CME Group posts record third-quarter revenue as trading volumes rise in 2026

Traders Union
All News
Business & Wealth
Companies
CME Group record Q3 revenue

Highlights

CME Group reports third-quarter 2026 revenue of $1.7 billion, operating income of $1.1 billion, and net income of $1.0 billion with $2.89 diluted EPS.
Average daily volume hits a third-quarter record of 29.4 million contracts, with non-U.S. ADV at 9 million and double-digit volume growth across all six asset classes.
CME Group returns nearly $1 billion to shareholders, including $465 million in dividends and $524 million in share repurchases as of September 30, 2026.

Quarter results and trading growth

As reported by CME Group, the exchange operator reports third-quarter 2026 revenue of $1.7 billion and operating income of $1.1 billion. Net income is $1.0 billion and diluted earnings per common share are $2.89, while adjusted operating income reaches $1.2 billion, adjusted net income totals $1.1 billion, and adjusted diluted earnings per share come in at $3.02.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Terry Duffy says clients turn to CME Group in record numbers as uncertainty intensifies during the quarter. Average daily volume climbs to a third-quarter record of 29.4 million contracts, while non-U.S. average daily volume reaches a third-quarter high of 9 million contracts, with double-digit volume growth across all six asset classes.

Clearing and transaction fees revenue totals $1.4 billion in the quarter, and the average rate per contract is $0.679. Market data revenue reaches a record $243 million for the third quarter of 2026, up 20%.

Capital position and shareholder returns

Beyond trading activity, CME Group says it is advancing product development and technology infrastructure during the quarter. Duffy says the company launches new products, generates a record $100 billion in average daily capital efficiencies, and continues cloud migration efforts aimed at expanding access through both co-location and cloud-managed services.

As of Sept. 30, 2026, the company has $2.4 billion in cash and $3.4 billion of debt. CME Group returns nearly $1 billion to shareholders during the quarter, including $465 million in regular quarterly dividends and $524 million in share repurchases.

Cybersecurity funding in Q3 2026 surged to $6.8 billion, driven by fewer but much larger late-stage rounds, with AI-oriented and identity security startups attracting most of the capital. Our earlier article also highlighted rising consolidation in the sector, with major acquisitions underscoring how strategic buyers are positioning for increased AI-related risk and fraud prevention needs.

This material may contain third-party opinions, none of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer. While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners.