Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - ICE reported record adjusted earnings per share of $6.95 for 2025, a 14% increase year-over-year, marking the best performance in the company's history [5] - Full year net revenues reached a record $9.9 billion, up 6% year-over-year, with 5% growth in recurring revenues and 8% growth in transaction revenues [6] - Adjusted operating income was $6 billion, up 9% year-over-year, demonstrating the quality and scalability of the business model [8] - Adjusted free cash flow for the year was $4.2 billion, with $1.3 billion used for stock repurchases and a 6% increase in dividends [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The exchange segment achieved record fourth quarter net revenues of $1.4 billion, up 9% year-over-year, with transaction revenues growing 8% [10] - Fixed income data and services segment revenues totaled $608 million in the fourth quarter, with recurring revenues reaching a record $507 million, growing 7% year-over-year [13] - Mortgage technology revenues totaled $532 million in the fourth quarter, up 5% year-over-year, with transaction revenues increasing by 20% [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The global derivatives markets saw 2.3 billion futures and options contracts traded in 2025, surpassing the prior record by 13% [21] - Average daily volumes in the energy complex increased by 27% year-over-year in January 2026, indicating strong momentum [22] - Open interest in Brent crude oil was up 35% at the start of 2026, reflecting strong demand and market activity [61] Company Strategy and Development Direction - ICE is focusing on integrating new technologies, including AI and blockchain, to modernize its mortgage technology stack and improve operational efficiencies [49][50] - The company is developing a tokenized securities platform for NYSE, aiming to enhance capital efficiencies while maintaining regulatory compliance [38][39] - ICE plans to expand its data center footprint and invest in AI infrastructure to meet growing customer demand and drive future productivity [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to deliver profitable growth and shareholder value creation in 2026, supported by a diversified business model and operational discipline [19] - The macro environment remains dynamic, with geopolitical tensions and regulatory changes influencing market conditions, but ICE's infrastructure is positioned to perform through these cycles [37] - The mortgage market is showing signs of improvement, with a rebound in refinancing activity expected to influence demand trends positively [46][49] Other Important Information - The company exceeded its synergy targets from the Black Knight acquisition, with annualized expense synergies reaching approximately $230 million [7] - ICE's NYSE listings business facilitated $25 billion in new IPO capital formation in 2025, welcoming 71 new operating companies [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on the mortgage technology outlook and demand trends - Management indicated that the mortgage market is improving, with approximately 4 million loans currently in the money to refinance, which could increase significantly with further rate decreases [46][47] - The company is leveraging AI to modernize its mortgage technology stack, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs for clients [49][50] Question: Concerns about AI disruption in data and analytics businesses - Management emphasized the proprietary nature of their data and the unique value it provides, which cannot be easily replicated [53][54] Question: Outlook for the futures business and sustainability of growth - Management noted that geopolitical issues and evolving market dynamics are driving strong demand in the energy sector, with Brent and crude oil volumes showing significant year-over-year increases [61][62]

Financial Performance Highlights - ICE achieved record net revenues of $2473 million, an increase of 8% compared to $2290 million in 1Q24[6] - The company reported record adjusted operating income of $1509 million, up 11% from $1360 million in 1Q24[6] - Adjusted diluted EPS reached a record $172, a 16% increase compared to $148 in 1Q24[6] - ICE returned $519 million to shareholders, including $241 million in share repurchases during the quarter[8] Segment Performance - Exchanges segment net revenues totaled $1367 million, a 12% increase from $1223 million in 1Q24, with transaction revenues up 15%[9] - Energy revenues within the Exchanges segment increased by 23% to $557 million compared to $457 million in 1Q24[9, 19] - Fixed Income & Data Services revenues grew by 5% to $596 million, compared to $568 million in 1Q24, with Fixed Income Execution up 16%[12] - Mortgage Technology segment revenues increased by 2% to $510 million, compared to $499 million in 1Q24, with Closing Solutions revenues up 9%[15] Financial Position - The company's leverage ratio ended 1Q25 at approximately 32x[8] - Unrestricted cash stood at $783 million[42] - Total debt amounted to $203 billion[42]