Cboe beats profit estimates on options trading boom

February 6, 2026 7:32 AM EST

A logo for CBOE (Chicago Board Options Exchange) Global Markets is seen at their headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, U.S., April 11, 2024. REUTERS/Jim Vondruska

Feb 6 (Reuters) - Cboe Global ⁠Markets beat Wall ⁠Street ‍estimates for fourth-quarter profit on Friday, as elevated market volatility boosted options trading volumes at the exchange operator.

Markets ‍have seen a surge in volatility in recent months, fueled ​by uncertain trade policies and heightened geopolitical tensions, leading traders to take more ​bets and hedge their positions.

Exchanges across Wall Street, including CME Group, Nasdaq and NYSE-parent Intercontinental Exchange, have reported strong quarterly results, buoyed by the higher volumes.

Cboe's total ​options market share, however, fell to 29.2% sequentially from 30.9%.

The company provides trading platforms for equities and derivatives, including products linked ​to its flagship VIX volatility index, often referred to as the market's "fear gauge."

Net revenue from ‌its options trading arm jumped 34% to $433 million in the quarter as total average daily volume in options ​rose 24%.

The exchange is streamlining its businesses ⁠to focus on high-growth areas like prediction markets and crypto amid increasing competition for market share.

Reuters reported ‌earlier this week that Cboe is in the early stages of exploring a product that would use an options structure to offer all-or-none payouts, a ‌move that would position it to compete with fast-growing prediction market platforms.

The exchange ‌is also narrowing its focus on core offerings with the recent plans to exit its businesses in Australia and Canada, a move that followed its decision ‍to wind down the Japanese equities business last year.

Adjusted profit of $3.06 per share beat analysts' average estimate ⁠of $2.94, according to data compiled by LSEG. Revenue rose to a record $671.1 million, also topping expectations of about $660 million.

Shares of the exchange were down about 2.3% in morning trading.

(Reporting by Pragyan Kalita and Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)



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