Key Takeaways Nasdaq is prioritizing Market Technology and Information Services to drive organic revenue growth. Nasdaq expects 2025 revenue growth across Capital Access Platforms and Financial Technology segments. Nasdaq's acquisitions expanded its tech offerings, Canadian market access, and market surveillance. Shares of Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ) closed at $94.71 on Thursday, near its 52-week high of $97.63. This proximity underscores investor confidence. It has the ingredients for further price appreciation. T ...

Key Takeaways CME gains from market volatility, with clearing and transaction fees remaining its largest revenue driver. CME is seeing higher crypto trading activity, aided by growing participation in the crypto economy. CME's strong cash flow supports dividends, and investments in data, products, and clearing services. Shares of CME Group Inc. (CME) have gained 15.5% in the past year, outperforming the industry's growth of 8.1%. CME Group has outperformed its peers, including Intercontinental Exchange Inc. ...

Core Insights - Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) shares have increased by 12.5% year to date, outperforming the industry growth of 7% [1] - ICE has a market capitalization of $96.01 billion, with an average trading volume of 2.7 million shares over the last three months [1] - The company has a strong earnings track record, beating estimates in three of the last four quarters with an average of 1.36% [1] Valuation - ICE shares are currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 22.29X, which is lower than the industry average of 24.26X, indicating they are undervalued [2] - Comparatively, CME Group Inc. (CME) shares are also trading at a discount, while Cboe Global Markets (CBOE) and Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ) are trading at higher multiples than the industry average [2] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects a 14.9% year-over-year increase in ICE's earnings per share for 2025, with revenues expected to reach $10 billion, reflecting a 7.7% improvement [3] - For 2026, earnings per share and revenues are estimated to increase by 10.5% and 5.6%, respectively, compared to 2025 estimates [3] - The expected long-term earnings growth rate for ICE is 12%, surpassing the industry average of 10.4% [4] Strategic Positioning - ICE is well-positioned to benefit from the accelerated digitization in the mortgage industry, supported by its extensive mortgage network in the U.S. [7][11] - The company has achieved expense synergies through strategic acquisitions, enhancing its service offerings and portfolio [10][11] - Despite rising operating expenses, ICE maintains a low-risk balance sheet, which supports long-term stability [7][11] Analyst Sentiment and Price Target - The average price target for ICE, based on short-term estimates from 17 analysts, is $206.76 per share, suggesting a potential upside of 23.6% from the last closing price [8] - Optimistic analyst sentiment, favorable growth estimates, and attractive valuations are expected to benefit ICE in the long term [13]

Core Insights - CME Group Inc. shares have increased by 23.1% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 5.8%, the Finance sector's return of 17.2%, and the S&P 500 composite's appreciation of 17.6% [1] - CME Group's market capitalization stands at $96.84 billion, with an average trading volume of 2 million shares over the last three months [1] - The company has a strong track record of beating earnings estimates, achieving this in three of the last four quarters with an average beat of 1.62% [1] Valuation - CME Group shares are currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.44X, which is lower than the industry average of 24.19X, indicating that the shares are undervalued [2] - Other companies in the sector, such as Intercontinental Exchange Inc. and Nasdaq, are also trading at discounts to the industry average, while Cboe Global Markets is trading at a higher multiple [3] Technical Analysis - CME shares closed at $268.73, trading above the 200-day simple moving average of $261.41, suggesting solid upward momentum [4] Revenue Drivers - CME's primary revenue source comes from clearing and transaction fees, which are bolstered by market volatility [7] - The growth in electronic trading and increased interest in cryptocurrencies are also contributing to revenue growth [7] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects an 8.7% year-over-year increase in earnings per share (EPS) for 2024, with revenues expected to reach $6.53 billion, reflecting a 6.5% year-over-year improvement [9] - For 2026, EPS and revenue estimates indicate increases of 3.6% and 4.7%, respectively, compared to 2025 estimates [9] Analyst Sentiment - Two out of eleven analysts have raised their earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 in the past 60 days, leading to a 0.2% upward revision in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for both years [10] Price Target - The average price target from 18 analysts is $286.17 per share, indicating a potential upside of 8.2% from the last closing price [11] Market Position - CME Group benefits from strong organic growth, particularly during periods of heightened market volatility, which increases trading activity and revenue from fees [13] - The company is well-positioned to capitalize on a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment, which is expected to enhance its growth prospects [14] Financial Performance - CME has demonstrated strong financial performance, with free cash flow conversion exceeding 85% in recent quarters, indicating solid earnings quality [15] - The company maintains a robust capital base that supports growth initiatives, including expanding its market data business and product offerings [15] Dividend Policy - CME Group has a strong dividend history, paying five dividends per year, with the fifth being variable based on excess cash flow, making it attractive for yield-seeking investors [16] Investment Outlook - Given its solid growth projections, attractive valuation, and positive analyst sentiment, CME Group is considered a compelling investment opportunity [17]

Core Insights - Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ) shares have increased by 19.5% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 6% and the Finance sector's return of 17.2% [1] - The company has a market capitalization of $49.76 billion and an average trading volume of 3.5 million shares over the last three months [1] - NDAQ has consistently beaten earnings estimates in the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 4.36% [1] Valuation - Nasdaq shares are currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 24.13X, which is lower than the industry average of 24.19X [2] - Other companies like Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) and CME Group Inc. (CME) are also trading at discounts to the industry average, while Cboe Global Markets (CBOE) trades at a premium [2] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Nasdaq's 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 17.7%, with revenues projected at $5.14 billion, reflecting a 10.5% improvement [3] - For 2026, earnings per share and revenues are expected to increase by 11.4% and 7.2%, respectively, compared to 2025 estimates [3][4] Analyst Sentiment - Four out of twelve analysts have raised their earnings estimates for 2025, and three have done so for 2026 in the past 60 days, leading to a 1.2% and 0.5% increase in the consensus estimates for those years [8] Financial Performance - Nasdaq's return on equity over the trailing 12 months was 15.9%, surpassing the industry average of 14.5% [9] - The return on invested capital (ROIC) was 7.1%, also better than the industry average of 6% [10] Growth Strategy - Nasdaq's growth strategy focuses on increasing revenues from high-growth segments such as Market Technology and Investment Intelligence, along with expanding its Anti-Financial Crime clientele [11] - The company anticipates strong growth from its index and analytics businesses, with Capital Access Platforms expected to grow revenues by 5% to 8% in the medium term [12] Market Opportunities - Nasdaq has a significant opportunity in the anti-financial crime space, which has a total addressable market of $12.5 billion [13] - The company aims to achieve 40-50% of its revenues from SaaS solutions by 2025 [13] Dividend Policy - Nasdaq has a consistent dividend growth history and aims for a payout ratio of 35-38% by 2027 [14]

Core Insights - Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (CBOE) shares have increased by 35.1% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 27.9%, the Finance sector's return of 20.7%, and the Zacks S&P 500 composite's appreciation of 11.2% [1] - CBOE has outperformed peers such as Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE), S&P Global Inc. (SPGI), and OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCM), with respective share gains of 32%, 16.4%, and 2.8% in the past year [1] Company Performance - CBOE has a market capitalization of $23.69 billion, with an average trading volume of 0.9 million shares over the last three months [4] - The company has a solid track record of beating earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, with an average beat of 1.95% [4] - CBOE shares are currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.19X, which is lower than the industry average of 25.89X, indicating that the shares are undervalued [5] Technical Analysis - CBOE shares closed at $226.30, trading above the 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages of $221.41 and $210.75, respectively, suggesting strong upward momentum [6] Growth Projections - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CBOE's 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 10.3%, with revenues projected at $2.25 billion, reflecting an 8.4% year-over-year improvement [10] - Long-term earnings growth is expected to be 10.5%, surpassing the industry average of 10.1% [11] - CBOE's organic net revenue growth for Data Vantage is anticipated to be in the mid to high single-digit range in 2025 [9][16] Analyst Sentiment - Recent analyst activity shows one analyst has raised estimates for 2025 and another for 2026, resulting in a 0.5% and 0.2% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for those years, respectively [12] Valuation and Capital Management - The average price target from 15 analysts for CBOE is $225.00 per share, suggesting a potential upside of 0.9% from the last closing price [13] - CBOE has a strong capital management strategy, with $644.5 million remaining under its current share repurchase authorization and a history of increasing dividends for 13 consecutive years [20]

Core Viewpoint - Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) is experiencing strong investor confidence, with shares trading near a 52-week high and showing significant year-to-date gains, outperforming its industry and the broader market [1][3]. Group 1: Stock Performance - ICE shares closed at $174.00, reflecting a year-to-date increase of 16.8%, outperforming the industry, sector, and the Zacks S&P 500 composite [1]. - The stock is trading above its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages of $168.67 and $161.68, indicating a bullish trend [4]. - ICE has a market capitalization of $99.81 billion, with an average trading volume of 3.52 million shares over the last three months [2]. Group 2: Valuation and Growth Projections - ICE shares are trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 24.16x, which is slightly lower than the industry average of 24.52x, suggesting affordability [6]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ICE's 2025 earnings per share indicates a year-over-year increase of 13.8%, with revenues projected at $9.94 billion, reflecting a 7% improvement [9]. - Long-term earnings growth is expected at 13.3%, surpassing the industry average of 9.8% [10]. Group 3: Analyst Sentiment and Earnings History - Seven out of ten analysts covering ICE have raised their earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 in the past 30 days, leading to a 1.3% and 1.2% upward revision in the consensus estimates for those years [11]. - ICE has surpassed earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 1.30% [12]. Group 4: Key Drivers and Strategic Positioning - ICE's revenue growth is supported by strengths in global data services, index business, and pricing and reference data, along with expense synergies from strategic acquisitions [13]. - The company has the largest mortgage network in the U.S., positioning it well to benefit from digitization in the residential mortgage industry [14]. - ICE maintains a healthy balance sheet, which provides stability and supports its growth initiatives [14][17]. Group 5: Challenges and Future Outlook - Operating expenses have been rising, which may impact margin expansion, although growth initiatives are expected to keep expenses elevated in the near term [15]. - Despite increased expenses, ICE's solid growth projections, positive analyst sentiment, and attractive valuations make it a compelling investment opportunity [18].