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Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 7 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and earnings per share rose: Net revenues less transaction-based expenses were $2.7 billion, up 5%. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.69, up 14%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.90, up 5%. Source
  • Operating income rose, margins reported: Operating income was $1.4 billion, up 7%, with a 52% operating margin. Adjusted operating income was $1.6 billion, up 4%, with a 61% adjusted operating margin. Source
  • Energy revenue fell 13%: Energy revenues were $518 million against $595 million a year earlier, down 13%, or 14% in constant currency. Energy was the only exchange revenue line in the table to decline. Source
  • Segment margin reported at 8%: Segment operating income was $45 million, with an 8% operating margin. Adjusted operating income was $239 million, with a 43% adjusted operating margin. The release does not discuss the reasons for the gap. Source
  • Free cash flow rose in six months: Through June 30, operating cash flow was $3.3 billion and free cash flow was $2,886 million, against $2,116 million a year earlier. Adjusted free cash flow was $2.6 billion, against $2.0 billion. Source
  • Quarterly returns to stockholders: The CFO said the company returned $945 million to stockholders in the quarter, including $651 million of share repurchases. Through June 30, returns totalled $1.8 billion, including $1.2 billion of repurchases and $591 million of dividends. Source

“We are pleased to report our second quarter results, which reflect continued revenue and earnings per share growth and record open interest across our exchange complex.”

Jeff Sprecher, ICE Chair & Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Fixed income and data services recurring revenue growth Source20267% - 8%New
GAAP operating expenses Source2026$5.140 - $5.180 billionRaised from $5.095 billion to $5.145 billion
Non-GAAP operating expenses Source2026$4.190 - $4.230 billionRaised from $4.145 billion to $4.195 billion
GAAP operating expenses Source3Q26$1.298 - $1.308 billionNew
Non-GAAP operating expenses Source3Q26$1.063 - $1.073 billionNew
GAAP non-operating expense Source3Q26$160 - $165 millionNew
Adjusted non-operating expense Source3Q26$175 - $180 millionNew
Capital expenditures Source2026~$850 millionNew
Weighted average shares outstanding Source3Q26560 - 566 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 GAAP and non-GAAP operating expense ranges were raised. GAAP moved from $5.095 billion to $5.145 billion to $5.140 billion to $5.180 billion. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance added for exchange recurring revenue growth, given as high-single digits. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance added for fixed income and data services recurring revenue growth, given as 7% to 8%. Source
  • New guidance: Third quarter 2026 guidance given for operating expenses, non-operating expense and weighted average shares outstanding. Source
  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 capital expenditures guidance given at about $850 million. Source
  • New: Board approved an increase in the share repurchase authorization to up to $4.0 billion, effective July 1, 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and earnings per share rose: Net revenues less transaction-based expenses were $2.7 billion, up 5%. GAAP diluted EPS was $1.69, up 14%. Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.90, up 5%. Source
  • Operating income rose, margins reported: Operating income was $1.4 billion, up 7%, with a 52% operating margin. Adjusted operating income was $1.6 billion, up 4%, with a 61% adjusted operating margin. Source
  • Record open interest across exchanges: The CEO cited continued revenue and earnings per share growth and record open interest across the exchange complex. The release gives no open interest figure. Source

Exchanges segment results

  • Exchange revenue rose 3%: Exchange net revenues were $1,464 million, up 3%. Recurring revenues were $416 million, up 10%. Transaction revenues, net were $1,048 million, up 1%. Source
  • Energy revenue fell 13%: Energy revenues were $518 million against $595 million a year earlier, down 13%, or 14% in constant currency. Energy was the only exchange revenue line in the table to decline. Source
  • Financials, ags and data lines grew: Financials revenues rose 21% to $192 million. Ags and Metals rose 35% to $87 million. Data and Connectivity Services rose 12% to $287 million. Listings rose 5% to $129 million. Source
  • Exchange segment margin reported at 74%: Exchange segment operating income was $1.1 billion, with a 74% operating margin. The adjusted operating margin was 75%. Source

“Our second quarter results reflect the continued strength and consistency of our business model, with growth across all three of our operating segments”

Warren Gardiner, ICE Chief Financial Officer

Fixed income and data services

  • Segment revenue rose 8%: Fixed income and data services revenues were $645 million, up 8%. Recurring revenues were $531 million, up 10%. Transaction revenues were $114 million, flat year over year. Source
  • Data and analytics lines drove growth: Fixed income data and analytics rose 9% to $333 million. Data and network technology rose 11% to $198 million. CDS clearing rose 2% to $83 million. Fixed income execution fell 4% to $31 million. Source
  • Segment margin reported at 42%: Segment operating income was $268 million, with a 42% operating margin. Adjusted operating income was $295 million, with a 46% adjusted margin. Source

Mortgage technology segment

  • Segment revenue rose 5%: Mortgage technology revenues were $557 million, up 5%. Closing solutions rose 14% to $65 million. Origination technology rose 5% to $197 million. Servicing software rose 2% to $226 million. Source
  • Transaction revenue rose 11%: Transaction revenues were $151 million, up 11%. Recurring revenues were $406 million, up 3%. Source
  • Segment margin reported at 8%: Segment operating income was $45 million, with an 8% operating margin. Adjusted operating income was $239 million, with a 43% adjusted operating margin. The release does not discuss the reasons for the gap. Source

Operating expenses and margins

  • Operating expenses rose modestly: GAAP operating expenses were $1,275 million, up 2%. Adjusted operating expenses were $1,038 million, up 6%. Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles fell to $237 million from $253 million. Source
  • Compensation and technology costs rose: Compensation and benefits were $509 million against $499 million. Technology and communication expense was $242 million against $215 million. Source
  • Transaction-based expenses rose: Section 31 fees were $288 million in the quarter against $150 million a year earlier. Cash liquidity payments, routing and clearing were $657 million against $569 million. Source
  • Consolidated margin reported at 52%: Consolidated operating income was $1.4 billion, with a 52% operating margin, compared with 51% a year earlier. The adjusted operating margin was 61% in both periods. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow rose in six months: Through June 30, operating cash flow was $3.3 billion and free cash flow was $2,886 million, against $2,116 million a year earlier. Adjusted free cash flow was $2.6 billion, against $2.0 billion. Source
  • Quarterly returns to stockholders: The CFO said the company returned $945 million to stockholders in the quarter, including $651 million of share repurchases. Through June 30, returns totalled $1.8 billion, including $1.2 billion of repurchases and $591 million of dividends. Source
  • Cash and debt at June 30: Unrestricted cash was $1.1 billion and outstanding debt was $19.8 billion as of June 30, 2026. Source

Demand, strategy and capital discipline

  • Customers turned to regulated markets: The CEO said customers continued to use ICE's regulated markets, trusted data and mission- critical technology to transfer risk, amid rapid change in global markets. Source
  • Focus on innovation and durable growth: For the second half and beyond, the CEO said the company remains focused on innovation, durable growth and long-term value creation for stockholders. Source
  • Buybacks alongside capital discipline: The CFO said the balance between returning cash and investing reflects the capital discipline and financial rigor behind ICE's long track record of value creation. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 July 2026

  • Repurchases to remain a priority: The CFO said share repurchases remain a priority and that free cash flow allows them to continue alongside investment. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Open interest SourceRecord across the exchange complex

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.