank of 1, 2, or 3 [10]. Historical Performance - ICE has beaten consensus EPS estimates in three out of the last four quarters, with a recent surprise of +1.18% when it reported earnings of $1.72 per share against an expectation of $1.70 [13][14]. Conclusion - ICE is viewed as a compelling candidate for an earnings beat, but investors should consider other factors influencing stock performance beyond just earnings results [15][17].

Financial Performance - Nasdaq's net revenue for 2Q25 was $1306 million, a 13% increase year-over-year[17] - Solutions revenue reached $991 million, up 10% year-over-year[17] - Non-GAAP operating income was $721 million, a 16% increase year-over-year[17] - Non-GAAP diluted EPS increased by 24% year-over-year to $085[17] - Annualized SaaS revenues grew by 13% year-over-year to $1098 million[17] - Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) increased by 10% year-over-year to $2931 million[17] Segment Highlights - Index ETP AUM reached a record level of $745 billion at quarter-end, bolstered by $88 billion in net inflows over the trailing twelve months[13] - Capital Access Platforms revenue grew organically by 9% year-over-year[38] - Financial Technology revenue grew organically by 10% year-over-year[38] - Market Services net revenue increased by 21% year-over-year to $306 million[70]

Group 1 - Nasdaq's Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.27 per share on outstanding common stock [1] - The dividend is payable on September 26, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 12, 2025 [1] - Future declarations of quarterly dividends and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to Board approval [1] Group 2 - Nasdaq is a leading global technology company serving various financial market participants [2] - The company aims to deliver platforms that enhance liquidity, transparency, and integrity in the global economy [2] - Nasdaq offers a diverse range of data, analytics, software, and client-centric services to help clients execute their business vision [2]

Core Insights - Nasdaq, Inc. reported strong financial results for the second quarter of 2025, with net revenue reaching $1,306 million, reflecting a 13% increase year-over-year [7][8]. - The company demonstrated resilience and broad-based growth across its business segments, particularly in Market Services and Financial Technology [5][6]. Financial Performance - Solutions revenue was $991 million, up 10% year-over-year [11]. - Market Services net revenue increased by 22% to $306 million [11]. - Annualized Recurring Revenue (ARR) reached $2,931 million, a 10% increase compared to the same quarter last year [8]. - GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) grew by 103% to $0.78, while non-GAAP diluted EPS increased by 24% to $0.85 [8][11]. Strategic Initiatives - The company is focused on enhancing value for clients and shareholders through innovation and deepening client relationships via its One Nasdaq approach [6]. - Nasdaq executed well on its capital allocation priorities, repaying $400 million of senior unsecured notes and returning $155 million to shareholders through dividends and $100 million through stock repurchases [7][8]. Market Trends and Client Demand - Financial Technology segment achieved solid revenue growth, driven by robust client demand, with 57 new clients and 130 upsells in the second quarter [12]. - Index revenue grew by 17%, with $20 billion in net inflows during the quarter, bringing total assets under management to a record $745 billion [15]. Operational Efficiency - The company maintained its operating expenses at $738 million, reflecting a strategic focus on efficiency despite increased investments in technology and personnel [11]. - Nasdaq is on track to achieve its $140 million expanded net expense efficiency program by year-end, having actioned approximately $130 million as of the end of the second quarter [15].

Company Participants - The company has a diverse leadership team including the Chairman & CEO, President & CFO, and heads of various divisions such as Equities, FX, Commodities, and Fixed Income [1]. Conference Call Participants - A range of research analysts from major financial institutions participated in the conference call, indicating strong interest from the investment community [1]. Earnings Call Overview - The company held its Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Call, where extensive details regarding the quarter's performance were discussed [2][3]. - The executive commentary released prior to the call provided insights into the company's financial results and strategic direction for the quarter [3].

Core Insights - CME Group reported record-setting results for Q2 2025, with revenue of $1.7 billion and adjusted earnings per share of $2.96, both exceeding analyst expectations [1][2] - The company experienced strong growth in operating income and net income compared to the previous year, driven by product diversity and international expansion [1][3] Financial Performance - Adjusted EPS for Q2 2025 was $2.96, up 15.6% from $2.56 in Q2 2024 [2] - Revenue reached $1.7 billion, a 10.4% increase from $1.53 billion in the same quarter last year [2] - Operating income rose to $1.1 billion, reflecting a 12.9% year-over-year growth [2] - Net income increased to $1.0 billion, a 16.1% rise from $883 million in Q2 2024 [2] - Clearing and transaction fees revenue was $1.4 billion, up 11.1% from $1.25 billion a year ago [2] Business Overview - CME Group operates the largest derivatives marketplace globally, offering a wide range of financial products including futures and options contracts [3] - The company provides clearing, settlement, and market data services to a diverse customer base [3] Key Success Drivers - The company's success is attributed to product diversification, technological improvements, global expansion, and effective navigation of regulatory challenges [4] - Initiatives such as new micro contracts and investments in electronic trading have been crucial for growth [4] Trading Activity - Average daily volume (ADV) reached 30.2 million contracts, a 16% increase from the prior year [5] - Growth was observed across various asset classes, with interest rate products up 20%, energy contracts up 26%, and equity index contracts up 13% [5] Retail Trader Impact - New retail user registrations surged by 57% year-over-year, significantly boosting micro product activity [6] - Average daily trading volume in micro contracts hit 4.1 million, driven by partnerships with retail platforms [6] Revenue Sources - Clearing and transaction fees, the core revenue source, grew 11% year-over-year, although the average rate per contract decreased by 2.5% to $0.690 [7] - Revenue from market data increased by 13%, supported by price hikes and subscriber growth [7] Expense Management - Total expenses rose by 5.7%, with technology spending increasing by 11% due to cloud migration efforts [8] - The company maintained capital discipline while investing in its trading platform and product initiatives [8] Global Expansion - Approximately 30% of trading volume now comes from non-U.S. customers, with international volume reaching a record 8.9 million contracts [9] - Double-digit volume growth was noted in Europe-Middle East-Africa and Asia Pacific regions, particularly in energy and agriculture futures [9] Capital Management - Dividends exceeded $3.0 billion in the first half of fiscal 2025, contributing to a total of $29.1 billion distributed since 2012 [11] - The anticipated sale of the AASTRA joint venture is expected to generate around $1.5 billion in early 2026 [11] Future Outlook - Management did not provide formal guidance but noted a 20% increase in year-to-date trading volumes compared to 2024 [12] - Areas to monitor include average rate per contract trends, technology investment returns, and the ability to attract new traders [13]