Core Insights - MarketAxess reported record annual revenue of $846 million for 2025, driven by record average daily volume (ADV) and significant growth in trading protocols [2][5] - The company achieved record free cash flow of $347 million, with notable growth in product areas outside U.S. credit, which saw a 10% increase [2][5] - U.S. credit revenue, however, experienced a decline of 2% for the year [2] Financial Performance - Fourth-quarter revenue reached $209 million, marking a 3.5% year-over-year increase, with diluted EPS reported at $2.51 [1] - Total credit commission revenue rose 2% year-over-year to $165 million, supported by growth in U.S. high-yield (4%), emerging markets (6%), and Eurobonds (9%) [7] - Fourth-quarter commissions increased by 4% to $181 million, while services revenue grew by 2% to $28 million [6] Capital Management - The company returned $474 million to shareholders in 2025, which included $360 million in share repurchases and a dividend increase to $0.78 per share [4][13] - MarketAxess ended 2025 with $679 million in cash and equivalents, with $205 million remaining on the repurchase authorization as of January 31, 2026 [13] Growth Initiatives - Significant growth in block trading ADV, which reached about $5 billion, and portfolio trading ADV increased by 48% to $1.4 billion [15] - The company plans to enhance its dealer-initiated protocols, with Mid-X trading volume reaching a record $7 billion in January, up 383% [15] - Management emphasized the importance of technology modernization and automation in driving future growth [11][12] 2026 Guidance - For 2026, MarketAxess guided expenses to be between $530 million and $545 million, with mid-single-digit services revenue growth anticipated [4][20] - Capital expenditures are projected to be between $65 million and $75 million, primarily focused on software development for new protocols [20]