NYSE-parent ICE’s profit rises on stronger trading volumes

Feb 5 (Reuters) – Intercontinental Exchange posted a rise in fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, as the New York Stock Exchange parent benefited from stronger trading volumes in a volatile market.

The company reported a net income of $862 million, or $1.49 per share, compared with $709 million, or $1.21 per share, a year earlier.

Volatile markets typically boost volumes at exchanges, as traders hedge their positions more aggressively and investors reshuffle their portfolios.

The Trump administration’s trade policies and geopolitical tensions have spurred uncertainty in markets, while the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate path has driven further speculation.

ICE has posted consecutive quarters of growth in the energy segment, as protracted conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have fueled turbulence in oil markets.

In the fourth quarter, revenue from energy trading rose 15% to $548 million, lifting the exchanges segment, its biggest revenue generator, to $1.36 billion.

“Entering 2026, we believe the tailwinds behind our businesses are strong,” CEO Jeff Sprecher said.

The exchange operator also increased its quarterly dividend by 8% to 52 cents per share in the first quarter of 2026, underpinning expectations of a strong year ahead.

The company is also foraying into products beyond its segments by seeking a nod for a digital platform that would enable 24/7 trading of tokenized securities and a prediction markets bet through an up to $2 billion stake in Polymarket.

The company’s fixed income and data services segment, through which it sells subscription-based pricing data for certain debt assets like bonds, posted a 5% jump in revenue.

ICE reported a total net revenue of $2.5 billion, 8% higher than the $2.32 billion it posted a year earlier. Shares of the company were up 2% in premarket trading.

(Reporting by Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)