ICE

Zacks analyzes five securities exchange stocks amid industry headwinds. While diversified revenue streams, higher trading volumes, and technology investments support growth, the Securities and Exchanges industry faces challenges from regulatory changes, cybersecurity threats, and competition.

The industry ranks #166 out of 247 Zacks industries with negative earnings outlook, having underperformed the S&P 500 year-to-date. Five Hold-rated stocks are highlighted for consideration.

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) demonstrated resilience in Q2 2026 with 3% exchange revenue growth to $1.46 billion, driven by strong performance in financials (+21%), equities (+15%), and data services (+12%), offsetting a 13% decline in energy revenues. The company's shift toward recurring revenues (up 10%) and diversified asset classes positions it well for sustained growth beyond volatility spikes. Peers CME Group and Cboe Global Markets also show strong positioning with record open interest and broad product diversification.

In a comparison of two major exchange operators, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) appears better positioned for long-term growth than Coinbase (COIN). ICE projects 10.7% revenue growth and 16.8% EPS growth for 2026, supported by its diversified portfolio across exchanges, data, and clearing services.

Coinbase, while expanding its crypto offerings and derivatives capabilities, faces headwinds from cryptocurrency price sensitivity and declining 2026 estimates. Both stocks carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating, but ICE's valuation and growth trajectory give it an edge.

Nasdaq's FinTech division is becoming a major growth driver, with revenues rising 16% to $539 million in Q2 2026 and 15% organic growth. The business spans Financial Crime Management, Regulatory Technology, and Capital Markets Technology, with strong client additions and cross-selling opportunities. Competitors ICE and CME are also expanding their technology and subscription-based offerings.

CBOE Global is positioned as a likely earnings beat candidate for Q3 2026 with an Earnings ESP of +2.02% and Zacks Rank #3, supported by a history of beating consensus estimates. Meanwhile, IntercontinentalExchange shows mixed signals with a slightly negative Earnings ESP of -0.02% despite a Zacks Rank #2 Buy rating, though it has beaten estimates in the last four quarters.

Nasdaq reported Q3 2026 non-GAAP EPS of $1.04, up 18% YoY and beating consensus by 1.96%. Net revenues increased 13% to $1.48 billion, driven by strong Solutions and Financial Technology segments.

Operating margins expanded to 57% as the company returned $496 billion through dividends and share repurchases. Index revenues surged 39% with record ETP assets under management reaching $1.11 trillion.

CME Group delivered solid third-quarter 2026 results with revenues rising 13% to $1.73 billion and adjusted EPS increasing 12.7% to $3.02, beating consensus estimates. Record average daily volume climbed 16.3% to 29.4 million contracts across all major product lines. The company returned $1 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

The Securities and Exchanges industry faces mixed prospects with a Zacks Industry Rank #166 (bottom 33%). While growth drivers include higher trading volumes, cryptocurrency adoption, AI investments, and diversification into recurring revenue streams, challenges include intense competition, regulatory pressures, and cybersecurity threats. The industry has underperformed year-to-date, trading at 20.27X P/E versus the S&P 500's 18X, with analyst confidence declining as 2026 earnings estimates decreased 3% since June.

Cboe Global Markets reported Q2 2026 net revenues of $731.6M (up 25%) and adjusted EPS of $3.56 (up 45%), driven by strong options trading volumes. While the company has diversified growth opportunities through Data Vantage and international expansion, revenue growth may moderate as market volatility normalizes. The stock currently trades at a P/E of 20.42, slightly above industry average, and carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) rating.

CME Group's Q2 2026 average daily volume reached 29.8M contracts, down 1.2% YoY but the second-highest second-quarter level on record. Equity index and agricultural trading gains offset declines in other segments.

While CME's diversified product portfolio supports long-term volume sustainability, growth may moderate as market volatility normalizes. The stock trades at a premium valuation of 22.02x P/E versus the industry average of 20.33x.

Zacks Research showcased strong performance across its various investment portfolios and rating systems during the week ended October 2, 2026. Multiple stocks received upgrades and delivered significant gains, including CRCT and PGEN surging 32% and 30.8% respectively following recommendation upgrades. The Zacks Rank #1 portfolio outperformed the S&P 500 by 2.3 percentage points year-to-date, while the Focus List portfolio returned 19.86% versus 13.14% for the S&P 500 through August 31, 2026.