Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the owner of the New York Stock Exchange, announced impressive first-quarter earnings for 2025, comfortably beating analysts' expectations. ICE achieved adjusted earnings of $995 million, or $1.72 per share, up from $852 million, or $1.48 per share, in the same quarter last year. Analysts had projected a slightly lower earnings per share of $1.70.
Revenue from ICE's exchange business climbed significantly to $2.12 billion from $1.73 billion, largely due to a 24% surge in energy trading volumes and a 33% jump in natural gas trading volumes. Meanwhile, the company's listings segment saw no growth, as IPO activity remained sluggish due to market instability. Reuters reported that ICE has responded to this strong performance by increasing its quarterly dividend by 7%.
Additionally, ICE has set guidance for its second-quarter expenses, with consolidated operating expenses expected to reach $1.3 billion and adjusted operating expenses projected at $947 million. These developments underscore ICE's capability to navigate market challenges effectively and deliver solid financial results.