CME Group (CME) Q1 2026 earnings summary

Executive summary

• Achieved record Q1 2026 with revenue of $1.9 billion, up 14% year-over-year, and highest-ever average daily volume of 36.2 million contracts, up 22% year-over-year, with records across all six asset classes and major regions.

• Net income rose 20% to $1.2 billion, with diluted EPS at $3.18 and adjusted EPS at $3.36; adjusted net income margin was 64.9%.

• Operating margin improved to 72.8%, reflecting strong revenue growth and controlled expenses.

• Delivered record capital efficiency, saving clients over $85 billion in margin per day, and ended the quarter with open interest up 11% year-over-year.

• Continued innovation with regulatory approval for expanded cross-margining, upcoming 24/7 crypto trading, and migration of agricultural products to the cloud.

Financial highlights

• Clearing and transaction fee revenue grew 15% year-over-year to $1.5 billion, driven by volume growth and pricing structure.

• Market data revenue reached a record $224 million, up 15% year-over-year, marking 32 consecutive quarters of growth.

• Total revenue was $1.9 billion, up 14% from Q1 2025; adjusted operating income was $1.4 billion with a 72.8% margin, both record highs.

• Adjusted net income was $1.2 billion and adjusted diluted EPS was $3.36, both up 20% year-over-year.

• Returned $3.2 billion to shareholders via $2.7 billion in dividends and $536 million in share repurchases.

Outlook and guidance

• Confident in continued value delivery to clients and shareholders, supported by ongoing investments in technology and product innovation.

• Expense guidance for 2026 remains at $1.695 billion, with expected growth in occupancy and technology costs as cloud migration progresses.

• Management expects continued market volatility due to geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainty, supporting elevated trading volumes.