The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. ("NASDAQ OMX(R)") (Nasdaq:NDAQ) reported solid results for the third quarter of 2010. Net income attributable to NASDAQ OMX for the third quarter of 2010 was $101 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, compared with $96 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2010, and $60 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2009. Included in the third quarter of 2010 results are $4 million of expenses associated with workforce reductions, merger and strategic initiatives, and other items, offset by $4 million of benefits associated with the tax impact of these items and certain other tax adjustments.
Financial Highlights:
- Net exchange revenues grew 7% over prior year results to $372 million
- Non-GAAP operating income improved to $169 million, up 11% from third quarter of 2009 results, while operating margins increased to 45%
- Non-GAAP EPS increased to $0.50, up from $0.42 in the prior year quarter
- GAAP EPS of $0.50 represents a 79% increase over third quarter of 2009 results
- Completed $300 million of the $400 million authorized share repurchase program thus far, representing 15.1 million shares. Board has authorized an additional $150 million for the program, bringing the total authorized amount to $550 million.
Summary of Non-GAAP Results1 ---------------------------------------------------- ($ millions, except EPS) Q310 Q210 Q309 ------------------------------- ----- ----- ----- Net Exchange Revenues2 372 390 349 Total Operating Expenses 203 207 197 Operating Income 169 183 152 Net Income 101 108 89 Diluted Earnings Per Share $0.50 $0.52 $0.42 1. A complete reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results is included in the attached tables. 2. Represents revenues less liquidity rebates, brokerage, clearing and exchange fees.
Bob Greifeld, Chief Executive Officer, NASDAQ OMX said:
"Despite lower industry trading volumes, we delivered exceptional results this quarter. This performance can be attributed to the success we've had in diversifying our business and identifying opportunities to deliver value-added products and services to our customers. The scale of the NASDAQ OMX business model leaves us well positioned to achieve our stated goal of generating annualized net revenue of $2 billion by the end of 2013."
Business Highlights
European Transaction Services
- Grew volumes for Nordic equity and index options and futures more than 40% from prior year levels. Also in the Nordic derivatives market, NASDAQ OMX recently launched Genium INET, a comprehensive multi-asset trading and clearing system. In addition to powering its own markets, this technology is part of NASDAQ OMX's commercial exchange technology offering, giving customers access to the fastest and most robust trading system in the world.
- Expanded the Nordic clearinghouse by offering members the opportunity to clear repurchase agreement ("repo") transactions. As a result of an agreement between the Swedish Money Market Council and NASDAQ OMX, the entire Swedish Interbank repo market will ultimately be cleared through NASDAQ OMX Stockholm AB.
U.S. Transaction Services
- Became number one in U.S. equity options market share in the third quarter of 2010, growing total share to 28.8%. Market share at NASDAQ OMX PHLX ("PHLX") was 23.7% while The NASDAQ Options Market ("NOM") achieved market share of 5.1%, representing the highest quarterly market
- Received SEC approval for NASDAQ OMX PSX ("PSX"), the first U.S. equity trading platform with a price-size priority model. Launched on October 8, 2010, PSX is an equity exchange model that encourages participants to display more shares in the transparent marketplace by offering improved execution opportunities for large orders. More displayed volume encourages greater transparency in the public marketplace and increased depth at a given price level for customers.
- Announced State Street Global Markets' plans to become the fourth member of IDCG's clearinghouse, joining BNY Mellon Clearing, Newedge USA and MF Global. This addition reflects the growing interest in and client demand for IDCG's product offering. During the third quarter, IDCG also witnessed growth in clearing activity, ending the period with nearly $400 million in open interest.
Market Technology
- Completed the acquisition of SMARTS Group Holdings ("SMARTS"), the world-leading technology provider of market surveillance solutions to exchanges, regulators and brokers. This acquisition is part of NASDAQ OMX's strategy to diversify its Market Technology business and enter the broker surveillance and compliance market.
Issuer Services
- Welcomed 45 new listings during the quarter, including two of the largest technology IPOs, SMART Technologies (Nasdaq:SMT) and NXP Semiconductors (Nasdaq:NXPI). Captured 64% of total proceeds raised by information technology companies on U.S. markets, totaling over $1.6 billion.
Operating Highlights
U.S. Equities
- Total matched market share of U.S. equities was 22.3% in the third quarter of 2010, with NASDAQ matching 19.1% and NASDAQ OMX BX ("BX") matching 3.2%. Total matched market share was 22.8% in the second quarter of 2010 (NASDAQ: 19.0%; BX: 3.8%) and 22.1% in the third quarter of 2009 (NASDAQ: 19.4%; BX: 2.7%). Total matched share volume was 107.8 billion shares in the third quarter of 2010, compared with 147.9 billion shares in the second quarter of 2010 and 131.4 billion shares in the third quarter of 2009.
European Equities
- Total volume was 17.4 million trades in the third quarter of 2010, compared with 19.8 million in the second quarter of 2010 and 12.5 million in the third quarter of 2009. Total value traded was EURO145 billion in the third quarter of 2010, compared with EURO179 billion in the second quarter of 2010 and EURO141 billion in the third quarter of 2009.
U.S. Options
- Total market share of U.S. equity options was 28.8% in the third quarter of 2010, with PHLX matching 23.7% and NOM matching 5.1%. Total market share of U.S. equity options was 25.1% in the second quarter of 2010 (PHLX: 21.7%; NOM: 3.4%) and 20.2% in the third quarter of 2009 (PHLX: 17.0%; NOM: 3.2%). Total industry average daily volume was 12.5 million contracts in the third quarter of 2010, compared with 15.7 million contracts in the second quarter of 2010 and 13.2 million contracts in the third quarter of 2009.
European Derivatives
- In the third quarter of 2010, the total volume of stock options and futures was 8.2 million contracts (Q210: 8.9 million; Q309: 6.6 million), index options and futures volume was 11.0 million contracts (Q210: 13.0 million; Q309: 6.9 million) and fixed income volume was 7.1 million contracts (Q210: 6.5 million; Q309: 6.2 million). Within NASDAQ OMX Commodities, cleared contracts during the third quarter of 2010 totaled 385 terawatt hours ("TWh") (Q210: 499 TWh; Q309: 473 TWh).
Listings
- New listings totaled 45 in the third quarter of 2010 compared with 65 in the second quarter of 2010 and 35 in the third quarter of 2009. Of the 45 new company listings in the third quarter of 2010, 41 listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market and 4 listed on the exchanges that comprise NASDAQ OMX Nordic and NASDAQ OMX Baltic. New listings in the third quarter of 2010 included 18 initial public offerings, compared with 27 in the second quarter of 2010 and 12 in the third quarter of 2009.
Market Technology
- Total order intake, which represents the value of orders signed, was $27 million during the third quarter of 2010, compared with $12 million in the second quarter of 2010 and $37 million in the third quarter of 2009. At the end of the third quarter of 2010, total order value, which represents the total contract value of orders signed that are yet to be recognized as revenue, was $446 million, compared with $453 million at the end of the second quarter of 2010 and $318 million at the end of the third quarter of 2009.
Adena Friedman, Chief Financial Officer, said:
"In addition to our ability to innovate and execute our growth strategy, expense management continues to be a core competency as evidenced by our results this quarter. When adjusting for expenses associated with the SMARTS acquisition, our spending in the third quarter of 2010 is on par with levels realized last year while net revenues increased. Our ability to achieve operational efficiencies has allowed us to continue to invest in new initiatives while expanding profit margins."
Expense Guidance
Total operating expenses for the full year of 2010 are expected to be in the range of $880 million to $890 million, including approximately $60 million in non-recurring costs.
Financial Review
Revenues
Revenues less liquidity rebates, brokerage, clearance and exchange fees ("net exchange revenues") were $372 million for the third quarter of 2010, a decrease of $18 million, or 5%, from the second quarter of 2010 and an increase of $23 million, or 7%, from the third quarter of 2009. Changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar had the impact of increasing revenues in the third quarter of 2010 by $5 million when compared to the second quarter of 2010; however, changes in exchange rates had the impact of decreasing revenues by $2 million when compared to the third quarter of 2009.
Market Services
Market Services net exchange revenues were $249 million, down 8% when compared to the second quarter of 2010 results but up 8% when compared to the third quarter of 2009.
Transaction Services
Net exchange revenues from Transaction Services were $168 million for the third quarter of 2010, a decrease of $18 million, or 10%, when compared to the second quarter of 2010, but an increase of $28 million, or 20%, when compared to the third quarter of 2009.
- Total net cash equity trading revenues were $63 million for the third quarter of 2010, down $13 million, or 17%, from the second quarter of 2010, but up $15 million, or 31%, from the prior year quarter.
- Net U.S. cash equity trading revenues decreased $12 million when compared to the second quarter of 2010 due to lower industry volumes, which declined 26% from second quarter of 2010 levels. Revenues increased $18 million when compared to the prior year quarter due primarily to modified rates and to higher matched market share of U.S. cash equity trading, offset somewhat by lower industry volumes.
- European cash equity trading revenues declined $1 million when compared to results from the second quarter of 2010 and $3 million from the third quarter of 2009. When compared to the second quarter of 2010 the decrease in revenue is due to lower trading activity. The reduction in revenue when compared to the third quarter of 2009 is due primarily to revised trading fees introduced in the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010, partially offset by increases in trading activity.
- Included in U.S. cash equity trading revenues in the third quarter of 2010 are $60 million in SEC Section 31 fees, compared with $81 million in the second quarter of 2010 and $94 million in the third quarter of 2009. Corresponding cost of revenues, reflecting the reimbursement of these fees to the SEC, is included in brokerage, clearance and exchange fees.
- Total net derivative trading and clearing revenues were $60 million for the third quarter of 2010, down $9 million, or 13%, from the second quarter of 2010 and up $6 million, or 11%, from the prior year quarter.
- Net U.S. derivative trading and clearing revenues decreased $6 million when compared to the second quarter of 2010 and were equal to third quarter of 2009 revenues. The decline when compared to the second quarter of 2010 is due to lower industry volumes, which were down 19%. Partially offsetting this decline was higher market share. When compared to the third quarter of 2009, increases in market share were offset by declines in industry volumes and in the average net fees for traded contracts.
- European derivative trading and clearing revenues decreased $3 million when compared to the second quarter of 2010 but increased $6 million when compared to the third quarter of 2009. The decline when compared to the second quarter of 2010 is due to lower trading volumes for options and futures contracts. The increase when compared to the third quarter of 2009 is due to higher trading volumes for options and futures contracts and clearing of fixed income products.
- Access Services revenues were $45 million for the third quarter of 2010, an increase of $4 million, or 10%, when compared to the second quarter of 2010 and an increase of $7 million, or 18%, when compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues when compared to the second quarter of 2010 is primarily due to increased demand for access services. The increase in revenues when compared to the third quarter of 2009 is due to revised fees for access services and increased demand for co-location services.
Market Data
Market Data revenues were $76 million for the third quarter of 2010, down $3 million, or 4%, when compared to the second quarter of 2010 and to the third quarter of 2009.
- Net U.S. tape plans revenues were $28 million in the third quarter of 2010, down $2 million, or 7%, when compared to the second quarter of 2010 and down $3 million, or 10%, when compared to the prior year quarter. The reduction in revenues when compared to the second quarter of 2010 and to the third quarter of 2009 is due to lower plan shareable revenue and to declines in trading and quoting market share of U.S equities, as calculated under the SEC-mandated market data revenue quoting and trading formula.
- U.S. market data products revenues were $32 million in the third quarter of 2010, equal to revenues reported in the second quarter of 2010, but up $3 million, or 10%, when compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues when compared to the third quarter of 2009 is driven by the growth of new products such as BX TotalView, options data feeds, and mutual fund products.
- European market data products revenues were $16 million in the third quarter of 2010, a decrease of $1 million, or 6%, when compared to the second quarter of 2010, and a decrease of $3 million, or 16%, when compared to the prior year quarter. The decrease when compared to the second quarter of 2010 is primarily due to lower audit revenues. The decrease in revenues when compared to the third quarter of 2009 is due primarily to declines in subscriber populations, discontinued products and changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar.
Issuer Services
Issuer Services revenues were $85 million, a decrease of $1 million, or 1%, when compared to the second quarter of 2010, and an increase of $3 million, or 4%, when compared to the third quarter of 2009.
Global Listing Services
Global Listing Services revenues were $73 million for the third quarter of 2010, down $1 million, or 1%, from the second quarter of 2010, but up $1 million, or 1%, when compared to the third quarter of 2009. The decrease when compared to the second quarter of 2010 is primarily due to a modest decline in Corporate Services revenues, resulting from seasonally lower demand for services from listed companies. The increase when compared to the third quarter of 2009 is primarily due to higher European listing revenues resulting from higher market capitalization values for European listed equities.
Global Index Group
Global Index Group revenues were $12 million for the third quarter of 2010, equal to revenues in the second quarter of 2010, and up $2 million, or 20%, when compared to the third quarter of 2009. Higher revenues when compared to the prior year quarter are primarily due to increases in asset sizes of licensed exchange traded funds ("ETFs") as well as additional demand for new licensed ETFs and other financial products.
Market Technology
Market Technology revenues were $38 million for the third quarter of 2010, up $4 million, or 12%, from the second quarter of 2010, and up $2 million, or 6%, when compared to the third quarter of 2009. These increases primarily relate to the inclusion of revenue associated with SMARTS, which was acquired during the quarter.
Operating Expenses
Total non-GAAP operating expenses decreased $4 million, or 2%, to $203 million in the third quarter of 2010 from $207 million in the second quarter of 2010, and increased $6 million, or 3%, from $197 million in the prior year quarter. The decrease in expenses when compared to the second quarter of 2010 is primarily driven by lower compensation, professional and contract services, and computer operations and data communications expenses. Partially offsetting lower spending in the quarter is the impact of changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar, which had the effect of increasing expenses by $3 million when compared to the second quarter of 2010, as well as additional expenses associated with SMARTS. The increase in expenses from the third quarter of 2009 is primarily due to costs associated with SMARTS and higher compensation expenses, partially offset by a reduction in expenses resulting from the sale of Carpenter Moore, which occurred in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Net Interest Expense
Net interest expense was $23 million for the third quarter of 2010, compared with $24 million for the second quarter of 2010 and $23 million for the third quarter of 2009. Included in total net interest expense for the third quarter of 2010 is $19 million in interest expense, $4 million of non-cash expense associated with the accretion of senior and convertible notes, and $2 million in non-cash debt amortization expenses and other related fees. Interest income for the third quarter of 2010 was $2 million.
Earnings Per Share
On a non-GAAP basis, third quarter 2010 earnings per diluted share were $0.50 as compared to non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.52 in the second quarter of 2010 and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.42 in the prior year quarter. NASDAQ OMX's weighted average shares outstanding used to calculate diluted earnings per share was 204 million for the third quarter of 2010, 209 million for the second quarter of 2010, and 215 million for the third quarter of 2009.