greeksoup/ stock research

Cboe Global Markets, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 1 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenue and EPS both grew: Net revenue was $712.2 million, up 18 percent. Diluted EPS was a record $4.08, up 43 percent. Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.63, up 36 percent. Source
  • Derivatives net revenue rose 22 percent: CFO Jill Griebenow said Derivatives net revenue rose 22 percent, driven by index options volume up 24 percent and record 0DTE activity. Source
  • Options net revenue up 23 percent: Options net revenue was $469.5 million, up $88.7 million. Options exchanges held 30.5 percent total market share, down from 30.9 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted operating expenses fell: Adjusted operating expenses were $204.0 million, down $6.2 million, reflecting lower salaries tied to the strategic realignment and lower travel and promotional spend. Source
  • S&P license extended to 2051: Exclusive S&P license was extended through 2051, which the CEO said provides certainty and continuity for the SPX and VIX franchises. Source
  • Cboe Australia sale recorded gain: The Cboe Australia sale to TMX Group produced a GAAP gain of $71.5 million, which is excluded from adjusted results. The sale was completed on July 31, 2026. Source
  • Event contracts cleared for November: SEC approvals were received to list and clear company-KPI event contracts, with a November launch in anticipation. Source

“Together, these accomplishments strengthen our core business and enhance our ability to drive growth and create shareholder value.”

Craig Donohue, Chief Executive Officer of Cboe Global Markets

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted operating expenses Source2026$830 to $845 millionLowered from $838 to $853 million
Depreciation and amortization, excluding acquired intangibles Source2026$54 to $58 millionKept
Amortization of acquired intangible assets, excluded from adjusted operating expenses Source2026$59 millionKept
Effective tax rate on adjusted earnings Sourcefull year 202627.5 to 29.5 percentKept
Capital expenditures Source2026$98 to $108 millionKept
Share repurchase authorization increase Sourcenot stated$550 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Organic total net revenue growth target for 2026 raised to high teens from mid to high teens. Source
  • Guidance raised: Data Vantage organic net revenue growth target for 2026 raised to mid teens from low teens. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Adjusted operating expense guidance for 2026 lowered to $830 to $845 million from $838 to $853 million. Source
  • New: Exclusive S&P license extended through 2051, covering the SPX and VIX franchises. Source
  • New: SEC approvals received to list and clear company-KPI event contracts under Cboe Predicts, with a November launch planned. Source
  • Ended: Cboe Australia business was sold on July 31, 2026. Source
  • New: Share repurchase authorization increased by $550 million by the Board on October 22, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net revenue and EPS both grew: Net revenue was $712.2 million, up 18 percent. Diluted EPS was a record $4.08, up 43 percent. Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.63, up 36 percent. Source
  • Derivatives net revenue rose 22 percent: CFO Jill Griebenow said Derivatives net revenue rose 22 percent, driven by index options volume up 24 percent and record 0DTE activity. Source
  • Cash and spot and Data Vantage grew: Cash and Spot Markets net revenue rose 12 percent. Data Vantage reported record quarterly net revenue, up 13 percent from a year earlier. Source
  • Operating margin rose on both bases: GAAP operating margin was 75.0 percent, against 61.2 percent a year earlier. Adjusted operating margin was 71.4 percent, against 65.3 percent. Source

Segments and regions

  • Options net revenue up 23 percent: Options net revenue was $469.5 million, up $88.7 million. Options exchanges held 30.5 percent total market share, down from 30.9 percent a year earlier. Source
  • North American Equities net revenue up 10 percent: N.A. Equities net revenue was $113.5 million, with on-exchange share at 8.9 percent versus 9.8 percent and off-exchange ATS block share at 21.3 percent versus 17.9 percent. Source
  • Europe and APAC up 6 percent: Europe and APAC net revenue was $73.3 million, or $74.1 million in constant currency. Cboe European Equities market share was 23.0 percent, down from 25.4 percent. Source
  • Futures net revenue down 5 percent: Futures net revenue was $28.2 million, down $1.4 million, driven by a 7 percent decline in futures average daily volume. Source
  • Global FX net revenue up 23 percent: Global FX net revenue was $27.7 million, up $5.2 million. Platform notional traded was $61.1 billion, up 22 percent, with net capture of $2.91 per million dollars. Source

“we advanced our Cboe Predicts offering and our clearing capabilities through the quarter”

Craig Donohue, Chief Executive Officer of Cboe Global Markets

Products and clearing

  • Access and market data fees grew: Options access and capacity fees were 25 percent higher and market data fees 14 percent higher than a year earlier. Source
  • Options revenue per contract rose: Total options revenue per contract rose 9 percent, reflecting a mix shift toward index options, which carry a higher share of total volume. Source
  • Cboe Clear Europe settlement volume rose: Net settlement volume at Cboe Clear Europe reached 4,231.4 thousand shares, up 19 percent. Trades cleared were 397.8 million, against 329.3 million a year earlier. Source

Costs and tax

  • Adjusted operating expenses fell: Adjusted operating expenses were $204.0 million, down $6.2 million, reflecting lower salaries tied to the strategic realignment and lower travel and promotional spend. Source
  • Realignment costs reached $16.7 million: Strategic realignment costs were $16.7 million in the quarter, including $13.0 million in compensation and benefits, against $7.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Effective tax rate fell to 22.8 percent: GAAP effective tax rate was 22.8 percent, against 30.1 percent a year earlier. Effective tax rate on adjusted earnings was 27.6 percent, against 30.4 percent. Source
  • Australia gain lowered GAAP tax rate: Management attributes the lower GAAP tax rate primarily to the non-taxable gain on the Cboe Australia sale. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Cash and debt at quarter-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,662.6 million and adjusted cash $2,720.5 million. Total debt was $1,444.3 million at September 30, 2026. Source
  • Dividends and buybacks in quarter: Dividends totaled $90.2 million, or $0.86 per share. Buybacks used $56.1 million to repurchase about 211 thousand shares at an average price of $266.17. Source
  • Repurchase capacity after board increase: About $480.7 million remained under existing authorizations at September 30. About $1.0 billion was authorized and available for repurchase as of October 28, 2026. Source

Strategy, licensing and divestitures

  • S&P license extended to 2051: Exclusive S&P license was extended through 2051, which the CEO said provides certainty and continuity for the SPX and VIX franchises. Source
  • Cboe Australia sale recorded gain: The Cboe Australia sale to TMX Group produced a GAAP gain of $71.5 million, which is excluded from adjusted results. The sale was completed on July 31, 2026. Source
  • Event contracts cleared for November: SEC approvals were received to list and clear company-KPI event contracts, with a November launch in anticipation. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 October 2026

  • Guidance update after further actions: 2026 guidance will be updated as further actions are announced, including the Cboe Canada divestiture plans announced in October 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total company options ADV Source21,347 thousand
Index options ADV Source6,051 thousand
Multi-listed options ADV Source15,296 thousand
Futures ADV Source187.3 thousand
Global FX ADNV Source$61.1 billion
European Equities ADNV Source€12.4 billion
Cboe Clear Europe trades cleared Source397,771.6 thousand
Cboe Clear Europe net settlement volume Source4,231.4 thousand shares

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management flags that tax rate guidance could move with trading volume, expenses, tax laws or rates, and other items. Source
  • Financial: Notes receivable tied to Consolidated Audit Trail funding carried an incremental collectability reserve recorded in other expenses. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Prior release expected the Cboe Australia sale to complete in the third quarter; the current release reports the sale completed July 31, 2026.
  • Not stated: 2026 guidance reflects impacts from initiatives announced in 2025 and early 2026, plus anticipated realignment costs. Source
  • Not stated: Capital expenditure range of $98 to $108 million was reaffirmed in the current release. 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.