CME Group Posts Record First Half as Q2 Revenue Hits $1.7 billion | LeapRate

On Wednesday, CME Group reported second-quarter revenue of $1.7 billion and operating income of $1.1 billion, capping what the exchange operator described as its strongest first half on record.

Net income was $1 billion and diluted earnings per share were $2.88. On an adjusted basis, which excludes certain items, operating income was $1.2 billion, net income was $1.1 billion and diluted earnings per share were $2.99.

“The first half of 2026 was the strongest in CME Group’s history,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Terry Duffy. “We delivered record H1 performance across revenue, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share, all of which were powered by record trading in Q1 and our second-highest Q2 volumes ever.”

Average daily volume reached 29.8 million contracts in the quarter, the third highest on record, including non-U.S. average daily volume of 9.1 million contracts. 

Clearing and transaction fees revenue totalled $1.4 billion, with a total average rate per contract of $0.678. Market data revenue rose 20% to a record $238 million.

Duffy said the company provided more than $95 billion in daily margin efficiencies during the quarter, adding that it continues to develop new products including single-stock futures, 1-ounce gold contracts available around the clock, U.S. Treasury clearing and compute futures.

As of June 30, CME Group held $2.3 billion in cash, including $200 million deposited with the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, and carried $3.4 billion of debt. 

The company paid roughly $468 million in dividends during the quarter and repurchased $695 million of its shares.