UBS Sticks to Bullish View on CME Group, Shares Up 3%

CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME) is a leading global markets company, known for its diverse product offerings in futures and options trading. The company is a key player in electronic trading and over-the-counter clearing services. With a market capitalization of $97.88 billion, CME is the largest futures exchange worldwide, competing with other major exchanges like the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).

On August 26, 2025, Cutinho Sunil, CME's Chief Information Officer, sold 5,930 shares of Common Stock Class A at $272.10 each. Despite this sale, Sunil retains ownership of 23,406 shares. This transaction is part of the regular insider trading activities that are publicly reported to the SEC, providing transparency to investors.

CME's stock is currently trading above its 200-day simple moving average (SMA), a key technical indicator suggesting a short-term bullish trend. The stock price is $271.39, slightly below the recent sale price by Sunil, and 6.7% lower than its 52-week high of $290.79. The 200-day SMA helps investors identify long-term trends and potential support or resistance levels.

CME Group's strong global presence and focus on electronic trading and cryptocurrency markets bolster its growth prospects. The company's clearing and transaction fees are significant revenue drivers, especially during market volatility. This strategic focus positions CME well for future expansion in the financial markets.

Today's trading activity shows CME's stock price at $271.61, with a slight increase of 0.22, or 0.08%. The stock has fluctuated between $269.40 and $273.16 today, reflecting investor interest and market dynamics. With a trading volume of 2,525,653 shares, CME continues to be an active and influential player on the NASDAQ exchange.

UBS is holding firm on its Buy rating for CME Group (NASDAQ:CME), maintaining a $290 price target as strong trading activity and favorable macro conditions support an optimistic outlook.

Following CME’s March trading update, UBS revised its first-quarter 2025 EPS forecast upward to $2.78, from a prior estimate of $2.71, outpacing Wall Street's $2.62 consensus. The increase is largely tied to higher-than-expected futures volumes, especially within equities and interest rate products.

While the firm adjusted pricing assumptions slightly lower—cutting revenue per contract (RPC) by 2% due to softer equity pricing—UBS anticipates additional support from equity income through the S&P index joint venture and increased interest income from higher Fed balances.

UBS sees market volatility, fueled by rate uncertainty, tariff policy debates, and geopolitical tensions, as a potential catalyst for even greater trading volumes ahead.

Currently, the company’s shares are up around 3% intra-day.

CME Group (NASDAQ:CME) reported strong fourth-quarter earnings today, surpassing analyst estimates and achieving record full-year revenue, as demand for derivatives trading surged across multiple asset classes in 2024.

For Q4, the world’s leading derivatives marketplace posted adjusted earnings per share of $2.52, exceeding expectations of $2.48. Revenue for the quarter reached $1.53 billion, aligning with analyst forecasts.

For the full year 2024, CME Group set new financial records, with revenue rising 10% year-over-year to $6.1 billion. The company reported adjusted net income of $3.7 billion and adjusted EPS of $10.26, reflecting strong operational performance.

While fourth-quarter average daily trading volume remained flat at 25.5 million contracts, non-U.S. trading activity expanded, with international average daily volume rising 5% year-over-year to 7.6 million contracts.

CME Group saw broad-based volume growth across asset classes, setting new records in interest rate derivatives, agricultural commodities, foreign exchange, and metals markets.

• CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME) reported an EPS of $2.52, beating the estimated $2.46.
• The company's revenue reached approximately $1.53 billion, exceeding expectations and marking a 4.2% year-over-year increase.
• CME's financial health is solid, with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12 and a stable current ratio of 1.02.

CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME) is a leading derivatives marketplace, specializing in options and futures trading. The company offers a wide range of global benchmark products across various asset classes, including interest rates, equity indices, and commodities. Despite facing competitive and regulatory challenges, CME continues to thrive with its extensive portfolio and robust clearing services.

On February 12, 2025, CME reported impressive earnings per share (EPS) of $2.52, surpassing the estimated $2.46. This marks a significant improvement from the $2.37 EPS reported in the same quarter last year. The earnings surprise for this quarter stands at 3.28%, as highlighted by Zacks. Over the past four quarters, CME has consistently outperformed consensus EPS estimates, demonstrating its strong financial performance.

CME also reported actual revenue of approximately $1.53 billion, exceeding the estimated $1.51 billion. This represents a 4.2% increase compared to the previous year, as noted by Zacks. The company has successfully surpassed consensus revenue estimates in each of the last four quarters, showcasing its ability to generate consistent growth in a competitive industry.

The company's financial health is further supported by its valuation metrics. CME has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 26.22, indicating the market's valuation of its earnings. Its price-to-sales ratio stands at about 14.93, reflecting the market's valuation of its revenue. Additionally, CME's enterprise value to sales ratio is around 15.11, and its enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio is approximately 24.58, providing insights into its valuation relative to sales and cash flow.

CME maintains a relatively low level of debt compared to its equity, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The current ratio of 1.02 suggests that CME has a balanced level of current assets to cover its current liabilities. These financial metrics indicate a stable financial position, allowing CME to continue its growth trajectory in the derivatives marketplace.

CME Group (NASDAQ:CME) reported strong fourth-quarter earnings today, surpassing analyst estimates and achieving record full-year revenue, as demand for derivatives trading surged across multiple asset classes in 2024.

For Q4, the world’s leading derivatives marketplace posted adjusted earnings per share of $2.52, exceeding expectations of $2.48. Revenue for the quarter reached $1.53 billion, aligning with analyst forecasts.

For the full year 2024, CME Group set new financial records, with revenue rising 10% year-over-year to $6.1 billion. The company reported adjusted net income of $3.7 billion and adjusted EPS of $10.26, reflecting strong operational performance.

While fourth-quarter average daily trading volume remained flat at 25.5 million contracts, non-U.S. trading activity expanded, with international average daily volume rising 5% year-over-year to 7.6 million contracts.

CME Group saw broad-based volume growth across asset classes, setting new records in interest rate derivatives, agricultural commodities, foreign exchange, and metals markets.

• CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME) reported an EPS of $2.52, beating the estimated $2.46.
• The company's revenue reached approximately $1.53 billion, exceeding expectations and marking a 4.2% year-over-year increase.
• CME's financial health is solid, with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12 and a stable current ratio of 1.02.

CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ:CME) is a leading derivatives marketplace, specializing in options and futures trading. The company offers a wide range of global benchmark products across various asset classes, including interest rates, equity indices, and commodities. Despite facing competitive and regulatory challenges, CME continues to thrive with its extensive portfolio and robust clearing services.

On February 12, 2025, CME reported impressive earnings per share (EPS) of $2.52, surpassing the estimated $2.46. This marks a significant improvement from the $2.37 EPS reported in the same quarter last year. The earnings surprise for this quarter stands at 3.28%, as highlighted by Zacks. Over the past four quarters, CME has consistently outperformed consensus EPS estimates, demonstrating its strong financial performance.

CME also reported actual revenue of approximately $1.53 billion, exceeding the estimated $1.51 billion. This represents a 4.2% increase compared to the previous year, as noted by Zacks. The company has successfully surpassed consensus revenue estimates in each of the last four quarters, showcasing its ability to generate consistent growth in a competitive industry.

The company's financial health is further supported by its valuation metrics. CME has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 26.22, indicating the market's valuation of its earnings. Its price-to-sales ratio stands at about 14.93, reflecting the market's valuation of its revenue. Additionally, CME's enterprise value to sales ratio is around 15.11, and its enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio is approximately 24.58, providing insights into its valuation relative to sales and cash flow.

CME maintains a relatively low level of debt compared to its equity, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. The current ratio of 1.02 suggests that CME has a balanced level of current assets to cover its current liabilities. These financial metrics indicate a stable financial position, allowing CME to continue its growth trajectory in the derivatives marketplace.