CME Group posts record Q3 volume of 29.4 million contracts a day; revenue up 13%

CME Group (Nasdaq: CME), which describes itself as "the world's leading derivatives marketplace," said record third-quarter trading volume lifted revenue 13%, according to its earnings release on Wednesday.

What happened

Revenue was $1,737.3 million, compared with $1,537.6 million a year earlier. Clearing and transaction fees were $1,378.1 million, up 12.2%, and market data and information services revenue was a record $243.1 million, up 20%. Operating income was $1,141.4 million, up 17.4% from $972.6 million. Net income was $1.0 billion, and diluted earnings per share were $2.89, compared with $2.49. On an adjusted basis, EPS was $3.02, compared with $2.68.

Chairman and Chief Executive Terry Duffy said "as uncertainty intensified in Q3, clients turned to CME Group in record numbers to manage risk and capitalize on opportunities."

Volume by asset class

Average daily volume was 29.445 million contracts, up 16.3% from 25.322 million a year earlier, and a record for a third quarter. Non-US volume reached a third-quarter high of 9 million contracts a day.

Product line	Q3 2026 ADV (thousands)	Q3 2025 ADV	Change
Interest rates	15,121	13,378	+13.0%
Equity indexes	7,714	6,278	+22.9%
Foreign exchange	988	834	+18.5%
Energy	2,665	2,295	+16.1%
Agricultural commodities	2,022	1,712	+18.1%
Metals	935	825	+13.3%

Source: CME Group. Changes computed from the published figures.

The average rate per contract was $0.679, down from $0.702 a year earlier, so revenue per contract fell 3.3% (computed) even as volume rose.

Capital

CME had $2.4 billion in cash and $3.4 billion of debt at September 30. It returned nearly $1 billion to shareholders in the quarter: $465 million in regular dividends and $524 million in share repurchases.

Context

Volume in the first quarter was higher than in the third: average daily volume was 36.2 million contracts in the first quarter of 2026, according to the same release.