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Cboe Global Markets, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 31 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 lowered, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record net revenue up 25 percent: Net revenue of $731.6 million rose from $587.3 million, with increases across all net revenue captions. Source
  • Diluted EPS up 50 percent: Diluted EPS was $3.35 against $2.23 a year earlier; adjusted diluted EPS was $3.56 against $2.46, up 45 percent. Source
  • Derivatives set another quarterly record: The Derivatives business grew net revenue 30 percent on another record quarter of index options volumes, according to the CFO. Source
  • Options net revenue set a record: Options net revenue of $473.9 million rose $109.1 million, with total options ADV up 26 percent and revenue per contract up 6 percent. Source
  • Index options volume led the rise: Index options ADV rose 32 percent and multi-listed options ADV rose 24 percent, with index options a larger share of total volume. Source
  • Operating expenses rose on severance: Severance tied to the strategic realignment and higher accrued bonuses drove the increase, partly offset by a lower Cboe Japan impairment than in 2025. Source
  • Realignment costs of $23.7 million: Strategic realignment costs were $23.7 million in the quarter, including $21.7 million in compensation and benefits; they are excluded from adjusted results. Source

“Our strong second quarter results reflect the progress we’re making as we execute our growth strategy,”

Craig Donohue, Chief Executive Officer of Cboe Global Markets

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted operating expenses Source2026 fiscal year$838 to $853 millionKept
Adjusted operating expenses, Cboe Australia reduction Source2026 fiscal yearreduced by $11 millionLowered
Depreciation and amortization expense, excluding acquired intangibles Source2026 fiscal year$54 to $58 millionLowered from $56 to $60 million
Expected amortization of acquired intangible assets (excluded from adjusted results) Source2026 fiscal year$59 millionLowered from $63 million
Effective tax rate on adjusted earnings Source2026 fiscal year27.5 to 29.5 percentKept
Capital expenditures Source2026 fiscal year$98 to $108 millionRaised from $73 to $83 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Organic total net revenue growth target raised to 'mid to high teens' from 'low double-digit to mid teens'. Source
  • Guidance raised: Data Vantage organic net revenue growth target raised to 'low teens' from 'low double-digit'. Source
  • Guidance raised: Capital expenditure guidance raised to $98 to $108 million from $73 to $83 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Depreciation and amortization guidance lowered to $54 to $58 million from $56 to $60 million. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted operating expense guidance reduced by $11 million for the expected Cboe Australia sale. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Expected amortization of acquired intangible assets moved to $59 million from $63 million. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted operating expense range of $838 to $853 million was reaffirmed. Source
  • Guidance kept: Effective tax rate on adjusted earnings range of 27.5 to 29.5 percent was reaffirmed. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Record net revenue up 25 percent: Net revenue of $731.6 million rose from $587.3 million, with increases across all net revenue captions. Source
  • Diluted EPS up 50 percent: Diluted EPS was $3.35 against $2.23 a year earlier; adjusted diluted EPS was $3.56 against $2.46, up 45 percent. Source
  • Derivatives set another quarterly record: The Derivatives business grew net revenue 30 percent on another record quarter of index options volumes, according to the CFO. Source
  • Cash and Spot and Data Vantage grew: Cash and Spot Markets net revenue rose 22 percent, and Data Vantage grew 15 percent year over year. Source

Options segment

  • Options net revenue set a record: Options net revenue of $473.9 million rose $109.1 million, with total options ADV up 26 percent and revenue per contract up 6 percent. Source
  • Index options volume led the rise: Index options ADV rose 32 percent and multi-listed options ADV rose 24 percent, with index options a larger share of total volume. Source
  • Options market data and access fees rose: Market data fees were 20 percent higher and access and capacity fees were 19 percent higher than in the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Options market share edged down: Options exchanges had 30.0 percent total market share, compared with 30.2 percent a year earlier. Source

“We remain focused on disciplined execution as we build on this momentum.”

Jill Griebenow, Cboe Global Markets Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

Equities and market share

  • N.A. Equities net revenue set a record: N.A. Equities net revenue of $114.7 million rose 17 percent on higher transaction and clearing, access and capacity, and market data fees. Source
  • Equities transaction fees rose 37 percent: Net transaction and clearing fees rose 37 percent on stronger industry volumes and improved net capture on on-exchange U.S. Equities exchanges. Source
  • Exchange equities share declined: U.S. Equities exchanges had 9.4 percent market share, down from 10.5 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Off-exchange market share rose: Off-exchange ATS block market share was 18.8 percent, up from 14.9 percent; the company notes this figure is reported on a one-month lag. Source

Europe, Asia Pacific and European equities

  • Europe and APAC net revenue up 20 percent: Europe and APAC net revenue of $84.8 million rose on net transaction and clearing fees and non-transaction revenues. Source
  • Constant currency growth was 18 percent: Net revenue in constant currency was $83.0 million, up 18 percent year over year, after a $1.8 million currency adjustment. Source
  • European Equities trading volume rose: European Equities ADNV traded on Cboe was €15.5 billion, up 13 percent, driven by stronger industry market volumes. Source
  • European equities market share fell: Cboe European Equities had 24.4 percent market share, down from 25.1 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Cboe Clear Europe settlement volume rose: Cboe Clear Europe net settlement volume rose 21 percent from the second quarter of 2025. Source

Futures and Global FX

  • Futures net revenue rose 2 percent: Futures net revenue of $30.6 million rose on higher market data fees. Source
  • Futures transaction fees flat: Net transaction and clearing fees in futures were unchanged from the second quarter of 2025. Source
  • Global FX volume and capture rose: Global FX net revenue of $27.6 million rose 17 percent on higher net transaction and clearing fees; net capture rose to $2.96 per million dollars traded. Source

Data Vantage and market data

  • Data Vantage market data fees rose: Data Vantage market data fees were $65.1 million, up from $56.4 million, per the net revenue by caption table. Source
  • Data Vantage access and capacity fees: Access and capacity fees in Data Vantage were $115.6 million, up from $101.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • Data Vantage naming: The business is named Cboe Data Vantage, formerly Data and Access Solutions, and is referred to as Data Vantage in the release. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Operating expenses rose on severance: Severance tied to the strategic realignment and higher accrued bonuses drove the increase, partly offset by a lower Cboe Japan impairment than in 2025. Source
  • Adjusted expenses rose less: Adjusted operating expense increases came from accrued bonuses and higher travel and promotional costs, partly offset by lower professional fees. Source
  • Margins expanded: Operating margin was 65.1 percent, up 7.4 points; adjusted operating margin was 70.4 percent, up 6.7 points. Source
  • Effective tax rate fell: Effective tax rate was 28.6 percent, down from 29.7 percent, on lower interest from resolved uncertain tax positions; the adjusted rate was 28.5 percent. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Cash and debt at quarter end: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,276.2 million and adjusted cash was $2,346.8 million; total debt was $1,443.8 million. Source
  • Dividends paid in the quarter: Cash dividends totaled $75.7 million, or $0.72 per share, in the second quarter. Source
  • Share repurchases in the quarter: Repurchases of about 127 thousand shares cost $32.6 million at an average $256.61 per share; $536.8 million of authorization remained at June 30. Source

Strategy and realignment

  • Realignment costs of $23.7 million: Strategic realignment costs were $23.7 million in the quarter, including $21.7 million in compensation and benefits; they are excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Focus on event contracts and Cboe Clear U.S.: The CEO named expanding event contracts, growing Cboe Clear U.S., and around-the-clock market access as areas of execution. Source
  • Canada remains in guidance: 2026 guidance includes Cboe Canada's business-as-usual contribution, which Cboe announced plans to divest in October 2025. Source
  • Listings and analytics exits in guidance: Guidance includes impacts of discontinuing U.S. and European Corporate Listings, CEDX and Japanese equities, plus planned cost cuts in ETP Listings and smaller Risk and Market Analytics businesses. Source

Coming up, as management said on 31 July 2026

  • Cboe Australia sale expected in third quarter: Sale completion for Cboe Australia is expected in the third quarter of 2026. Source
  • Guidance to be updated for further actions: Management said 2026 guidance will be updated as further actions are announced, including on Cboe Canada. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total company options ADV (thousands) Source21,862
Index options ADV (thousands) Source6,208
Total industry options ADV (thousands) Source72,838
Futures ADV (thousands) Source222.7
U.S. Equities off-exchange touched ADV (millions of shares) Source237.5
Cboe Clear Europe trades cleared (thousands) Source422,482.0

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management said changes in trading volume, expenses, tax laws or rates could materially affect the adjusted tax rate expectation. Source
  • Financial: Management cited uncertainty in certain GAAP measures tied to acquisition-related revenues and costs, which it said limits precise guidance reconciliation. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Severance expense rose in the quarter due to the company's previously announced strategic realignment. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.