Nasdaq Q4 2025 Nasdaq Inc Earnings Call | AllMind AI Earnings | AllMind AI
Q4 2025 Nasdaq Inc Earnings Call
Speaker #1: Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the NASDAQ fourth quarter 2025 results call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode.
Operator: Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Nasdaq Q4 2025 results call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. After the speakers' presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session. To ask a question during the session, you will need to press star one one on your telephone. You will then hear an automated message advising your hand is raised. To withdraw your question, please press star one one again. In the interest of time, please limit yourselves to one question. Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded. I would now like to hand the conference over to your first speaker, Ato Garrett, Senior Vice President and Investor Relations Officer. Please go ahead.
Operator: Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Nasdaq Q4 2025 results call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. After the speakers' presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session. To ask a question during the session, you will need to press star one one on your telephone. You will then hear an automated message advising your hand is raised. To withdraw your question, please press star one one again. In the interest of time, please limit yourselves to one question. Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded. I would now like to hand the conference over to your first speaker, Ato Garrett, Senior Vice President and Investor Relations Officer. Please go ahead.
Speaker #1: After the speaker's presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session. To ask a question during the session, you will need to press star one one (*) 1 1 on your telephone.
Speaker #1: You will then hear an automated message advising your hand is raised. To withdraw your question, please press star 11 again. In the interest of time, please limit yourself to one question.
Speaker #1: Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded. I would now like to hand the conference over to your first speaker, Ato Garrett, Senior Vice President and Investor Relations Officer.
Speaker #1: Please go ahead.
Speaker #2: Good
Speaker #2: Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today to discuss Nasdaq's fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results. On the line are Adena Friedman, our Chair and Chief Executive Officer; Sarah Youngwood, our Chief Financial Officer; and other members of the management team.
Ato Garrett: Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today to discuss Nasdaq's fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results. On the line are Adena Friedman, our Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Youngwood, our Chief Financial Officer, and other members of the management team. After prepared remarks, we'll open the line for Q&A. The press release and earnings presentation accompanying this call can be found on our investor relations website. I would like to remind you that we'll be making forward-looking statements on this call that involve risks. A summary of these risks is contained in our press release and a more complete description in our annual report on Form 10-K. We will discuss our financial performance on a non-GAAP basis, excluding the impact of acquisitions and the impact of changes of FX.
Ato Garrett: Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us today to discuss Nasdaq's fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results. On the line are Adena Friedman, our Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Youngwood, our Chief Financial Officer, and other members of the management team. After prepared remarks, we'll open the line for Q&A. The press release and earnings presentation accompanying this call can be found on our investor relations website. I would like to remind you that we'll be making forward-looking statements on this call that involve risks. A summary of these risks is contained in our press release and a more complete description in our annual report on Form 10-K. We will discuss our financial performance on a non-GAAP basis, excluding the impact of acquisitions and the impact of changes of FX.
Speaker #2: After prepared remarks, we'll open the line for Q&A. The press release and earnings presentation accompanying this call can be found on our Investor Relations website.
Speaker #2: I would like to remind you that we'll be making forward-looking statements on this call that involve risks. A summary of these risks is contained in our press release, and a more complete description is in our annual report on Form 10-K.
Speaker #2: We will discuss our financial performance on a non-GAAP basis, excluding the impact of vested shares and the impact of changes in FX. Full-year comparisons also exclude a previously announced one-time revenue benefit in index during the first quarter of 2024.
Ato Garrett: Full year comparisons also exclude a previously announced one-time revenue benefit in Index during Q1 2024. Definitions and reconciliations of US GAAP to non-GAAP, plus adjustments, can be found in our earnings presentation, as well as in a file located in the Financial section of our investor relations website at ir.nasdaq.com. With that, I will now turn the call over to Adena.
Full year comparisons also exclude a previously announced one-time revenue benefit in Index during Q1 2024. Definitions and reconciliations of US GAAP to non-GAAP, plus adjustments, can be found in our earnings presentation, as well as in a file located in the Financial section of our investor relations website at ir.nasdaq.com. With that, I will now turn the call over to Adena.
Speaker #2: Definitions and reconciliations of US GAAP to non-GAAP, plus adjustments, can be found in our earnings presentation, as well as in a file located in the financial section of our Investor Relations website at ir.nasdaq.com.
Speaker #2: And with that, I will now turn the call.
Speaker #2: over to Adena. Thank you,
Adena Friedman: Thank you, Ato, and good morning, everyone. Today, I will start with an overview of our fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial and operational performance. I will then discuss our strategic priorities and outlook for 2026, before handing the call to Sarah to walk through the financial results in more detail. 2025 was an excellent year for Nasdaq as we delivered strong organic growth and accelerated innovation across our business. Our team executed exceptionally well, demonstrating the resilience of our platform in a complex operating environment defined by volatile trading dynamics, sustained geopolitical tension, and an ever-changing regulatory landscape. It was also a year of significant milestones for the company. For the first time in our history, we've surpassed $5 billion in annual net revenue and $4 billion in solutions revenue.
Adena Friedman: Thank you, Ato, and good morning, everyone. Today, I will start with an overview of our fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial and operational performance. I will then discuss our strategic priorities and outlook for 2026, before handing the call to Sarah to walk through the financial results in more detail. 2025 was an excellent year for Nasdaq as we delivered strong organic growth and accelerated innovation across our business. Our team executed exceptionally well, demonstrating the resilience of our platform in a complex operating environment defined by volatile trading dynamics, sustained geopolitical tension, and an ever-changing regulatory landscape. It was also a year of significant milestones for the company. For the first time in our history, we've surpassed $5 billion in annual net revenue and $4 billion in solutions revenue.
Speaker #3: Ato. And good morning, everyone. Today, I'll start with an overview of our fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial and operational performance. I will then discuss our strategic priorities and outlook for 2026 before handing the call to Sarah to walk through the financial results in more detail.
Speaker #3: 2025 was an excellent year for Nasdaq as we delivered strong organic growth and accelerated innovation across our business. Our team executed exceptionally well, demonstrating the resilience of our platform in a complex operating environment defined by volatile trading dynamics, sustained geopolitical tension, and an ever-changing regulatory landscape.
Speaker #3: It was also a year of significant milestones for the company. For the first time in our history, we've surpassed $5 billion in annual net revenue and $4 billion in solutions revenue.
Speaker #3: Our index franchise reached new heights, delivering record average AUM, a second consecutive year of record inflows, and the highest number of new index products introduced in our history.
Adena Friedman: Our index franchise reached new heights, delivering a record average AUM, a second consecutive year of record inflows, and the highest number of new index products introduced in our history. Market services delivered record revenues for US equities and US options. We delivered industry-leading new listings performance and a record $1.2 trillion in listing transfers, the strongest year ever for our Switch program. In financial technology, we strongly delivered against our cross-sell commitments, deepening our clients' relationships, and we are now proud to call every GSIB a Nasdaq client. Our financial crime management technology business pioneered innovative approaches to fight crime and introduced our new agentic AI workforce, a suite of agentic workers that automate key client workflows. We also formed a new partnership with BioCatch to bring additional intelligence and effectiveness to our solutions.
Our index franchise reached new heights, delivering a record average AUM, a second consecutive year of record inflows, and the highest number of new index products introduced in our history. Market services delivered record revenues for US equities and US options. We delivered industry-leading new listings performance and a record $1.2 trillion in listing transfers, the strongest year ever for our Switch program. In financial technology, we strongly delivered against our cross-sell commitments, deepening our clients' relationships, and we are now proud to call every GSIB a Nasdaq client. Our financial crime management technology business pioneered innovative approaches to fight crime and introduced our new agentic AI workforce, a suite of agentic workers that automate key client workflows. We also formed a new partnership with BioCatch to bring additional intelligence and effectiveness to our solutions.
Speaker #3: Market services delivered record revenues for US equities and US options. We delivered industry-leading new listings performance and a record $1.2 trillion in listing transfers with the strongest year ever for our switch program.
Speaker #3: In financial technology, we strongly delivered against our cross-sell commitments, deepening our client relationships, and we are now proud to call every GSIP a Nasdaq client.
Speaker #3: Our financial crime management technology business pioneered innovative approaches to fight crime and introduced our new agentic AI workforce, a suite of agentic workers that automate key client workflows.
Speaker #3: We also formed a new partnership with BioCatch to bring additional intelligence and effectiveness to our solutions. These accomplishments reflect not only the breadth of our platform, but the momentum behind it as we enter 2026 with more opportunity than ever.
Adena Friedman: These accomplishments reflect not only the breadth of our platform, but the momentum behind it as we enter 2026 with more opportunity than ever. For the full year, we delivered net revenues of $5.2 billion, an increase of 12%. Our solutions revenue grew 11% to $4 billion at the top of the range, at the top end of the range of our medium-term outlook. ARR ended the year at $3.1 billion, an increase of 10% year-over-year. Our operating income was $2.9 billion, up 16%, and we delivered 24% diluted EPS growth. Our fourth quarter net revenue was $1.4 billion, up 13% year-over-year, with solutions revenue of $1.1 billion, up 12% year-over-year.
These accomplishments reflect not only the breadth of our platform, but the momentum behind it as we enter 2026 with more opportunity than ever. For the full year, we delivered net revenues of $5.2 billion, an increase of 12%. Our solutions revenue grew 11% to $4 billion at the top of the range, at the top end of the range of our medium-term outlook. ARR ended the year at $3.1 billion, an increase of 10% year-over-year. Our operating income was $2.9 billion, up 16%, and we delivered 24% diluted EPS growth. Our fourth quarter net revenue was $1.4 billion, up 13% year-over-year, with solutions revenue of $1.1 billion, up 12% year-over-year.
Speaker #3: For the full year, we delivered net revenues of $5.2 billion, an increase of 12%. Our solutions revenue grew 11% to $4 billion, at the top of the range at the top end of the range of our medium-term outlook.
Speaker #3: ARR ended the year at $3.1 billion, an increase of 10% year over year. Our operating income was $2.9 billion, up 16%, and we delivered 24% diluted EPS growth.
Speaker #3: Our fourth quarter net revenue was $1.4 billion, up 13% year over year, with solutions revenue of $1.1 billion, up 12% year over year. Expenses in the fourth quarter were $609 million, up 8% year over year.
Adena Friedman: Expenses in the fourth quarter were $609 million, up 8% year over year. Operating income was $783 million in the quarter, up 16%, and we delivered 27% diluted EPS growth. Our performance was anchored in the strategic pillars of integrate, innovate, and accelerate, which enabled our teams to execute with clarity and focus. Within our integrate priority, we overachieved our expanded efficiency program net expense target with over $160 million in cost reductions actions as of year-end. We ended the year with gross leverage of 2.9 times, outperforming our previous expectation of reaching 3 times leverage by the end of the year. In recognition of our strengthening balance sheet, both Moody's and S&P upgraded Nasdaq's senior unsecured debt ratings in 2025 to Baa1 and BBB+ respectively.
Expenses in the fourth quarter were $609 million, up 8% year over year. Operating income was $783 million in the quarter, up 16%, and we delivered 27% diluted EPS growth. Our performance was anchored in the strategic pillars of integrate, innovate, and accelerate, which enabled our teams to execute with clarity and focus. Within our integrate priority, we overachieved our expanded efficiency program net expense target with over $160 million in cost reductions actions as of year-end. We ended the year with gross leverage of 2.9 times, outperforming our previous expectation of reaching 3 times leverage by the end of the year. In recognition of our strengthening balance sheet, both Moody's and S&P upgraded Nasdaq's senior unsecured debt ratings in 2025 to Baa1 and BBB+ respectively.
Speaker #3: Operating income was $783 million in the quarter, up 16%, and we delivered 27% diluted EPS growth. Our performance was anchored in the strategic pillars of integrate, innovate, and accelerate, which enabled our teams to execute with clarity and focus.
Speaker #3: Within our Integrate priority, we overachieved our expanded efficiency program net expense target with over $160 million in cost reductions actioned as of year-end. We ended the year with gross leverage of 2.9 times, outperforming our previous expectation of reaching 3 times leverage by the end of the year.
Speaker #3: In recognition of our strengthening balance sheet, both Moody's and S&P upgraded Nasdaq's senior unsecured debt ratings in 2025 to Baa1 and BBB+, respectively. Within our Innovate priority, we executed across several key initiatives.
Adena Friedman: Within our innovate priority, we executed across several key initiatives. We embedded AI across our business and have begun rolling out new AI-enabled products with strong client reception. For example, we've seen enthusiastic engagement from Nasdaq Verafin clients for our agentic AI workforce that we launched at the end of Q3. The first agentic worker we introduced, our agentic sanctions analyst, has strong early use among our clients. Continuing the momentum this month, we launched our second worker, the agentic enhanced due diligence analyst. We look forward to expanding this offering with additional agentic workers planned for 2026. In market services earlier in 2025, we announced plans to bring 23 by 5 trading to the Nasdaq stock market, and we will be ready to launch this capability in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
Within our innovate priority, we executed across several key initiatives. We embedded AI across our business and have begun rolling out new AI-enabled products with strong client reception. For example, we've seen enthusiastic engagement from Nasdaq Verafin clients for our agentic AI workforce that we launched at the end of Q3. The first agentic worker we introduced, our agentic sanctions analyst, has strong early use among our clients. Continuing the momentum this month, we launched our second worker, the agentic enhanced due diligence analyst. We look forward to expanding this offering with additional agentic workers planned for 2026. In market services earlier in 2025, we announced plans to bring 23 by 5 trading to the Nasdaq stock market, and we will be ready to launch this capability in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
Speaker #3: We embedded AI across our business and have begun rolling out new AI-enabled products with strong client reception. For example, we've seen enthusiastic engagement from Nasdaq Barefin clients for our agentic AI workforce that we launched at the end of Q3.
Speaker #3: The first agentic worker we introduced, our agentic sanctions analyst, has strong early clients. Continuing the momentum this month, we launched our second worker, the agentic enhanced due diligence analyst.
Speaker #3: We look forward to expanding this offering with additional agentic workers planned for 2026. In market services, earlier in 2025, we announced plans to bring 23x5 trading to the NASDAQ stock market, and we will be ready to launch this capability in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
Speaker #3: Further, we're driving industry efforts to realize the potential of digital assets across multiple initiatives, including our proposed approach to trade tokenized securities, which prioritizes issuer choice, investor protection, and capital efficiency.
Adena Friedman: Further, we're driving industry efforts to realize the potential of digital assets across multiple initiatives, including our proposed approach to trade tokenized securities, which prioritizes issuer choice, investor protection, and capital efficiency. Lastly, within our accelerate priority, our One Nasdaq strategy continued to deliver strong results, driving 25 cross-sell wins across financial technology in the year, for a total of 42 cross-sells since the Adenza acquisition closed. At the end of the fourth quarter, cross-sells accounted for over 15% of financial technology sales pipeline, and we remain on track to surpass $100 million in run rate revenue from cross-sells by the end of 2027. This program culminated in net revenue growth of 12%, of 12%, and solutions growth of 11% at the top of the range of our medium-term outlook.
Further, we're driving industry efforts to realize the potential of digital assets across multiple initiatives, including our proposed approach to trade tokenized securities, which prioritizes issuer choice, investor protection, and capital efficiency. Lastly, within our accelerate priority, our One Nasdaq strategy continued to deliver strong results, driving 25 cross-sell wins across financial technology in the year, for a total of 42 cross-sells since the Adenza acquisition closed. At the end of the fourth quarter, cross-sells accounted for over 15% of financial technology sales pipeline, and we remain on track to surpass $100 million in run rate revenue from cross-sells by the end of 2027. This program culminated in net revenue growth of 12%, of 12%, and solutions growth of 11% at the top of the range of our medium-term outlook.
Speaker #3: Lastly, within our Accelerate priority, our One Nasdaq strategy continued to deliver strong results, driving 25 cross-sell wins across financial technology in the year, for a total of 42 cross-sells since the acquisition closed.
Speaker #3: At the end of the fourth quarter, cross-sells accounted for over 15% of the financial technology sales pipeline, and we remain on track to surpass $100 million in run-rate revenue from cross-sells by the end of 2027.
Speaker #3: This program culminated in net revenue growth of 12%, and solutions growth of 11%, at the top of the range of our medium-term outlook.
Speaker #3: Turning to our strategic and operational highlights for 2025, I'll begin with Capital Access Platforms, where we delivered 10% revenue growth for the year, driven by record index inflows, new IPOs, and strong bookings growth, particularly in data and analytics.
Adena Friedman: Turning to our strategic and operational highlights for 2025, I'll begin with Capital Access Platforms, where we delivered 10% revenue growth for the year, driven by record index inflows, new IPOs, and strong bookings growth, particularly in data and analytics. Our listings business had the strongest IPO year since 2021. We secured 3 of the 5 top IPOs of 2025, including Medline, the largest IPO of the year. It was our second—our seventh straight year as the leading US exchange by proceeds raised, with eligible operating companies raising over $24 billion, including over $10 billion in the Q4 alone. In our Nordic markets, we also welcomed the largest IPO in Europe, Verisure. In Europe, we continued to benefit from increased international focus on the Nordics, where the equity markets have consistently outperformed the rest of the region.
Turning to our strategic and operational highlights for 2025, I'll begin with Capital Access Platforms, where we delivered 10% revenue growth for the year, driven by record index inflows, new IPOs, and strong bookings growth, particularly in data and analytics. Our listings business had the strongest IPO year since 2021. We secured 3 of the 5 top IPOs of 2025, including Medline, the largest IPO of the year. It was our second—our seventh straight year as the leading US exchange by proceeds raised, with eligible operating companies raising over $24 billion, including over $10 billion in the Q4 alone. In our Nordic markets, we also welcomed the largest IPO in Europe, Verisure. In Europe, we continued to benefit from increased international focus on the Nordics, where the equity markets have consistently outperformed the rest of the region.
Speaker #3: Our listings business had the strongest IPO year since 2021. We secured three of the five top IPOs of 2025, including Medline, the largest IPO of the year.
Speaker #3: It was our second a seventh straight year as the leading US exchange by proceeds raised, with eligible operating companies raising over $24 billion including over $10 billion in the fourth quarter alone.
Speaker #3: In our Nordic markets, we also welcomed the largest IPO in Europe, Verisure. In Europe, we continue to benefit from increased international focus on the Nordics, where the equity markets have consistently outperformed the rest of the region.
Speaker #3: The strength of these markets attracted five new ETP issuers, who listed 84 new exchange-traded products across the Nordics in 2025. We also made strong progress on our switch program in 2025, reinforced by Walmart's historic transfer to Nasdaq, the largest exchange switch ever completed.
Adena Friedman: The strength of these markets attracted 5 new ETP issuers, who listed 84 new exchange-traded products across the Nordics in 2025. We also made strong progress on our switch program in 2025, reinforced by Walmart's historic transfer to Nasdaq, the largest exchange switch ever completed. This milestone capped a year, a record year for transfers, including Shopify, Kimberly-Clark, and Thomson Reuters. In total, operating company switches in 2025 represented more than $1.2 trillion in market cap, bringing the ten-year total to $3.1 trillion. This quarter, we're introducing an updated listings win rate methodology that better reflects the pathways through which operating companies can list on Nasdaq, including a traditional IPO, a direct listing, and a SPAC combination. Under this new methodology, our win rate was 72% for the full year of 2025.
The strength of these markets attracted 5 new ETP issuers, who listed 84 new exchange-traded products across the Nordics in 2025. We also made strong progress on our switch program in 2025, reinforced by Walmart's historic transfer to Nasdaq, the largest exchange switch ever completed. This milestone capped a year, a record year for transfers, including Shopify, Kimberly-Clark, and Thomson Reuters. In total, operating company switches in 2025 represented more than $1.2 trillion in market cap, bringing the ten-year total to $3.1 trillion. This quarter, we're introducing an updated listings win rate methodology that better reflects the pathways through which operating companies can list on Nasdaq, including a traditional IPO, a direct listing, and a SPAC combination. Under this new methodology, our win rate was 72% for the full year of 2025.
Speaker #3: This milestone capped a record year for transfers, including Shopify, Kimberly-Clark, and Thomson Reuters. In total, operating company switches in 2025 represented more than $1.2 trillion in market cap, bringing the 10-year total to $3.1 trillion.
Speaker #3: This quarter, we're introducing an updated listings win rate methodology that better reflects the pathways through which operating companies can list on NASDAQ, including a traditional IPO, a direct listing, and a SPAC combination.
Speaker #3: Under this new methodology, our win rate was 72% for the full year 2025. This metric also accounts for our newly approved listing qualifications that raise our minimum standards.
Adena Friedman: This metric also accounts for our newly approved listing qualifications that raise our minimum standards. We've included details on page 21 of our earnings presentation. Looking ahead to 2026, we see signs of accelerating capital markets activity, further supported by recent Fed cuts and a very healthy pipeline of late-stage private companies. Based on the current market dynamics, we look forward to an active new issuance year. Our data business delivered robust growth in 2025 as clients across the ecosystem utilized our data more than ever to navigate the financial markets. Our growth was driven by new enterprise license agreements, which increased 24% year-over-year, and our international expansion efforts, including signing an agreement with one of the largest banks in Saudi Arabia. Our growth was also driven by higher use of our data products across our client base.
This metric also accounts for our newly approved listing qualifications that raise our minimum standards. We've included details on page 21 of our earnings presentation. Looking ahead to 2026, we see signs of accelerating capital markets activity, further supported by recent Fed cuts and a very healthy pipeline of late-stage private companies. Based on the current market dynamics, we look forward to an active new issuance year. Our data business delivered robust growth in 2025 as clients across the ecosystem utilized our data more than ever to navigate the financial markets. Our growth was driven by new enterprise license agreements, which increased 24% year-over-year, and our international expansion efforts, including signing an agreement with one of the largest banks in Saudi Arabia. Our growth was also driven by higher use of our data products across our client base.
Speaker #3: We've included details on page 21 of our earnings presentation. Looking ahead to 2026, we see signs of accelerating capital markets activity, further supported by recent Fed cuts and a very healthy pipeline of late-stage private companies.
Speaker #3: Based on the current market dynamics, we look forward to an active new issuance year. Our data business delivered robust growth in 2025 as clients across the ecosystem utilized our data more than ever to navigate the financial markets.
Speaker #3: Our growth was driven by new enterprise license agreements, which increased 24% year over year, and our international expansion efforts, including signing an agreement with one of the largest banks in Saudi Arabia.
Speaker #3: Our growth was also driven by higher use of our data products across our client base. Our index franchise remains an exceptional growth engine, delivering tremendous performance and innovation.
Adena Friedman: Our index franchise remains an exceptional growth engine, delivering tremendous performance and innovation. We achieved a record $99 billion in net inflows over the last 12 months, including a record $35 billion in the fourth quarter, and exited the year with ETP AUM of $882 billion, an all-time high. In index, we delivered on our new product strategy, launching 122 new products in 2025, including 60 international products and 32 in the institutional insurance annuity space. Within Workflow and Insights, our analytics and corporate solutions businesses continued to advance through product innovation and strategic partnerships. In analytics, the investment business delivered robust performance, supported by our strong network effects, with platform usage up 10% year-over-year, driven by increased use of research workflows.
Our index franchise remains an exceptional growth engine, delivering tremendous performance and innovation. We achieved a record $99 billion in net inflows over the last 12 months, including a record $35 billion in the fourth quarter, and exited the year with ETP AUM of $882 billion, an all-time high. In index, we delivered on our new product strategy, launching 122 new products in 2025, including 60 international products and 32 in the institutional insurance annuity space. Within Workflow and Insights, our analytics and corporate solutions businesses continued to advance through product innovation and strategic partnerships. In analytics, the investment business delivered robust performance, supported by our strong network effects, with platform usage up 10% year-over-year, driven by increased use of research workflows.
Speaker #3: We achieved a record $99 billion in net inflows over the last 12 months, including a record $35 billion in the fourth quarter, and exited the year with ETP AUM of $882 billion, an all-time high.
Speaker #3: In Index, we delivered our new product strategy. We delivered on our new product strategy, launching 122 new products in 2025, including 60 international products and 32 in the institutional insurance annuity space.
Speaker #3: Within workflow and insights, our analytics and corporate solutions businesses continue to advance through product innovation and strategic partnerships. In analytics, the investment the investment business delivered robust performance.
Speaker #3: Supported by our strong network effects, with platform usage up 10% year over year, driven by increased use of research workflows. We continue to build powerful partnerships, including with Juniper Square and LSEG, reinforcing our strategy to embed Nasdaq's investment data in investment workflows across both public and private markets.
Adena Friedman: We continue to build powerful partnerships, including with Juniper Square, and LSEG, reinforcing our strategy to embed Nasdaq's investment data in investment workflows across both public and private markets. In corporate solutions, investments in AI-powered features and tools, as well as deep client engagement, supported new sales efforts in our governance, and Nasdaq Lens solutions. These tools also supported retention improvement across the portfolio. Turning next to our financial technology division. In 2025, Fintech delivered strong financial results with 11% revenue growth. Financial crime management technology grew 22% over the year, including 24% growth in Q4. Regulatory technology delivered 10% growth for the year, including 12% growth in Q4, and capital markets technology grew 9% over the year and in Q4.
We continue to build powerful partnerships, including with Juniper Square, and LSEG, reinforcing our strategy to embed Nasdaq's investment data in investment workflows across both public and private markets. In corporate solutions, investments in AI-powered features and tools, as well as deep client engagement, supported new sales efforts in our governance, and Nasdaq Lens solutions. These tools also supported retention improvement across the portfolio. Turning next to our financial technology division. In 2025, Fintech delivered strong financial results with 11% revenue growth. Financial crime management technology grew 22% over the year, including 24% growth in Q4. Regulatory technology delivered 10% growth for the year, including 12% growth in Q4, and capital markets technology grew 9% over the year and in Q4.
Speaker #3: In corporate solutions, investments in AI-powered features and tools, as well as deep client engagement, supported new sales efforts in our governance and NASDAQ lens solutions.
Speaker #3: These tools also supported retention improvement across the portfolio. Turning next to our financial technology division, in 2025, FinTech delivered strong financial results with 11% revenue growth.
Speaker #3: Financial crime management technology grew grew 22% over the year, including 24% growth in the fourth quarter. Regulatory technology delivered 10% growth for the year, including quarter.
Speaker #3: And Capital Markets Technology grew 12% in the fourth quarter and 9% over the year. With more than 3,800 clients, now including all of the GSIBs, the division has established itself as a leading modern technology partner, helping institutions address complex risks, critical regulatory reporting, and the modernization of trading infrastructure.
Adena Friedman: With more than 3,800 clients, now including all of the GSIBs, the division has established itself as a leading modern technology partner, helping institutions address complex risks, critical regulatory reporting, and the modernization of trading infrastructure. In financial crime management technology, we continued strong sales execution during the year, adding 255 new SMB clients and six new enterprise clients, a combined 23% total client growth over the prior year. In enterprise, five of the six new client signings were cross-sells, and we completed three expansion deals with existing enterprise clients for a total of nine enterprise deals. This underscores our ability to deepen client relationships through our One Nasdaq approach. In regulatory technology, our AxiomSL team broadened our product portfolio to meet evolving regulatory demands, supporting geographic expansion into Saudi Arabia, India, and France.
With more than 3,800 clients, now including all of the GSIBs, the division has established itself as a leading modern technology partner, helping institutions address complex risks, critical regulatory reporting, and the modernization of trading infrastructure. In financial crime management technology, we continued strong sales execution during the year, adding 255 new SMB clients and six new enterprise clients, a combined 23% total client growth over the prior year. In enterprise, five of the six new client signings were cross-sells, and we completed three expansion deals with existing enterprise clients for a total of nine enterprise deals. This underscores our ability to deepen client relationships through our One Nasdaq approach. In regulatory technology, our AxiomSL team broadened our product portfolio to meet evolving regulatory demands, supporting geographic expansion into Saudi Arabia, India, and France.
Speaker #3: In financial crime management technology, we continued strong sales execution during the year, adding 255 new S&B clients and six new enterprise clients—a combined 23% total client growth over the prior year.
Speaker #3: In enterprise, five of the six new new client signings were cross-sells, and we completed three expansion deals with existing enterprise clients for a total of nine enterprise deals.
Speaker #3: This underscores our ability to deepen client relationships through our one NASDAQ approach. In regulatory technology, our Axiom SL team broadened our product portfolio to meet evolving regulatory demands, supporting geographic expansion into Saudi Arabia, India, and France.
Speaker #3: Additionally, we deepened our partnership with Revolut after they consolidated their UK and European regulatory reporting onto our cloud-managed platform this quarter. We also signed a significant cross-sell to a global tier-one bank for an enterprise cloud deployment.
Adena Friedman: Additionally, we deepened our partnership with Revolut after they consolidated their UK and European regulatory reporting onto our cloud-managed platform this quarter. We also signed a significant cross-sell to a global Tier One bank for an enterprise cloud deployment, demonstrating the scale of our solutions and the trust we've established across our platform. In our solutions, sorry, in our surveillance business, we drove strong client growth, including an agreement with CFTC, which selected Nasdaq to replace its legacy surveillance system. Overall, in 2025, our surveillance team signed 26 new clients across securities exchanges, crypto trading venues, market participants, and regulators to strengthen their protections across rapidly evolving markets. In capital markets tech, we delivered a strong year, driven by durable demand for market modernization solutions.
Additionally, we deepened our partnership with Revolut after they consolidated their UK and European regulatory reporting onto our cloud-managed platform this quarter. We also signed a significant cross-sell to a global Tier One bank for an enterprise cloud deployment, demonstrating the scale of our solutions and the trust we've established across our platform. In our solutions, sorry, in our surveillance business, we drove strong client growth, including an agreement with CFTC, which selected Nasdaq to replace its legacy surveillance system. Overall, in 2025, our surveillance team signed 26 new clients across securities exchanges, crypto trading venues, market participants, and regulators to strengthen their protections across rapidly evolving markets. In capital markets tech, we delivered a strong year, driven by durable demand for market modernization solutions.
Speaker #3: Demonstrating the scale of our solutions and the trust we've established across our platform. In our solutions our sorry, in our surveillance business, we drove strong client growth, including an agreement with CFTC, which selected NASDAQ to replace its legacy surveillance system.
Speaker #3: Overall, in 2025, our surveillance team signed 26 new clients across securities exchanges, crypto trading venues, market participants, and regulators, to strengthen their protections across rapidly evolving markets.
Speaker #3: In capital markets tech, we delivered a strong year driven by durable demand for market modernization solutions. We continue to strengthen our relationships with central banks, ending the year with 24 total central bank clients, including three new central bank clients signed this quarter.
Adena Friedman: We continued to strengthen our relationships with central banks, ending the year with 24 total central bank clients, including 3 new central bank clients signed this quarter. Calypso experienced increased adoption from global banks and asset managers, transitioning from legacy on-prem environments to cloud-hosted trading, risk, and treasury solutions. We're seeing early momentum in Calypso's fully managed service offering on AWS, which drove additional upsells and a major cross-sell into a leading market infrastructure operator during the quarter. In market technology, our managed service offering demonstrated strong momentum, with growth across multiple solutions. In Q4, we signed a major financial market infrastructure client for a multi-product, cloud-based deployment based on the Calypso platform, highlighting our ability to provide integrated end-to-end solutions.
We continued to strengthen our relationships with central banks, ending the year with 24 total central bank clients, including 3 new central bank clients signed this quarter. Calypso experienced increased adoption from global banks and asset managers, transitioning from legacy on-prem environments to cloud-hosted trading, risk, and treasury solutions. We're seeing early momentum in Calypso's fully managed service offering on AWS, which drove additional upsells and a major cross-sell into a leading market infrastructure operator during the quarter. In market technology, our managed service offering demonstrated strong momentum, with growth across multiple solutions. In Q4, we signed a major financial market infrastructure client for a multi-product, cloud-based deployment based on the Calypso platform, highlighting our ability to provide integrated end-to-end solutions.
Speaker #3: Calypso experienced increased adoption from global banks and asset managers transitioning from legacy on-prem environments to cloud-hosted trading, risk, and treasury solutions. We're seeing early momentum in Calypso's fully managed service offering on AWS, which drove a additional upsells and a major cross-sell into a leading market infrastructure operator during the quarter.
Speaker #3: In Market Technology, our managed service offering demonstrated strong momentum, with growth across multiple solutions. And in the fourth quarter, we signed a major financial market infrastructure client for a multi-product, cloud-based deployment based on the Eclipse platform, highlighting our ability to provide integrated, end-to-end solutions.
Speaker #3: Turning to market services, we achieved record annual net revenue of $1.2 billion up 17% year over year, fueled by elevated volumes in the US equities and US equity options, as well as robust performance in European cash equities and equity derivatives.
Adena Friedman: Turning to market services, we achieved a record annual net revenue of $1.2 billion, up 17% year-over-year, fueled by elevated volumes in the US equities and US equity options, as well as robust performance in European cash equities and equity derivatives. Our teams continued to execute well, capturing opportunities in value-added products and extending our competitive positioning in both US and European markets. Specifically, in the fourth quarter, our index options revenue more than doubled year-over-year for a second consecutive quarter. We grew market share in European equities, and we delivered strong US pay plan revenue. Nasdaq's Closing Cross also set a new notional value record during the Triple Witch event in December, with $233 billion traded. Our success in 2025 reflects our ability to execute with discipline, innovate with purpose, and meet our clients' evolving needs.
Turning to market services, we achieved a record annual net revenue of $1.2 billion, up 17% year-over-year, fueled by elevated volumes in the US equities and US equity options, as well as robust performance in European cash equities and equity derivatives. Our teams continued to execute well, capturing opportunities in value-added products and extending our competitive positioning in both US and European markets. Specifically, in the fourth quarter, our index options revenue more than doubled year-over-year for a second consecutive quarter. We grew market share in European equities, and we delivered strong US pay plan revenue. Nasdaq's Closing Cross also set a new notional value record during the Triple Witch event in December, with $233 billion traded. Our success in 2025 reflects our ability to execute with discipline, innovate with purpose, and meet our clients' evolving needs.
Speaker #3: Our teams continue to execute well, capturing opportunities in value-added products and extending our competitive positioning in both U.S. and European markets. Specifically, in the fourth quarter, our index options revenue more than doubled year over year for a second consecutive quarter.
Speaker #3: We grew market share in European equities, and we delivered strong USP plan revenue. NASDAQ's closing cross also set a new notional value record during the triple-witch event in December, with $233 billion traded.
Speaker #3: Our success in 2025 reflects our ability to execute with discipline, innovate with purpose, and meet our clients' evolving needs. We've used the start of this year to meet with clients across the globe, including on the ground at Davos, listening closely to their priorities and pressure points.
Adena Friedman: We've used the start of this year to meet with clients across the globe, including on the ground at Davos, listening closely to their priorities and pressure points. Those conversations have reinforced our view of the industry's priorities to manage risk, advance market structure, and innovate with AI, strengthening our conviction in the durability of our diversified business offerings. Looking ahead to 2026, Nasdaq is well positioned to build on our strong foundation and deliver durable growth. Our platform is built on three core strengths. First, an embedded client community that connects us to real world needs and builds trust that accelerates adoption. Second, gold source data that delivers unique client value, powering intelligence and advanced workloads. And third, engineering excellence that delivers speed, resilience, and interoperability at scale, enabling innovation and global deployment.
We've used the start of this year to meet with clients across the globe, including on the ground at Davos, listening closely to their priorities and pressure points. Those conversations have reinforced our view of the industry's priorities to manage risk, advance market structure, and innovate with AI, strengthening our conviction in the durability of our diversified business offerings. Looking ahead to 2026, Nasdaq is well positioned to build on our strong foundation and deliver durable growth. Our platform is built on three core strengths. First, an embedded client community that connects us to real world needs and builds trust that accelerates adoption. Second, gold source data that delivers unique client value, powering intelligence and advanced workloads. And third, engineering excellence that delivers speed, resilience, and interoperability at scale, enabling innovation and global deployment.
Speaker #3: Those conversations have reinforced our view of the industry's priorities to manage risk, advance market structure, and innovate with AI, strengthening our conviction in the durability of our diversified business offerings.
Speaker #3: Looking ahead to 2026, NASDAQ is well positioned to build on our strong foundation and deliver durable growth. Our platform is built on three core strengths.
Speaker #3: First, an embedded client community that connects us to real-world needs and builds trust that accelerates adoption. Second, cold source data that delivers unique client value, powering intelligence and advanced workflows.
Speaker #3: And third, engineering excellence that delivers speed, resilience, and interoperability at scale, enabling innovation and global deployment. Along with our deep industry expertise, these foundational layers work together to create a differentiated platform that delivers outcomes that matter to our clients.
Adena Friedman: Along with our deep industry expertise, these foundational layers work together to create a differentiated platform that delivers outcomes that matter to our clients. Our platform strongly positions us to take advantage of key growth areas, especially in the age of AI. Sustained investment from leading technology firms and AI firms is continuing to reshape the economic landscape, making digital infrastructure and data-driven innovation the key drivers of business investment and real growth. By architecting the world's most modern markets, by powering the innovation economy, and by building trust in the financial system, we're not just responding to the change, we're shaping it. We look forward to updating you on our progress on these priorities at Investor Day next month. And with that, I'll turn the call over to Sarah.
Along with our deep industry expertise, these foundational layers work together to create a differentiated platform that delivers outcomes that matter to our clients. Our platform strongly positions us to take advantage of key growth areas, especially in the age of AI. Sustained investment from leading technology firms and AI firms is continuing to reshape the economic landscape, making digital infrastructure and data-driven innovation the key drivers of business investment and real growth. By architecting the world's most modern markets, by powering the innovation economy, and by building trust in the financial system, we're not just responding to the change, we're shaping it. We look forward to updating you on our progress on these priorities at Investor Day next month. And with that, I'll turn the call over to Sarah.
Speaker #3: Our platform strongly positions us to take advantage of key growth areas, especially in the age of AI. Sustained investment from leading technology firms and AI firms is continuing to reshape the economic landscape.
Speaker #3: Making digital infrastructure and data-driven innovation the key drivers of business investment and real growth. By architecting the world’s most modern markets, by powering the innovation economy, and by building trust in the financial system, we're not just responding to the change, we're shaping it.
Speaker #3: We look forward to updating you on our progress on these priorities at Investor Day next month. And with that, I'll turn the call over to
Speaker #3: Sarah. Thank you,
Sarah Youngwood: Thank you, Adena, and good morning, everyone. We closed 2025 with strong momentum, following an excellent year for Nasdaq. We delivered over $5 billion in annual revenue for the first time, reflecting strength across the business and performance that met or exceeded our outlook expectations in every division. We had 10% AR growth in the year. Solutions now represent 76% of total net revenue at over $4 billion, underscoring the deliberate shift of our business mix. We coupled that growth with disciplined execution, expanding operating and EBITDA margin by two points, reducing growth leverage to 2.9 times, and delivering free cash flow conversion of 109%, while continuing to invest to support long-term growth. Let's start with annual results on slide 11.
Sarah Youngwood: Thank you, Adena, and good morning, everyone. We closed 2025 with strong momentum, following an excellent year for Nasdaq. We delivered over $5 billion in annual revenue for the first time, reflecting strength across the business and performance that met or exceeded our outlook expectations in every division. We had 10% AR growth in the year. Solutions now represent 76% of total net revenue at over $4 billion, underscoring the deliberate shift of our business mix. We coupled that growth with disciplined execution, expanding operating and EBITDA margin by two points, reducing growth leverage to 2.9 times, and delivering free cash flow conversion of 109%, while continuing to invest to support long-term growth. Let's start with annual results on slide 11.
Speaker #2: Adena: And good morning, everyone. We closed 2025 with strong momentum, following an excellent year for Nasdaq. We delivered over $5 billion in annual revenue for the first time, reflecting strength across the business and performance that met or exceeded our outlook expectations in every division.
Speaker #2: We had 10% AR growth in the year. Solutions now represent 76% of total net revenue, at over $4 billion. Underscoring the deliberate shift of our business mix.
Speaker #2: We coupled that growth with disciplined execution. Expanding operating and EBITDA margins by two points. Reducing growth leverage to 2.9 times. And delivering free cash flow conversion of 109%.
Speaker #2: While continuing to invest to support long-term growth. Let's start with annual results on slide 11. Net revenue of $5.2 billion was up 12%, with solutions revenue of $4.0 billion up 11%. Operating expense was $2.3 billion, up 7%, in part driven by our strong top-line growth.
Sarah Youngwood: Net revenue of $5.2 billion was up 12%, with solutions revenue of $4.0 billion, up 11%. Operating expense was $2.3 billion, up 7%, in part driven by our strong top-line growth, yielding a 56% operating margin and 58% EBITDA margin. Full-year net income was $2.0 billion, with diluted EPS of $3.48, up 24%. Turning to quarterly results on slide 12. We reported net revenue of $1.4 billion, up 13%, with solutions revenue up 12%. Operating expense was $609 million, up 8%, leading to an operating margin of 56% and EBITDA margin of 59%, both up 2 points compared to the prior year quarter.
Net revenue of $5.2 billion was up 12%, with solutions revenue of $4.0 billion, up 11%. Operating expense was $2.3 billion, up 7%, in part driven by our strong top-line growth, yielding a 56% operating margin and 58% EBITDA margin. Full-year net income was $2.0 billion, with diluted EPS of $3.48, up 24%. Turning to quarterly results on slide 12. We reported net revenue of $1.4 billion, up 13%, with solutions revenue up 12%. Operating expense was $609 million, up 8%, leading to an operating margin of 56% and EBITDA margin of 59%, both up 2 points compared to the prior year quarter.
Speaker #2: Yielding a 56% operating margin and a 58% EBITDA margin. Folio net income was $2.0 billion, with diluted EPS of $3.48, up 24%. Turning to quarterly results on slide 12.
Speaker #2: We reported net revenue of $1.4 billion up 13%, with solutions revenue up 12%. Operating expense was $609 million up 8%, leading to an operating margin of 56%, and EBITDA margin of $59%, both up two points compared to the prior year quarter.
Speaker #2: Net income was $554 million with diluted EPS of $96 up 27%. Slide 13 shows the drivers of our 12% net revenue growth for the year, and 13% net revenue growth for the quarter.
Sarah Youngwood: Net income was $554 million, with diluted EPS of $0.96, up 27%. Slide 13 shows the drivers of our 12% net revenue growth for the year and 13% net revenue growth for the quarter. We generated over 8 percentage points of alpha for the quarter and for the year, a 170 basis point improvement in alpha growth versus 2024. The drivers were consistent for both alpha and beta. Alpha was driven by new and existing clients, low churn, and product innovation. Beta was driven by elevated volumes in market services and higher valuations in Nasdaq indices. As shown on slide 14, we achieved 10% ARR growth for the year. This represents a 2 percentage point improvement versus the prior year period, and includes 12% in Fintech.
Net income was $554 million, with diluted EPS of $0.96, up 27%. Slide 13 shows the drivers of our 12% net revenue growth for the year and 13% net revenue growth for the quarter. We generated over 8 percentage points of alpha for the quarter and for the year, a 170 basis point improvement in alpha growth versus 2024. The drivers were consistent for both alpha and beta. Alpha was driven by new and existing clients, low churn, and product innovation. Beta was driven by elevated volumes in market services and higher valuations in Nasdaq indices. As shown on slide 14, we achieved 10% ARR growth for the year. This represents a 2 percentage point improvement versus the prior year period, and includes 12% in Fintech.
Speaker #2: We generated over 8 percentage points of alpha for the quarter, and for the year, 117 basis points improvement in alpha growth versus 2024. The drivers were consistent for both alpha and beta.
Speaker #2: Alpha was driven by new and existing clients, low churn, and product innovation. Beta was driven by elevated volumes in Market Services, and higher valuations in Nasdaq indices.
Speaker #2: As shown on slide 14, we achieved 10% AR growth for the year. This represents a 2 percentage point improvement versus the prior year period, and includes 12% in fintech.
Speaker #2: Total SaaS revenue grew 13% in the quarter, including 19% SaaS growth in fintech. a consistent share of ARR SaaS continued to represent at 38%, in line with the prior year quarter.
Sarah Youngwood: Total SaaS revenue grew 13% in the quarter, including 19% SaaS growth in Fintech. SaaS continued to represent a consistent share of ARR at 38%, in line with the prior year quarter. Let's review division results starting on slide 15. In Capital Access Platforms, we delivered quarterly revenue of $572 million, up 12%, with annual revenue of $2.1 billion, up 10%. Both were driven by 9% alpha. ARR growth ended the year up 7%. Data and Listings revenue was up 7% in the quarter, with ARR up 8%. Data revenue growth was driven by upsells, usage, and new sales. Listings benefited from the improving IPO environment.
Total SaaS revenue grew 13% in the quarter, including 19% SaaS growth in Fintech. SaaS continued to represent a consistent share of ARR at 38%, in line with the prior year quarter. Let's review division results starting on slide 15. In Capital Access Platforms, we delivered quarterly revenue of $572 million, up 12%, with annual revenue of $2.1 billion, up 10%. Both were driven by 9% alpha. ARR growth ended the year up 7%. Data and Listings revenue was up 7% in the quarter, with ARR up 8%. Data revenue growth was driven by upsells, usage, and new sales. Listings benefited from the improving IPO environment.
Speaker #2: Let's review division results, starting on slide 15. In capital access platforms, we delivered quarterly revenue of $572 million up 12%. With annual revenue of $2.1 billion up 10%, both were driven by 9% alpha.
Speaker #2: ARR growth ended the year up 7%. Data and listings revenue was up 7% in the quarter, with ARR up 8%. Data revenue growth was driven by upsells, usage, and new sales.
Speaker #2: Listings benefited from the improving IPO environment. Growth from new listings and pricing was partially offset, by the revenue headwind from prior year delistings and lower amortization of prior year period initial listing fees.
Sarah Youngwood: Growth from new listings and pricing was partially offset by the revenue headwind from prior year delistings and the amortization of prior period initial listing fees, both of which were in line with our previous expectations. Looking ahead to 2026, we expect an approximately $9 million year-over-year headwind in each quarter from delistings in the previous year, the impact from new proposed changes to listing standards, and the amortization roll-off of prior period initial listing fees. Index revenue was up 23% in the quarter. We had net inflows of $99 billion over the last twelve months, a second consecutive quarterly record, including a record $35 billion in the fourth quarter. Data drivers were split, with approximately 70% coming from ETP AUM appreciation from market performance, and the remaining portion coming from strong year-over-year growth in derivatives contract volumes.
Growth from new listings and pricing was partially offset by the revenue headwind from prior year delistings and the amortization of prior period initial listing fees, both of which were in line with our previous expectations. Looking ahead to 2026, we expect an approximately $9 million year-over-year headwind in each quarter from delistings in the previous year, the impact from new proposed changes to listing standards, and the amortization roll-off of prior period initial listing fees. Index revenue was up 23% in the quarter. We had net inflows of $99 billion over the last twelve months, a second consecutive quarterly record, including a record $35 billion in the fourth quarter. Data drivers were split, with approximately 70% coming from ETP AUM appreciation from market performance, and the remaining portion coming from strong year-over-year growth in derivatives contract volumes.
Speaker #2: Both of which were in line with our previous expectations. Looking ahead to 2026, we expect an approximately $9 million year-over-year headwind in each quarter, from delistings in the previous year, the impact from new proposed changes to listing standards, and the amortization roll-up of prior period initial listing fees.
Speaker #2: Index revenue was up 23% in the quarter. We had net inflows of $99 billion over the last 12 months, a second consecutive quarterly record, including a record $35 billion in the fourth quarter.
Speaker #2: Beta drivers were split, with approximately 70% coming from ETP AUM appreciation from market performance, and the remaining portion coming from strong year-over-year growth in derivatives contract volumes.
Speaker #2: Overall, index delivered a 36% increase in average ETP AUM, which reached a record $860 billion in the fourth quarter. As a reminder, at the start of 2026, our contracted rate associated with trading of derivatives contracts resets.
Sarah Youngwood: Overall, Index delivered a 36% increase in average ETP AUM, which reached a record $860 billion in Q4. As a reminder, at the start of 2026, our contracted rate associated with trading of derivatives contracts resets. Holding volumes and capture constant, we expect a sequential revenue impact in Q1 2026, similar to what we saw in Q1 2025. The rate will increase once we cross a specific revenue threshold, which will likely occur sometime early in Q2. In Workflow and Insights, revenue was up 4% in the quarter, with ARR growth also at 4%. The revenue increase was primarily driven by analytics, mainly investment and Data Link, with both seeing strong booking growth, as well as benefiting from the expansion into new products in Data Link. Corporate Solutions delivered modest revenue growth.
Overall, Index delivered a 36% increase in average ETP AUM, which reached a record $860 billion in Q4. As a reminder, at the start of 2026, our contracted rate associated with trading of derivatives contracts resets. Holding volumes and capture constant, we expect a sequential revenue impact in Q1 2026, similar to what we saw in Q1 2025. The rate will increase once we cross a specific revenue threshold, which will likely occur sometime early in Q2. In Workflow and Insights, revenue was up 4% in the quarter, with ARR growth also at 4%. The revenue increase was primarily driven by analytics, mainly investment and Data Link, with both seeing strong booking growth, as well as benefiting from the expansion into new products in Data Link. Corporate Solutions delivered modest revenue growth.
Speaker #2: Holding volumes and capture constant, we expect a sequential revenue impact in 1Q26, similar to what we saw in 1Q25. The rate will increase once we cross a specific revenue threshold, which will likely occur sometime early in the second quarter.
Speaker #2: In workflow and insights, revenue was up 4% in the quarter, with ARR growth also at 4%. The revenue increase was primarily driven by analytics, mainly investment and data link.
Speaker #2: With both seeing strong booking growth, as well as benefiting from the expansion into new products in data link, Corporate Solutions delivered modest revenue growth.
Speaker #2: Quarterly operating margin for the division was 59%, up 100 basis points versus the prior-year quarter. The annual operating margin for the division was 60%, up 150 basis points versus the prior year.
Sarah Youngwood: Quarterly operating margin for the division was 59%, up 100 basis points versus the prior year quarter. The annual operating margin for the division was 60%, up 150 basis points versus the prior year. Moving to financial technology on slide 16. Revenue in the quarter was $498 million, up 12%, with annual revenue of $1.85 billion, up 11%. ARR growth ended the year up 12%. The quarterly results reflect strong performance across all three Fintech subdivisions. We signed 129 new clients, 143 upsells, and 12 cross-sells in the quarter, bringing the annual totals to 291 new clients, 462 upsells, and 25 cross-sells. Cross-sells continue to represent over 15% of the financial technology division pipeline.
Quarterly operating margin for the division was 59%, up 100 basis points versus the prior year quarter. The annual operating margin for the division was 60%, up 150 basis points versus the prior year. Moving to financial technology on slide 16. Revenue in the quarter was $498 million, up 12%, with annual revenue of $1.85 billion, up 11%. ARR growth ended the year up 12%. The quarterly results reflect strong performance across all three Fintech subdivisions. We signed 129 new clients, 143 upsells, and 12 cross-sells in the quarter, bringing the annual totals to 291 new clients, 462 upsells, and 25 cross-sells. Cross-sells continue to represent over 15% of the financial technology division pipeline.
Speaker #2: Moving to Financial Technology on slide 16. Revenue in the quarter was $498 million, up 12%, with annual revenue of $1.85 billion, up 11%. ARR growth ended the year up 12%.
Speaker #2: The quarterly results reflect strong performance across all three fintech subdivisions. We signed 129 new clients, 143 upsells, and 12 cross-sells in the quarter, bringing the annual totals to 291 new clients, 462 upsells, and 25 cross-sells.
Speaker #2: Cross-sells continue to represent over 15% of the financial technology division's pipeline. Financial plan management technology revenue grew 24% in the quarter, with ARR growth of 18%.
Sarah Youngwood: Financial Crime Management Technology revenue grew 24% in the quarter, with ARR growth of 18%. We signed 119 new SMB clients in Q4, bringing the annual total in the client segment to 255. Net revenue retention was 112%, reflecting strong client engagement. We also had continuous momentum with enterprise clients, with three new signings in the quarter, bringing our totals to nine enterprise deals for the year. In 2025, we signed four times the number of enterprise deals at four times the ACV compared to 2024, with ACV concentrated in the second half of the year. The sequential revenue improvement in Q4 was primarily driven by professional services fees related to SMB and enterprise clients' implementations.
Financial Crime Management Technology revenue grew 24% in the quarter, with ARR growth of 18%. We signed 119 new SMB clients in Q4, bringing the annual total in the client segment to 255. Net revenue retention was 112%, reflecting strong client engagement. We also had continuous momentum with enterprise clients, with three new signings in the quarter, bringing our totals to nine enterprise deals for the year. In 2025, we signed four times the number of enterprise deals at four times the ACV compared to 2024, with ACV concentrated in the second half of the year. The sequential revenue improvement in Q4 was primarily driven by professional services fees related to SMB and enterprise clients' implementations.
Speaker #2: We signed 119 new SMB clients in the fourth quarter, bringing the annual total in the client segment to $255. Net revenue retention was $112%, reflecting strong client engagement.
Speaker #2: We also had continuous momentum with enterprise clients, with three new signings in the quarter, bringing our totals to nine enterprise deals for the year.
Speaker #2: In 2025, we signed four times the number of enterprise deals, at four times the ACV compared to 2024. With ACV concentrated in the second half of the year.
Speaker #2: Revenue improvement in the fourth sequential quarter was primarily driven by professional services fees related to SMB and enterprise client implementation. We do not expect to maintain these levels over the first half of 2026, based on implementation timing for deals signed in the second half of 2025.
Sarah Youngwood: We do not expect to maintain these levels over the first half of 2026, based on the implementation timing for deals signed in the second half of 2025. As a reminder, as we grow our enterprise business, we expect to see increased quarterly variability in revenue growth impacts from enterprise client signings. Regulatory technology had quarterly revenue growth and ARR of 12%. Revenue growth in the quarter reflects strong performance across both AxiomSL and surveillance, driven by a successful sale execution, as well as sequentially improved professional services revenue, consistent with our previous comments. Capital market technology had quarterly revenue growth of 9% and ARR growth of 11%, with the difference driven by professional services fees.
We do not expect to maintain these levels over the first half of 2026, based on the implementation timing for deals signed in the second half of 2025. As a reminder, as we grow our enterprise business, we expect to see increased quarterly variability in revenue growth impacts from enterprise client signings. Regulatory technology had quarterly revenue growth and ARR of 12%. Revenue growth in the quarter reflects strong performance across both AxiomSL and surveillance, driven by a successful sale execution, as well as sequentially improved professional services revenue, consistent with our previous comments. Capital market technology had quarterly revenue growth of 9% and ARR growth of 11%, with the difference driven by professional services fees.
Speaker #2: As a reminder, as we go, our enterprise business will expect to see increased quarterly variability in revenue growth impact from enterprise client signings. Regulatory Technology had quarterly revenue growth and ARR of 12%.
Speaker #2: Revenue growth in the quarter reflects strong performance across both active SL and Surveillance, driven by our successful sales execution as well as sequentially improved professional services revenue, consistent with our previous comments.
Speaker #2: Capital Markets Technology had quarterly revenue growth of 9%, and ARR growth of 11%, with the difference driven by professional services fees. Financial Technology quarterly operating margin was 48%, down 100 basis points versus the prior year quarter, and annual operating margin was 47%, in line with the previous year.
Sarah Youngwood: Financial technology quarterly operating margin was 48%, down 100 basis points versus the prior year quarter, and annual operating margin was 47%, in line with the previous year. We are well positioned in 2026 for continued growth and expansion of the financial technology business. Before I wrap up on Fintech, let me provide an update on the 2025 performance of the combination of AxiomSL and Calypso. ARR growth was 13%, including the ramp of 2 deals. Adenza also had healthy subscription revenue growth of 12%, partially offset by lower professional services, including the implementation delays related to client readiness, which we referenced earlier this year. Going forward, we will continue to report Calypso and AxiomSL within their respective service divisions and will no longer disclose Adenza-specific revenue or ARR performance. Turning to market services on slide 17.
Financial technology quarterly operating margin was 48%, down 100 basis points versus the prior year quarter, and annual operating margin was 47%, in line with the previous year. We are well positioned in 2026 for continued growth and expansion of the financial technology business. Before I wrap up on Fintech, let me provide an update on the 2025 performance of the combination of AxiomSL and Calypso. ARR growth was 13%, including the ramp of 2 deals. Adenza also had healthy subscription revenue growth of 12%, partially offset by lower professional services, including the implementation delays related to client readiness, which we referenced earlier this year. Going forward, we will continue to report Calypso and AxiomSL within their respective service divisions and will no longer disclose Adenza-specific revenue or ARR performance. Turning to market services on slide 17.
Speaker #2: We are well positioned in 2026 for continued growth and expansion of the financial technology business. Before I wrap up on fintech, let me provide an update on the 2025 performance of the combination of AxiomSL and Calypso.
Speaker #2: ARR growth was 13%, including the ramp of two deals. At Denza, we also had fee subscription revenue growth of 12%, partially offset by lower professional services, including the implementation delays related to client readiness, which we referenced earlier this year.
Speaker #2: Going forward, we will continue to report Calypso and Axiom SL within their respective subdivisions, and will no longer disclose Adenza-specific revenue or ARR performance.
Speaker #2: Turning to Market Services on slide 17. We had net revenue of $311 million in the quarter, a quarterly record reflecting growth of 14%. For the year, we had net revenue of $1.2 billion, an annual record reflecting growth of 17%.
Sarah Youngwood: We had net revenue of $311 million in the quarter, a quarterly record, reflecting growth of 14%. For the year, we had net revenue of $1.2 billion, an annual record, reflecting growth of 17%. Growth in the quarter was driven by record industry volumes in US equities and options, as well as our ability to consistently deliver alpha, as reflected in index options revenue, more than doubling for the second straight quarter, driven by improving volumes and capture, elevated market share in European equities, and higher US tape plan revenue versus the prior year quarter, which had abnormally low quote share. The growth was partially offset by lower capture in US options with two drivers. The options regulatory fee, or ORF, allows us to recoup a portion of, or at most, all our regulatory expense throughout the year.
We had net revenue of $311 million in the quarter, a quarterly record, reflecting growth of 14%. For the year, we had net revenue of $1.2 billion, an annual record, reflecting growth of 17%. Growth in the quarter was driven by record industry volumes in US equities and options, as well as our ability to consistently deliver alpha, as reflected in index options revenue, more than doubling for the second straight quarter, driven by improving volumes and capture, elevated market share in European equities, and higher US tape plan revenue versus the prior year quarter, which had abnormally low quote share. The growth was partially offset by lower capture in US options with two drivers. The options regulatory fee, or ORF, allows us to recoup a portion of, or at most, all our regulatory expense throughout the year.
Speaker #2: Growth in the quarter was driven by record industry volumes in U.S. equities and options, as well as our ability to consistently deliver alpha, as reflected in index options revenue more than doubling for the second straight quarter, driven by improving volumes and capture.
Speaker #2: Elevated market share in European equities, and higher US tape plan revenue versus the prior year quarter, which had abnormally low put share. The growth was partially offset by lower capture in US options with two drivers.
Speaker #2: The options regulatory fee, or ORF, allows us to recoup a portion of, or at most all, our regulatory expense throughout the year. The fee that we collect is reflected as a component of our options capture rate.
Sarah Youngwood: The fee that we collect is reflected as a component of our options capture rate. Given the strong volume and share performance of our options market in 2025, our regulatory expenses were mostly recovered during the first three quarters of the year, resulting in lower ORF and thus a lower net options capture rate in the fourth quarter. Separately, the strong volumes we mentioned in the quarter came with a mixed shift towards lower revenue quarter. Other revenue within market services also reflected record revenue in our Canadian equities business, as well as higher capture in European equity derivatives. Market services quarterly and annual operating margins were both at 64% and both up over five percentage points due to higher revenue. Moving to expenses on slide 18.
The fee that we collect is reflected as a component of our options capture rate. Given the strong volume and share performance of our options market in 2025, our regulatory expenses were mostly recovered during the first three quarters of the year, resulting in lower ORF and thus a lower net options capture rate in the fourth quarter. Separately, the strong volumes we mentioned in the quarter came with a mixed shift towards lower revenue quarter. Other revenue within market services also reflected record revenue in our Canadian equities business, as well as higher capture in European equity derivatives. Market services quarterly and annual operating margins were both at 64% and both up over five percentage points due to higher revenue. Moving to expenses on slide 18.
Speaker #2: Given the strong volume and share performance of our options market in 2025, our regulatory expenses were mostly recovered during the first three quarters of the year, resulting in lower ORF and thus a lower net options capture rate in the fourth quarter.
Speaker #2: Separately, the strong volumes we mentioned in the quarter came with a mixed shift toward a lower-revenue quarter. Other revenue within Market Services also reflected record revenue in our Canadian equity business, as well as higher capture in European equity derivatives.
Speaker #2: Market services quarterly and annual operating margins were both at 64% and both up over 5 percentage points due to higher revenue. Moving to expenses on slide 18.
Speaker #2: We had operating expenses of $2.331 billion for 2025, an increase of 7% driven by strong revenue performance growth in employee compensation, technology to support revenue and strong investment in people and and drive innovation and growth.
Sarah Youngwood: We had operating expenses of $2.331 billion for 2025, an increase of 7%, driven by strong revenue performance, growth in employee compensation, and strong investment in people and technology to support revenue and drive innovation and growth. For the fourth quarter, we had operating expenses of $609 million, up 8%, driven by similar factors. Fourth quarter operating margin was 56%, and EBITDA margin was 59%, both up 2 percentage points versus the prior year period. We are introducing our 2026 non-GAAP operating expense guidance of $2.455 to 2.535 billion.
We had operating expenses of $2.331 billion for 2025, an increase of 7%, driven by strong revenue performance, growth in employee compensation, and strong investment in people and technology to support revenue and drive innovation and growth. For the fourth quarter, we had operating expenses of $609 million, up 8%, driven by similar factors. Fourth quarter operating margin was 56%, and EBITDA margin was 59%, both up 2 percentage points versus the prior year period. We are introducing our 2026 non-GAAP operating expense guidance of $2.455 to 2.535 billion.
Speaker #2: For the fourth quarter, we had operating expenses of $609 million up 8% driven by similar factors. Fourth quarter operating margin was $56%, and EBITDA margin was $59%, both up 2 percentage points versus the prior year period.
Speaker #2: We are introducing our 2026 non-GAAP operating expense guidance of $2.455 billion to $2.535 billion. This reflects a non-GAAP organic growth rate of 7% at the midpoint, which includes the in-year benefit of net synergies actioned under our expanded cost program, a $25 million net decline due to divestiture and a small acquisition, and a nearly $20 million increase from FX, as well as a strong level of investments in growth and innovation including AI, both in our products and on our business.
Sarah Youngwood: This reflects a non-GAAP organic growth rate of 7% at the midpoint, which includes the in-year benefit of net synergies action under our expense cost program, a $25 million net decline due to divestiture and a small acquisition, and a nearly $20 million increase from FX, as well as a strong level of investments in growth and innovation, including AI, both in our products and on our business, which we'll discuss in more detail at Investor Day. Our effective tax rate in full 2025 of 21.2% reflects the impact of a few discrete items. This resulted in a 2025 full year tax rate of 22.4%, slightly below the 2025 tax rate guidance.
This reflects a non-GAAP organic growth rate of 7% at the midpoint, which includes the in-year benefit of net synergies action under our expense cost program, a $25 million net decline due to divestiture and a small acquisition, and a nearly $20 million increase from FX, as well as a strong level of investments in growth and innovation, including AI, both in our products and on our business, which we'll discuss in more detail at Investor Day. Our effective tax rate in full 2025 of 21.2% reflects the impact of a few discrete items. This resulted in a 2025 full year tax rate of 22.4%, slightly below the 2025 tax rate guidance.
Speaker #2: Which we'll discuss in more detail at Investor Day. Our effective tax rate in 4Q25 of 21.2% reflects the impact of a few discrete items.
Speaker #2: This resulted in a 2025 full-year tax rate of 22.4%, slightly below the 2025 tax rate guidance. For 2026, we expect a non-GAAP tax rate going back to a range of 22.5% to 24.5% due to the absence of one-time items and the expiration of certain benefits.
Sarah Youngwood: For 2026, we expect a non-GAAP tax rate going back to a range of 22.5% to 24.5% due to the absence of one-time items, and the expiration of certain benefits. Turning to capital allocation on slide 19. Nasdaq generated free cash flow of approximately $2.2 billion in 2025, including $537 million in the fourth quarter. The year reflected a conversion ratio of 109%. In 2025, we paid dividends of $1.05 per share, totaling $601 million. Fourth quarter dividend payments of $153 million represented $0.27 per share, and a 31% annualized payout ratio.
For 2026, we expect a non-GAAP tax rate going back to a range of 22.5% to 24.5% due to the absence of one-time items, and the expiration of certain benefits. Turning to capital allocation on slide 19. Nasdaq generated free cash flow of approximately $2.2 billion in 2025, including $537 million in the fourth quarter. The year reflected a conversion ratio of 109%. In 2025, we paid dividends of $1.05 per share, totaling $601 million. Fourth quarter dividend payments of $153 million represented $0.27 per share, and a 31% annualized payout ratio.
Speaker #2: Turning to capital allocation on slide 19. Nasdaq generated free cash flow of approximately $2.2 billion in 2025, including $537 million in the fourth quarter.
Speaker #2: The year reflected a conversion ratio of 109%. In 2025, we paid dividends of $1.05 per share, totaling $601 million. Fourth quarter dividend payments of $153 million represented $0.27 per share, and a 31% annualized payout ratio.
Speaker #2: We paid down $826 million of debt in the year, including $100 million in the fourth quarter, through a successful tender offer to end the year with a gross leverage ratio of 2.9 times, beating our expectation of 3.0x.
Sarah Youngwood: We paid down $826 million of debt in the year, including $100 million in the fourth quarter, through a successful tender offer, to end the year with a gross leverage ratio of 2.9x, beating our expectation of 3.0x. In the fourth quarter, we repurchased 3.2 million shares for $286 million, bringing full year repurchases to 7.2 million shares, or $616 million in 2025. As I wrap up, I want to thank the full Nasdaq team for an outstanding year of execution, and I am proud of our accomplishments. I am more confident than ever in our growth story and our ability to deliver even more value to our clients and shareholders in 2026 and beyond.
We paid down $826 million of debt in the year, including $100 million in the fourth quarter, through a successful tender offer, to end the year with a gross leverage ratio of 2.9x, beating our expectation of 3.0x. In the fourth quarter, we repurchased 3.2 million shares for $286 million, bringing full year repurchases to 7.2 million shares, or $616 million in 2025. As I wrap up, I want to thank the full Nasdaq team for an outstanding year of execution, and I am proud of our accomplishments. I am more confident than ever in our growth story and our ability to deliver even more value to our clients and shareholders in 2026 and beyond.
Speaker #2: In the fourth quarter, we repurchased $3.2 million shares for $286 million bringing full-year repurchases to 7.2 million shares, or $616 million, in 2025. As I wrap up, I want to thank the full NASDAQ team for now sending year of execution.
Speaker #2: And I am proud of our accomplishments. I am more confident than ever in our growth story and our ability to deliver even more value to our clients and shareholders in 2026 and beyond.
Speaker #2: With that, I'll open the call for Q&A. Thank you. As a reminder, to ask a question, you will need to press star 11 on your telephone.
Sarah Youngwood: With that, I'll open the call for Q&A.
With that, I'll open the call for Q&A.
Operator: Thank you. As a reminder, to ask a question, you will need to press star one one on your telephone. To withdraw your question, please press star one one again. We ask that you please limit your questions to no more than one, but feel free to go back into the queue, and if time permits, we'll be happy to take your follow-up questions at that time. Please stand by while we compile the Q&A roster. I see our first question in the queue comes from the line of Patrick Moley from Piper Sandler. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. As a reminder, to ask a question, you will need to press star one one on your telephone. To withdraw your question, please press star one one again. We ask that you please limit your questions to no more than one, but feel free to go back into the queue, and if time permits, we'll be happy to take your follow-up questions at that time. Please stand by while we compile the Q&A roster. I see our first question in the queue comes from the line of Patrick Moley from Piper Sandler. Please go ahead.
Speaker #2: To withdraw your question, please press star 11 again. We ask that you please limit your questions to no more than one, but feel free to go back into the queue and if time permits, we'll be happy to take your follow-up questions at that time.
Speaker #2: Please stand by while we compile the Q&A roster. And I share our first question in the queue comes from the line of Patrick Moley from Piper Sandler.
Speaker #2: Please go ahead.
Speaker #3: Yes, good morning. Thanks for taking the question. So, you recently received SEC approval for expanded options expirations in some of the Mag 7 names—you’re now Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
[Analyst] (Piper Sandler): Yes, good morning. Thanks for taking the question. So you recently received SEC approval for expanded options expirations in some of the Mag Seven names, your Monday, Wednesday, Friday now. So could you talk about just your expectation for what this now means for the options market overall, how Nasdaq stands to benefit, and, you know, any expectation you have about what this could mean for just market volumes in general?
Patrick Moley: Yes, good morning. Thanks for taking the question. So you recently received SEC approval for expanded options expirations in some of the Mag Seven names, your Monday, Wednesday, Friday now. So could you talk about just your expectation for what this now means for the options market overall, how Nasdaq stands to benefit, and, you know, any expectation you have about what this could mean for just market volumes in general?
Speaker #3: So could you talk about just your expectation for what this now means for the options market overall, how NASDAQ stands, the benefit, and any expectation you have about what this could mean for just market volumes in general?
Speaker #3: And then as a second part to that, if we do see this lead to a proliferation of zero DT trading in single stock options, I'm curious whether you think this will be a tailwind for your index option franchise given the weighting of some of these Mag 7 names is greater in your indices relative to competitors like the S&P 500 and could be viewed as a more accurate hedging tool for this type of new market activity that we could see.
[Analyst] (Piper Sandler): As a second part to that, if we do see this lead to a proliferation of zero DT trading in single stock options, I'm curious whether you think this will be a tailwind for your index option franchise, given that the weighting of some of these Mag Seven names is greater in your indices relative to a competitor like the S&P 500, and could be viewed as a more accurate hedging tool for this type of, you know, new market activity that we could see? Thanks.
As a second part to that, if we do see this lead to a proliferation of zero DT trading in single stock options, I'm curious whether you think this will be a tailwind for your index option franchise, given that the weighting of some of these Mag Seven names is greater in your indices relative to a competitor like the S&P 500, and could be viewed as a more accurate hedging tool for this type of, you know, new market activity that we could see? Thanks.
Speaker #3: Thanks.
Speaker #4: Great. Thanks. Thanks, Patrick. Yeah. So first, we're really pleased that we were able to launch this and our clients are also very happy that they have more choice in terms of being able to manage risk more precisely and more accurately as they are managing their capital and markets.
Adena Friedman: Great. Thanks. Thanks, Patrick. Yeah. So first, we're really pleased that we were able to launch this, and our clients are also very happy that they have more choice in terms of being able to manage risk more precisely and more accurately as they are managing their capital and markets. We are definitely seeing, you know, early uptick. That's really exciting. So we see this, you know, the world is changing very quickly. I think that it giving our clients more opportunity to manage risk in a shorter dated way allows them to be able to address, you know, changes in the marketplace, change in the environment in a much more precise way.
Adena Friedman: Great. Thanks. Thanks, Patrick. Yeah. So first, we're really pleased that we were able to launch this, and our clients are also very happy that they have more choice in terms of being able to manage risk more precisely and more accurately as they are managing their capital and markets. We are definitely seeing, you know, early uptick. That's really exciting. So we see this, you know, the world is changing very quickly. I think that it giving our clients more opportunity to manage risk in a shorter dated way allows them to be able to address, you know, changes in the marketplace, change in the environment in a much more precise way.
Speaker #4: And we are definitely seeing an early uptick that's really exciting. So we see this, and the world is changing very quickly. I think that giving our clients more opportunity to manage risk in a shorter-dated way allows them to be able to address changes in the marketplace—changes in the environment—in a much more precise way.
Speaker #4: And we think that this is a trend that will continue to drive both volumes in the markets, but also participation in the markets from institutional players.
Adena Friedman: And we think that this is a trend that will continue to drive both volumes in the markets, but also participation in the markets from institutional players, and it has an opportunity to expand that. So we're very pleased with this. We are focused on the stocks we've already launched, and we want to continue to be very mindful of the liquidity characteristics of the companies that we're introducing into this framework, because I think that's really important in terms of being able to manage risk successfully. But we are very excited to continue to expand it over time, and we'll certainly provide you updates as we see the volumes come into the market.
And we think that this is a trend that will continue to drive both volumes in the markets, but also participation in the markets from institutional players, and it has an opportunity to expand that. So we're very pleased with this. We are focused on the stocks we've already launched, and we want to continue to be very mindful of the liquidity characteristics of the companies that we're introducing into this framework, because I think that's really important in terms of being able to manage risk successfully. But we are very excited to continue to expand it over time, and we'll certainly provide you updates as we see the volumes come into the market.
Speaker #4: And it has an opportunity to expand that. So we're very pleased with it. We are focused on the stocks we've already launched. And we want to continue to be very mindful of the liquidity characteristics of the companies that we're introducing into this framework because I think that's really important in terms of being able to manage risk successfully.
Speaker #4: But we are very excited to continue to expand it over time, and we'll certainly provide you updates as we see the volumes come into the market.
Speaker #4: It's only been live for a week. So we have some room to go in terms of being able to understand the effect on our
Adena Friedman: It's only been live for a week, so we have, we have some room to go, in terms of being able to understand the, the effects on our markets.
It's only been live for a week, so we have, we have some room to go, in terms of being able to understand the, the effects on our markets.
Speaker #4: markets. Thank
Speaker #2: You. And I share, our next question comes from the line of Jeff Schmidt from William Blair. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. And I show our next question comes from the line of Jeff Schmitt from William Blair. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. And I show our next question comes from the line of Jeff Schmitt from William Blair. Please go ahead.
Speaker #5: Hi, good morning. You've seen really strong growth in equity options volumes in the second half here and in the quarter, even though comparisons have been tough, volatilities come down from the first half.
Sarah Youngwood: Hi, good morning. You've seen really strong growth in equity options volumes in the second half year, and in the quarter, even though comparisons have been tough, volatility's come down from the first half. Is that just being driven by, you know, retail strength? Do you see a structural shift there? And has that carried over into 2026?
Jeff Schmitt: Hi, good morning. You've seen really strong growth in equity options volumes in the second half year, and in the quarter, even though comparisons have been tough, volatility's come down from the first half. Is that just being driven by, you know, retail strength? Do you see a structural shift there? And has that carried over into 2026?
Speaker #5: Is that just being driven by retail strength? Do you see a structural shift there? And is that carried over into—
Speaker #5: '26? Yeah.
Adena Friedman: Yeah. So you're right that we have seen very nice continued growth in the volumes within the equities and equity options markets. And I think that in both cases, it's actually really a broadening out of the investor base, both in retail for the equities markets and in retail and institutional in the options markets. And it is, I think, a reflective of a structural shift in terms of the interest that investors have in public equities, which is terrific. I also think that the other thing that we have also seen is a real increase in equity options on the ETF options overlay. So there's a lot more AUM coming into ETFs with an options overlay, which then, of course, brings more institutional engagement into the options markets.
Adena Friedman: Yeah. So you're right that we have seen very nice continued growth in the volumes within the equities and equity options markets. And I think that in both cases, it's actually really a broadening out of the investor base, both in retail for the equities markets and in retail and institutional in the options markets. And it is, I think, a reflective of a structural shift in terms of the interest that investors have in public equities, which is terrific. I also think that the other thing that we have also seen is a real increase in equity options on the ETF options overlay. So there's a lot more AUM coming into ETFs with an options overlay, which then, of course, brings more institutional engagement into the options markets.
Speaker #4: So you're right that we have seen very nice continued growth in the volumes within the equities and equity options markets. And I think that in both cases, it's actually really a broadening out of the investor base both in retail for the equities markets and in retail and institutional and the options markets.
Speaker #4: And it is, I think, a reflective of a structural shift in terms of the interest that investors have in public equities, which is terrific.
Speaker #4: I also think that the other thing that we have also seen is a real increase in equity options on the ETF options overlay. So there's a lot more AUM coming into ETFs with an options overlay, which then, of course, brings more institutional engagement into the options markets.
Speaker #4: And so that's also been a driver, I would say a structural shift in a structural change in the drivers of the options markets in particular.
Adena Friedman: And so that's also been a driver of, I would say, a structural shift and a structural change in the drivers of the options markets in particular. But that-- just that, that level of engagement also just continues to drive our interest in expanding the market. So as we go later into 2026, we're really excited to be able to, hopefully, you know, with a pending SEC approval, launch 23/5 trading for the Nasdaq Stock Market and start to really broaden the, broaden the investor base even further around the world. So, it's an exciting time to be in the markets business, no doubt about it.
And so that's also been a driver of, I would say, a structural shift and a structural change in the drivers of the options markets in particular. But that-- just that, that level of engagement also just continues to drive our interest in expanding the market. So as we go later into 2026, we're really excited to be able to, hopefully, you know, with a pending SEC approval, launch 23/5 trading for the Nasdaq Stock Market and start to really broaden the, broaden the investor base even further around the world. So, it's an exciting time to be in the markets business, no doubt about it.
Speaker #4: But just that level of engagement also just continues to drive our interest in expanding the markets. So as we go later into 2026, we're really excited to be able to hopefully, pending SEC approval, launch 23.5 trading for in the NASDAQ stock market and start to really broaden the investor base even further around the world.
Speaker #4: So it's an exciting time to be in the markets business, no doubt about it.
Speaker #2: Thank you. And I share our next question comes from the line of Michael Cho from JP Morgan. Please go
Speaker #2: Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Michael Cho from J.P. Morgan. Please go ahead. Hi, good morning.
Operator: Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Michael Cho from JP Morgan. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Michael Cho from JP Morgan. Please go ahead.
[Analyst] (JP Morgan): Hi, good morning. Thanks for taking my question. I just wanted to touch on the data and listing segment. Adena, you know, you called out some large wins in the quarter and in the year, and certainly pointed toward maybe accelerating new listings activity ahead. I was just wondering if you could just unpack your comments around the pipeline and pace expectations a little bit. And I guess, is there anything to consider for this segment, you know, into, I guess, into 2026, you know, relative to the low single-digit medium-term guide that's out there now? Thanks.
Michael Cho: Hi, good morning. Thanks for taking my question. I just wanted to touch on the data and listing segment. Adena, you know, you called out some large wins in the quarter and in the year, and certainly pointed toward maybe accelerating new listings activity ahead. I was just wondering if you could just unpack your comments around the pipeline and pace expectations a little bit. And I guess, is there anything to consider for this segment, you know, into, I guess, into 2026, you know, relative to the low single-digit medium-term guide that's out there now? Thanks.
Speaker #6: Thanks for taking my question. I just wanted to touch on the data and listing segment. Adena, either you called out some large wins in the quarter and in the year and certainly pointed to maybe accelerating new listings activity ahead.
Speaker #6: Maybe I was just wondering if you could just unpack your comments around the pipeline and pace, expectations a little bit. And I guess, is there anything to consider for this segment?
Speaker #6: Into I guess into 2026, relative to the low single-digit medium-term guide that's out there now?
Speaker #6: Thanks. Great.
Adena Friedman: Great! Well, thanks, Michael. Yeah, we definitely had, you know, momentum of, in general, for new issuances really started to build up as we went through 2025. We did, unfortunately, have an interruption to that with the, with the government shutdown. So we, we actually saw some issuance, you know, some issuers who really wanted to tap the public markets in Q4, now really focusing on Q1 and Q2 of 2026. But that also-- and then we have, we have a lot of active dialogue with companies, late-stage, private companies, looking to tap the public markets. We also see that there's a lot of investor interest in the public markets.
Adena Friedman: Great! Well, thanks, Michael. Yeah, we definitely had, you know, momentum of, in general, for new issuances really started to build up as we went through 2025. We did, unfortunately, have an interruption to that with the, with the government shutdown. So we, we actually saw some issuance, you know, some issuers who really wanted to tap the public markets in Q4, now really focusing on Q1 and Q2 of 2026. But that also-- and then we have, we have a lot of active dialogue with companies, late-stage, private companies, looking to tap the public markets. We also see that there's a lot of investor interest in the public markets.
Speaker #4: Well, thanks, Michael. Yeah, we definitely had momentum in general for new issuances, really started to build up as we went through 2025. We did, unfortunately, have an interruption to that with the government shutdown.
Speaker #4: So we actually saw some issuance, some issuers who really wanted to tap the public markets in the fourth quarter, now really focusing on the first and second quarter of 2026.
Speaker #4: But that also and then we have a lot of active dialogue with companies late stage or private companies looking to tap the public markets.
Speaker #4: We also see that there's a lot of investor interest in the public markets. One I was actually I was at a meeting in Davos with a lot of asset managers and pensions.
Adena Friedman: One, I was actually at a meeting in Davos with a lot of asset managers and pensions, and one of the things that we heard was that there really is a premium value to liquidity right now. Because the environment around us is so dynamic, that the ability to have liquid assets that they can invest in and have the opportunity to be able to invest in these growth assets in liquid state is something that's really more and more interesting to both the pensions and to asset managers. So, we're excited about the fact that there's risk capital available, that there are companies ready to go, and now we just need to make sure that we can execute on them. And I think that, you know, that's pretty exciting.
One, I was actually at a meeting in Davos with a lot of asset managers and pensions, and one of the things that we heard was that there really is a premium value to liquidity right now. Because the environment around us is so dynamic, that the ability to have liquid assets that they can invest in and have the opportunity to be able to invest in these growth assets in liquid state is something that's really more and more interesting to both the pensions and to asset managers. So, we're excited about the fact that there's risk capital available, that there are companies ready to go, and now we just need to make sure that we can execute on them. And I think that, you know, that's pretty exciting.
Speaker #4: And one of the things that we heard was that there really is a premium value to liquidity right now because the environment around us is so dynamic.
Speaker #4: That the ability to have liquid assets that they can invest in and have the opportunity to be able to invest in these growth assets in liquid state is something that's really more and more interesting to both the pensions and to asset managers.
Speaker #4: So we're excited about the fact that there's risk capital available, that there are companies ready to go. And now we just need to make sure that we can execute on them, and I think that that's pretty exciting.
Speaker #4: It's also obviously accrues the benefit of our index business. And then with switches, companies that are coming from New York to NASDAQ, we continue to be able to demonstrate a differentiated value proposition that we're very excited to have more companies join us here at
Adena Friedman: It also obviously accrues the benefit of our index business. And then with switches, companies that are coming from New York to Nasdaq, you know, we, we continue to be able to demonstrate a differentiated value proposition that we're very excited to have more companies join us here at Nasdaq.
It also obviously accrues the benefit of our index business. And then with switches, companies that are coming from New York to Nasdaq, you know, we, we continue to be able to demonstrate a differentiated value proposition that we're very excited to have more companies join us here at Nasdaq.
Speaker #4: NASDAQ. Thank
Speaker #2: you. And I share our next question comes from the line of Dan Fannon from Jefferies. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Dan Fannon from Jefferies. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Dan Fannon from Jefferies. Please go ahead.
Speaker #5: Thanks. Good morning. Wanted to follow up on the financial crime management outlook. 24% in the fourth quarter, I think you talked about some professional fees wanted to understand a bit better momentum into next year and tracking more towards the medium-term guide of mid-20s growth.
[Analyst] (Jefferies): Thanks. Good morning. Wanted to look, follow up on the financial crime management outlook. 24% in Q4, I think you talked about some professional fees. Wanted to understand a bit better momentum into next year and tracking more towards the medium-term guide of mid-20s growth.
Dan Fannon: Thanks. Good morning. Wanted to look, follow up on the financial crime management outlook. 24% in Q4, I think you talked about some professional fees. Wanted to understand a bit better momentum into next year and tracking more towards the medium-term guide of mid-20s growth.
Speaker #4: Yeah. So I think that Sarah gave you some good information around how we see the development of the sales the fact that in the enterprise deals, the ACV was back-weighted in the year.
Adena Friedman: Yeah. So I think that Sarah gave you some good information around how we see the development of the sales. The fact that in the enterprise deals, a lot, the ACV was back weighted in the year. It does take longer to implement those, those clients. So that also. And we don't bring that into our ARR until they're fully implemented and live. So that, I think, kind of, gives you a sense of how we're thinking about the year progressing for enterprise, enterprise deals. And then on professional services fees, as we are engaging both with a lot of SMB clients, we had a really great sales year for SMB clients, in addition to the enterprise deals, where there is, you know, I would say, a more effort involved with implementing those, those clients.
Adena Friedman: Yeah. So I think that Sarah gave you some good information around how we see the development of the sales. The fact that in the enterprise deals, a lot, the ACV was back weighted in the year. It does take longer to implement those, those clients. So that also. And we don't bring that into our ARR until they're fully implemented and live. So that, I think, kind of, gives you a sense of how we're thinking about the year progressing for enterprise, enterprise deals. And then on professional services fees, as we are engaging both with a lot of SMB clients, we had a really great sales year for SMB clients, in addition to the enterprise deals, where there is, you know, I would say, a more effort involved with implementing those, those clients.
Speaker #4: It does take longer to implement those clients, so that also—and we don't bring that into our ARR until they're fully implemented and live.
Speaker #4: So that I think kind of gives you a sense of how we're thinking about the year progressing for enterprise deals. And then on professional services fees, as we are engaging both with a lot of S&B clients, we had a really great sales year for S&B clients.
Speaker #4: In addition to the enterprise deals, where there is, I would say, more effort involved with implementing those clients, we will see a little bit more variability quarter to quarter in the revenues as we manage our professional services revenues with those implementations.
Adena Friedman: We will see a little bit more variability quarter to quarter in revenues as we manage our professional services revenues, with those implementations, and that's some of what you saw in the fourth quarter. So, you know, with that, that I think that, you know, kind of the building momentum, we're just so happy. We have nine new clients in then, or nine new deals, including actually three upsells. Like, that's a new muscle also for the fintech, I mean, for the financial crime management team to, to be a modular provider of capabilities to these enterprise clients. So I have to tell you, we're, we're really, really excited about both what we've been able to do in 2025, but also the pipeline of opportunity in 2026.
We will see a little bit more variability quarter to quarter in revenues as we manage our professional services revenues, with those implementations, and that's some of what you saw in the fourth quarter. So, you know, with that, that I think that, you know, kind of the building momentum, we're just so happy. We have nine new clients in then, or nine new deals, including actually three upsells. Like, that's a new muscle also for the fintech, I mean, for the financial crime management team to, to be a modular provider of capabilities to these enterprise clients. So I have to tell you, we're, we're really, really excited about both what we've been able to do in 2025, but also the pipeline of opportunity in 2026.
Speaker #4: And that's some of what you saw in the fourth quarter. So with that, I think that kind of the building momentum we're just so happy we have nine new clients and then or nine new deals.
Speaker #4: Including actually three upsells. That's a new muscle also for the fintech I mean, for the financial crime management team to be a modular provider of capabilities to these enterprise clients.
Speaker #4: So I have to tell you, we're really, really excited about both what we've been able to do in 25 but also the pipeline of opportunity in
Speaker #4: 26. Thank
Speaker #2: you. And I share our next question comes from the line of Eli Aboud from Bank of America. Please go
Operator: Thank you. I show our next question comes from the line of Eli Aboud from Bank of America. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. I show our next question comes from the line of Eli Aboud from Bank of America. Please go ahead.
Speaker #2: ahead. Good morning.
[Analyst] (Bank of America): Good morning. Thanks for taking my question. Adena, you made some comments at the SEC, CFTC joint roundtable a few months back, kind of lamenting how difficult it is for Nasdaq to own an ATS. I was wondering if you could expand more on those comments. If the rules do indeed change at the SEC, is there an opportunity for Nasdaq to do M&A in the off-exchange space, or do you think Nasdaq can compete organically with these off-exchange venues?
Eli Abboud: Good morning. Thanks for taking my question. Adena, you made some comments at the SEC, CFTC joint roundtable a few months back, kind of lamenting how difficult it is for Nasdaq to own an ATS. I was wondering if you could expand more on those comments. If the rules do indeed change at the SEC, is there an opportunity for Nasdaq to do M&A in the off-exchange space, or do you think Nasdaq can compete organically with these off-exchange venues?
Speaker #7: Thanks for taking my question. Adena, you made some comments at the SEC CFTC joint roundtable a few months back kind of lamenting how difficult it is for NASDAQ to own an ATS.
Speaker #7: I was wondering if you could expand more on those comments. If the rules do indeed change at the SEC, is there an opportunity for NASDAQ to do M&A in the off-exchange space?
Speaker #7: Or do you think NASDAQ can compete organically with these off-exchange
Speaker #7: venues? Well, first, we
Adena Friedman: Well, first, we are very encouraged by the fact that the SEC is focused on providing more innovation opportunities in the securities markets. We really like to be a holistic provider to our clients, but we have been really limited in the way that we've been able to offer our solutions to clients. You know, the exchange rules are very, very codified, and it makes it very difficult to be an innovator within the confines of the exchange rules. Allowing us to have the flexibility to have an ATS as part of our solution set to our clients, and being able to tap into more of the off-exchange trading is a real interest of ours. We do see that the SEC; we believe that they're gonna provide a more flexible framework for that.
Adena Friedman: Well, first, we are very encouraged by the fact that the SEC is focused on providing more innovation opportunities in the securities markets. We really like to be a holistic provider to our clients, but we have been really limited in the way that we've been able to offer our solutions to clients. You know, the exchange rules are very, very codified, and it makes it very difficult to be an innovator within the confines of the exchange rules. Allowing us to have the flexibility to have an ATS as part of our solution set to our clients, and being able to tap into more of the off-exchange trading is a real interest of ours. We do see that the SEC; we believe that they're gonna provide a more flexible framework for that.
Speaker #4: are very encouraged by the fact that the SEC is focused on providing more innovation opportunities in the securities markets. And we really like to be a holistic provider to our clients.
Speaker #4: But we have been really limited in the way that we've been able to offer our solutions to clients. The exchange rules are very codified.
Speaker #4: And it makes it very difficult to be an innovator within the confines of the exchange rules. So allowing us to have the flexibility to have an ATS as part of our solution set to our clients and being able to tap into more of the off-exchange trading is a real interest of ours.
Speaker #4: We do see that the SEC—we believe that they're going to provide a more flexible framework for that. And as we continue to engage with them, we will be excited to see ways for us to get involved in that space going forward.
Adena Friedman: We're, you know, as we continue to engage with them, we will be excited to see, you know, ways for us to get involved in that space going forward.
We're, you know, as we continue to engage with them, we will be excited to see, you know, ways for us to get involved in that space going forward.
Speaker #4: forward.
Speaker #2: Thank
Speaker #2: you. And I share our next question comes from the line of Simon Clinch from Rothschild & Co Redburn. Please go
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Simon Clinch from Rothschild & Co Redburn. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Simon Clinch from Rothschild & Co Redburn. Please go ahead.
Speaker #2: ahead. Hi.
[Analyst] (Rothschild & Co Redburn): Hi, thanks for taking my question. I was wondering if I could just change tack a bit. In terms of, you know, you, you've already achieved, beaten the leverage target you set. As we look ahead in terms of our capital allocation then, you've made comments before that, you know, sort of transformational deals, you know, are kind of, I guess, maybe off the table is not the right word, but, yeah, they're not really on the agenda at the moment.
Simon Clinch: Hi, thanks for taking my question. I was wondering if I could just change tack a bit. In terms of, you know, you, you've already achieved, beaten the leverage target you set. As we look ahead in terms of our capital allocation then, you've made comments before that, you know, sort of transformational deals, you know, are kind of, I guess, maybe off the table is not the right word, but, yeah, they're not really on the agenda at the moment.
Speaker #8: Thanks for taking my question. I was wondering if I could just change tack a bit. In terms of you've already achieved the and beaten the leverage target you set.
Speaker #8: As we look ahead in terms of capital allocation then, you've made comments before that sort of transformational deals are kind of, I guess, maybe off the table is not the right word.
Speaker #8: But yeah, they're not really on the agenda at the moment. So I was wondering if you could talk about the pipeline of sort of opportunistic deals you have how you balance that with the potential for buyback because you're going to have a lot of capital coming your way and against that, the sort of general range of leverage that you're willing to operate in.
[Analyst] (Rothschild & Co Redburn): So I was wondering if you could talk about the pipeline of sort of of opportunistic deals you have, how you balance that with the potential for buyback, 'cause you're going to have a lot of capital coming your way, and against that, the sort of the general range of leverage that you're willing to operate in. Thanks.
So I was wondering if you could talk about the pipeline of sort of of opportunistic deals you have, how you balance that with the potential for buyback, 'cause you're going to have a lot of capital coming your way, and against that, the sort of the general range of leverage that you're willing to operate in. Thanks.
Speaker #8: Thanks.
Speaker #4: Thanks, Simon. So in
Sarah Youngwood: Thanks, Simon. So indeed, $2.2 billion of free cash flow and 109% free cash flow conversion. We're very proud of those numbers, and that gives us a lot of ability to have multiple things we can do. We are focused on organic growth and are supporting on our organic growth. We are also continuing to have a progressive dividend, and you've seen us do some share repurchases, some debt repurchases, and that is something which we are very interested in continuing to do. And of course, we will continue to evaluate bolt-ons, especially with a build versus buy approach.
Sarah Youngwood: Thanks, Simon. So indeed, $2.2 billion of free cash flow and 109% free cash flow conversion. We're very proud of those numbers, and that gives us a lot of ability to have multiple things we can do. We are focused on organic growth and are supporting on our organic growth. We are also continuing to have a progressive dividend, and you've seen us do some share repurchases, some debt repurchases, and that is something which we are very interested in continuing to do. And of course, we will continue to evaluate bolt-ons, especially with a build versus buy approach.
Speaker #4: the 2.2 billion dollars of free cash flow and 109% of free cash flow conversion, we're very proud of those numbers. And that gives us a lot of ability to have multiple things we can do.
Speaker #4: We are focused on organic growth and our supporting on our organic growth. We are also continuing to have a progressive dividend. And you've seen us do some share repurchases, some debt repurchases, and that is something which we are very interested in continuing to do.
Speaker #4: And of course, we will continue to evaluate bolt-ons especially with the build versus buy
Speaker #4: approach. Thank
Speaker #2: you. And I share our next question comes from the line of Brian Bedell from Deutsche Bank. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Brian Bedell from Deutsche Bank. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Brian Bedell from Deutsche Bank. Please go ahead.
Speaker #9: Great. Thanks. Good morning. Thanks for taking my question. Maybe just to bring it back on fintech in the medium-term growth targets, you've had great acceleration in the upsells and new clients just in 4Q relative to even the 25 pace.
[Analyst] (Deutsche Bank): Great. Thanks. Thanks. Good morning. Thanks for taking my question. Maybe just to bring it back on Fintech and the medium-term growth targets. You've had, you know, great acceleration in the, you know, upsells and new clients just in Q4 relative to even the 25 pace. And I know you talked about some, like, implementation lags and headwinds coming into 26. But as you think about the full year, given that momentum and the secular trends that you're talking about, should we think of potentially, you know, an acceleration of RegTech and cap markets revenue growth, you know, higher, you know, towards the higher end of those ranges, or at least acceleration on a full year basis in 26 versus 25, just based on that comment?
Brian Bedell: Great. Thanks. Thanks. Good morning. Thanks for taking my question. Maybe just to bring it back on Fintech and the medium-term growth targets. You've had, you know, great acceleration in the, you know, upsells and new clients just in Q4 relative to even the 25 pace. And I know you talked about some, like, implementation lags and headwinds coming into 26. But as you think about the full year, given that momentum and the secular trends that you're talking about, should we think of potentially, you know, an acceleration of RegTech and cap markets revenue growth, you know, higher, you know, towards the higher end of those ranges, or at least acceleration on a full year basis in 26 versus 25, just based on that comment?
Speaker #9: And I know you talked about some implementation lags and headwinds coming into '26. But as you think about the full year, given that momentum and the secular trends that you're talking about, should we think of potentially an acceleration of RegTech and Capital Markets revenue growth higher, towards the higher end of those ranges, or at least acceleration on a full-year basis in '26 versus '25, just based on that comment?
Speaker #9: I know it's early, of course,
[Analyst] (Deutsche Bank): I know it's early, of course, but just wanted to get some color around that.
I know it's early, of course, but just wanted to get some color around that.
Speaker #4: Yeah. Sure. Well, I think first just to remember, our fourth quarter is always our largest sales quarter for fintech. And so it is wonderful to see, but it is also a pretty cyclical element of the business in terms of having the majority not the majority, but a large portion of sales occur in the fourth quarter.
Adena Friedman: Yeah, sure. Well, I think first, just to remember, our Q4 is always our largest sales quarter for Fintech. And so, it is, you know, it's wonderful to see, but it is also a pretty cyclical element of the business in terms of having the majority, not the majority, but a large portion of sales occur in the Q4. I think that as we, you are right, we do have good momentum in the business. We have, you know, we feel very good about the client engagements, and we've been, we had a particularly, I mean, if I look at it, like, every part of the Fintech business had a strong sales year in different ways.
Adena Friedman: Yeah, sure. Well, I think first, just to remember, our Q4 is always our largest sales quarter for Fintech. And so, it is, you know, it's wonderful to see, but it is also a pretty cyclical element of the business in terms of having the majority, not the majority, but a large portion of sales occur in the Q4. I think that as we, you are right, we do have good momentum in the business. We have, you know, we feel very good about the client engagements, and we've been, we had a particularly, I mean, if I look at it, like, every part of the Fintech business had a strong sales year in different ways.
Speaker #4: I think that as we you are right. We do have good momentum in the business. We have we feel very good about the client engagements we've been we had a particularly I mean, if I look at it like every part of the fintech business had a strong sales year.
Speaker #4: In different ways. The upsells in certain areas were just really remarkable. And the new sales in other areas were great. So and when we look at the pipeline, we continue to have really strong engagement across the world with our clients and potential clients.
Adena Friedman: You know, the upsells in certain areas were just really remarkable, and the new sales in other areas were great. So, when we look at the pipeline, we continue to have really strong engagement across the world, with our clients and potential clients. So I'm not going to give you specific outlook for 2026, but I just want to say that, you know, we're really pleased with the ongoing performance of the business, the way that we're engaging customers, and the opportunity set in front of us. You know, it's critical for us to continue to innovate, and we are doing that at scale. We're doing that with our clients. It's really a really exciting time in that business as well.
You know, the upsells in certain areas were just really remarkable, and the new sales in other areas were great. So, when we look at the pipeline, we continue to have really strong engagement across the world, with our clients and potential clients. So I'm not going to give you specific outlook for 2026, but I just want to say that, you know, we're really pleased with the ongoing performance of the business, the way that we're engaging customers, and the opportunity set in front of us. You know, it's critical for us to continue to innovate, and we are doing that at scale. We're doing that with our clients. It's really a really exciting time in that business as well.
Speaker #4: So I'm not going to give you outlook specific outlook for 26, but I just want to say that we're really pleased with the ongoing performance of the business, the way that we're engaging customers, and the opportunity set in front of us.
Speaker #4: It's critical for us to continue to innovate. And we are doing that at scale. We're doing that with our clients. It's a really exciting time in that business as well.
Speaker #2: Thank you. And I share our next question comes from the line of Alex Kram from UBS. Please go
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Alex Kramm from UBS. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Alex Kramm from UBS. Please go ahead.
Speaker #2: ahead.
Speaker #9: Yes. Hey, good morning,
[Analyst] (UBS): Yes, hey, good morning, everyone. This may be a little bit of a random topic, but Adena, I would be curious if you can talk a little bit about what's going on in proxy these days. I mean, you've talked about it on some of the prior calls already, and there's clearly a lot of things happening on the advisory side, but you guys had an op-ed in November as well, talking or even complaining about the rising cost of even the processing side of that, and maybe even suggesting, like, there should be better solutions, maybe involving blockchain. So just wondering, given that this is a pretty sizable market today with one large player, do you think there is a role for Nasdaq?
Alex Kramm: Yes, hey, good morning, everyone. This may be a little bit of a random topic, but Adena, I would be curious if you can talk a little bit about what's going on in proxy these days. I mean, you've talked about it on some of the prior calls already, and there's clearly a lot of things happening on the advisory side, but you guys had an op-ed in November as well, talking or even complaining about the rising cost of even the processing side of that, and maybe even suggesting, like, there should be better solutions, maybe involving blockchain. So just wondering, given that this is a pretty sizable market today with one large player, do you think there is a role for Nasdaq?
Speaker #9: everyone. This may be a little bit of a random topic, but Adina, I would be curious if you can talk a little bit about what's going on in proxy these days.
Speaker #9: I mean, you've talked about it on some of the prior calls already. And there's clearly a lot of things happening on the advisory side.
Speaker #9: But you guys had an op-ed in November as well, talking—or even complaining—about the rising costs of even the processing side of that.
Speaker #9: And maybe even suggesting there should be better solutions, maybe involving blockchain. So just wondering given that this is a pretty sizable market today with one large player, do you think there is a role for Nasdaq?
Speaker #9: Do you have any ambitions in anything you can share that you may be doing to help you and your listed clients?
[Analyst] (UBS): Do you have any ambitions and anything you can share that you may be doing to help you and your listed clients?
Do you have any ambitions and anything you can share that you may be doing to help you and your listed clients?
Speaker #4: Yeah. Great. Thanks, Alex. So the focus we've been having on proxy is definitely on policy reform, regulatory reform. And as well as modernization of the proxy infrastructure.
Adena Friedman: Yeah, great. Thanks, Alex. You know, the focus we've been having on proxy is definitely on policy reform or regulatory reform, and as well as modernization of the proxy infrastructure. And so I'm gonna say, you know, when we engage on that topic, we are engaging on behalf of our listed clients and really reflecting their experience and what they feel is one of the bigger, bigger pain points to being a public company. If we want more companies to be public, we have to find ways to make the path to being public less onerous and less of a big leap. And so our engagement on proxy has primarily been both with the regulators and with the established providers to make it so that we can streamline the technology.
Adena Friedman: Yeah, great. Thanks, Alex. You know, the focus we've been having on proxy is definitely on policy reform or regulatory reform, and as well as modernization of the proxy infrastructure. And so I'm gonna say, you know, when we engage on that topic, we are engaging on behalf of our listed clients and really reflecting their experience and what they feel is one of the bigger, bigger pain points to being a public company. If we want more companies to be public, we have to find ways to make the path to being public less onerous and less of a big leap. And so our engagement on proxy has primarily been both with the regulators and with the established providers to make it so that we can streamline the technology.
Speaker #4: And so, I can just say, when we engage on that topic, we are engaging on behalf of our listed clients. And really, reflecting their experience and what they feel is one of the bigger pain points of being a public company.
Speaker #4: If we want more companies to be public, we have to find ways to make the path to being public less onerous and less of a big leap.
Speaker #4: And so our engagement on proxy has primarily been both with the regulators and with the established providers to make it so that we can streamline the technology.
Speaker #4: I think there's—actually, I don't know if you've done a proxy vote lately, but I have to say, the new app that they've delivered, that Robert has delivered for proxy voting, is actually quite good and easy to use.
Adena Friedman: I think there's actually, I don't know if you've done a proxy vote lately, but I have to say the new app that they've delivered, that Broadridge has delivered for proxy voting is actually quite good and easy to use. So, you know, making sure we're modernizing that, making sure we're also focusing on the plumbing, the proxy plumbing, because we have so much more retail investment in the markets. We need to engage those retail investors. There's also pass-through voting that's been developed now among the institutions, and that also needs to have a process and technology that underpins it, in addition to having changes in the proxy process, at the, you know, at the regulatory level so that companies can operate, you know, spend their time operating their businesses and not dealing with proxy.
I think there's actually, I don't know if you've done a proxy vote lately, but I have to say the new app that they've delivered, that Broadridge has delivered for proxy voting is actually quite good and easy to use. So, you know, making sure we're modernizing that, making sure we're also focusing on the plumbing, the proxy plumbing, because we have so much more retail investment in the markets. We need to engage those retail investors. There's also pass-through voting that's been developed now among the institutions, and that also needs to have a process and technology that underpins it, in addition to having changes in the proxy process, at the, you know, at the regulatory level so that companies can operate, you know, spend their time operating their businesses and not dealing with proxy.
Speaker #4: So making sure we're modernizing that, making sure we're also focusing on the plumbing, the proxy plumbing, because we have so much more retail investment in the markets.
Speaker #4: We need to engage those retail investors there's also pass-through voting that's been developed now among the institutions. And that also needs to have a process and technology that underpins it.
Speaker #4: In addition to having changes in the proxy process at the regulatory level so that companies can operate spend their time operating their businesses and not dealing with proxy.
Speaker #4: So that's the focus we have, Alex. It's not so much as a business opportunity.
Adena Friedman: So, that's the focus we have, Alex. It's, it's not so much as a business opportunity.
So, that's the focus we have, Alex. It's, it's not so much as a business opportunity.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Michael Cyprys from Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. And our next question comes from the line of Michael Cyprys from Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead.
Speaker #2: question comes from the line of Michael Cyphers Thank you. And I share our next from Morgan Stanley. Please go
Speaker #2: ahead. Hey,
[Analyst] (Morgan Stanley): Hey, good morning. Thanks for taking the question. Just wanted to ask around the proposal you have out there to tokenize equity securities. Just curious how you envision that integrating with existing infrastructure, how your proposal, how you guys think about it being different from others that you're seeing out there in the marketplace or other proposals out there? Just more broadly, how you see the potential to ultimately migrate toward fully on-chain environment. What hurdles would need to be overcome? What the timeframe and path might look like?
Michael Cyprys: Hey, good morning. Thanks for taking the question. Just wanted to ask around the proposal you have out there to tokenize equity securities. Just curious how you envision that integrating with existing infrastructure, how your proposal, how you guys think about it being different from others that you're seeing out there in the marketplace or other proposals out there? Just more broadly, how you see the potential to ultimately migrate toward fully on-chain environment. What hurdles would need to be overcome? What the timeframe and path might look like?
Speaker #10: Good morning. Thanks for taking the question. Just wanted to ask about the proposal you have out there to tokenize equity securities. Just curious how you envision that integrating with existing infrastructure.
Speaker #10: How your proposal how you guys think about it being different from others that you're seeing out there in the marketplace or other proposals out there?
Speaker #10: And just more broadly, how do you see the potential to ultimately migrate toward a fully on-chain environment? What hurdles would need to be overcome? What might the timeframe and path look like?
Speaker #4: Okay, great. Well, that's a big question. So I would say I would start by saying the purpose of our regulatory filing to introduce tokenized equities is to actually make sure it is, in fact, integrated into the infrastructure that exists.
Adena Friedman: Okay, great. Well, that's a big question. So I would say I would start by saying, the purpose of our regulatory filing to introduce tokenized equities is to actually make sure it is, in fact, integrated into the infrastructure that exists. You know, we have, we have the deepest, most liquid markets in the world. They operate at enormous scale. We manage 3 to 5 million messages per second, depending on equities and options markets. We manage. Honestly, we have over, you know, in any given day, somewhere in the range of 80 to 100 billion messages that flow through our systems, and we provide latency of less than 20 microseconds on an aver- you know, on, on an average basis. So it is, it is a remarkable business. And, and the resiliency of what we've created is so important to maintain.
Adena Friedman: Okay, great. Well, that's a big question. So I would say I would start by saying, the purpose of our regulatory filing to introduce tokenized equities is to actually make sure it is, in fact, integrated into the infrastructure that exists. You know, we have, we have the deepest, most liquid markets in the world. They operate at enormous scale. We manage 3 to 5 million messages per second, depending on equities and options markets. We manage. Honestly, we have over, you know, in any given day, somewhere in the range of 80 to 100 billion messages that flow through our systems, and we provide latency of less than 20 microseconds on an aver- you know, on, on an average basis. So it is, it is a remarkable business. And, and the resiliency of what we've created is so important to maintain.
Speaker #4: We have the deepest, most liquid markets in the world. They operate at enormous scale. We manage three to five million messages a second, depending on equities and options markets.
Speaker #4: We manage honestly, we have over in any given day, somewhere in the range of 80 to 100 billion messages that flow through our systems.
Speaker #4: And we provide latency of less than 20 microseconds on an average basis. So it is a remarkable business. And the resiliency of what we've created is so important to maintain.
Speaker #4: So as we've been thinking about and driving tokenization, it is a good technology. It is something that can over time kind of transform the ability to move money around the world, can transform the ability to manage collateral in a much more flexible way, can allow retail investors more access to more markets.
Adena Friedman: So as we've been thinking about and driving tokenization, it is a good technology. It is something that can, over time, kind of transform the ability to move money around the world, can transform the ability to manage collateral in a much more flexible way, can allow, you know, retail investors more access to more markets. So it is, it's an exciting technology, but our, our approach to this has always been, let's make sure we focus on investor protection, focus on issuer choice, focus on having the integrity of the markets be retained while bringing this technology in.
So as we've been thinking about and driving tokenization, it is a good technology. It is something that can, over time, kind of transform the ability to move money around the world, can transform the ability to manage collateral in a much more flexible way, can allow, you know, retail investors more access to more markets. So it is, it's an exciting technology, but our, our approach to this has always been, let's make sure we focus on investor protection, focus on issuer choice, focus on having the integrity of the markets be retained while bringing this technology in.
Speaker #4: So it is an exciting technology, but our approach to this has always been let's make sure we focus on investor protection, focus on issuer choice, focus on having the integrity of the markets be retained, while bringing this technology in.
Speaker #4: So, our tokenization filing is meant to be working with the infrastructure providers like DTCC, other transfer agencies, other providers, all of our market participants, to allow for an equity to be tokenized at the CUSIP.
Adena Friedman: So our tokenization filing is meant to be working with the infrastructure providers like DTCC, like, other transfer agencies, other providers, all of our market participants, to allow for an equity to be tokenized at the CUSIP, to allow the investor to have a choice as to whether they want the stock to settle in a tokenized form or a traditional form, to allow for fungibility and interoperability. And we are engaging with DTCC and with other key players to make this a reality.
So our tokenization filing is meant to be working with the infrastructure providers like DTCC, like, other transfer agencies, other providers, all of our market participants, to allow for an equity to be tokenized at the CUSIP, to allow the investor to have a choice as to whether they want the stock to settle in a tokenized form or a traditional form, to allow for fungibility and interoperability. And we are engaging with DTCC and with other key players to make this a reality.
Speaker #4: To allow the investor to have a choice as to whether they want the stock to settle in a tokenized form or a traditional form.
Speaker #4: To allow for funds building interoperability. And we are engaging with DTCC and with other key players to make this a reality. We will also look for other innovations.
Adena Friedman: And we will also look for other innovations, and there is a lot of innovation in the space, where we wanna make sure we're addressing investor needs and issuer needs, but also recognizing the role we play in the industry and how we kind of bring the proper protections through as we bring this technology into the market.
And we will also look for other innovations, and there is a lot of innovation in the space, where we wanna make sure we're addressing investor needs and issuer needs, but also recognizing the role we play in the industry and how we kind of bring the proper protections through as we bring this technology into the market.
Speaker #4: I mean, there's a lot of innovation in the space. We're we want to make sure we're addressing investor needs and issuer needs, but also recognizing the role we play in the industry.
Speaker #4: And how we kind of bring the proper protections through as we bring this technology into the
Speaker #4: market. Thank you.
Operator: Thank you. And I show our next question comes from the line of Alexander Blostein from Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. And I show our next question comes from the line of Alexander Blostein from Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead.
Speaker #2: And I'll share our next question, which comes from the line of Alexander Blomstein from Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead.
Speaker #6: Great. Hey, Adina. Thanks, Eric. Good morning, everybody. I was hoping we could expand on the sort of M&A discussion that Sarah hit on a little bit earlier.
[Analyst] (Goldman Sachs): Great. Hey, Adena. Hey, Sarah. Good morning, everybody. I was hoping you could expand on the sort of M&A discussion that Sarah hit on a little bit earlier. When you kind of zoom out, it feels like there's a lot of development in new markets, whether it's sort of digital assets and new technologies, obviously, with AI, et cetera. As you sort of progress, and you're obviously very far in integrating XCM and Calypso now, and over the last, call it 12 to 18 months, it was very clear, you preferred organic growth. But now that, perhaps the balance sheet is in a better capacity space and you're further along in integrating, how are you thinking about M&A broadly? Is organic growth still the primary focus for the firm for the next, call it, couple years?
Alexander Blostein: Great. Hey, Adena. Hey, Sarah. Good morning, everybody. I was hoping you could expand on the sort of M&A discussion that Sarah hit on a little bit earlier. When you kind of zoom out, it feels like there's a lot of development in new markets, whether it's sort of digital assets and new technologies, obviously, with AI, et cetera. As you sort of progress, and you're obviously very far in integrating XCM and Calypso now, and over the last, call it 12 to 18 months, it was very clear, you preferred organic growth. But now that, perhaps the balance sheet is in a better capacity space and you're further along in integrating, how are you thinking about M&A broadly? Is organic growth still the primary focus for the firm for the next, call it, couple years?
Speaker #6: When you kind of zoom out, it feels like there's a lot of development in new markets, whether it's sort of digital assets. And new technologies obviously with AI, et cetera.
Speaker #6: As you sort of progress and you're obviously very far in integrating Axiom and Calypso now and over the last, call it, 12 to 18 months, it was very clear you preferred organic growth, but now that perhaps balance sheet is in a better capacity space and you're further along in integrating, how are you thinking about M&A broadly?
Speaker #6: Is organic growth still the primary focus for the firm for the next, call it, a couple of
Speaker #6: years? Yeah.
Adena Friedman: Yeah. So thanks, Alex. As Sarah mentioned, we are really focused on organic growth, innovation, and engaging with our clients. And, you know, but as she also mentioned, we have a lot of great ways to use this great capital that we make every year. So, and we'll continue to evaluate, you know, potential bolt-on acquisitions in a kind of a build versus buy orientation. But if you are-- if you were to ask our team, the organic growth path and the opportunities we have in front of us are just-- are really tremendous, so we're keeping the team focused on that.
Adena Friedman: Yeah. So thanks, Alex. As Sarah mentioned, we are really focused on organic growth, innovation, and engaging with our clients. And, you know, but as she also mentioned, we have a lot of great ways to use this great capital that we make every year. So, and we'll continue to evaluate, you know, potential bolt-on acquisitions in a kind of a build versus buy orientation. But if you are-- if you were to ask our team, the organic growth path and the opportunities we have in front of us are just-- are really tremendous, so we're keeping the team focused on that.
Speaker #4: So thanks, Alex. As Sarah mentioned, we are really focused on organic growth and innovation and engaging with our clients. And but as she also mentioned, we have a lot of great ways to use this great capital that we make every year.
Speaker #4: So, and we'll continue to evaluate potential bolt-on acquisitions in kind of a build-versus-buy orientation. But if you were to ask our team, the organic growth path and the opportunities we have in front of us are just really tremendous.
Speaker #4: So we're keeping the team focused on
Speaker #4: that. Thank
Speaker #2: you. And I share our next question comes from the line of Ashish Sabadra from RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. And I show our next question comes from the line of Ashish Sabadra from RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. And I show our next question comes from the line of Ashish Sabadra from RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.
Speaker #5: Thanks for taking my question. Adena, can you share your views on the prediction markets? Your peers have announced partnerships, investments, or organic investments in prediction markets.
[Analyst] (RBC Capital Markets): Thanks for taking my question. Adena, can you share your views on the prediction markets? Your peers have announced partnership, investment, or organic investments in prediction market. Does Nasdaq have aspirations to get into the prediction markets as well? Thanks.
Ashish Sabadra: Thanks for taking my question. Adena, can you share your views on the prediction markets? Your peers have announced partnership, investment, or organic investments in prediction market. Does Nasdaq have aspirations to get into the prediction markets as well? Thanks.
Speaker #5: Does NASDAQ have aspirations to get into the prediction markets as well?
Speaker #5: Thanks. Sure.
Adena Friedman: Sure. Thank you. Well, one thing I've said pretty consistently is we really like to operate in regulated markets, and, and we operate best when the markets provide, like, clear rules of the road. And I think that the prediction market space is very dynamic, and the, the regulatory environment is still not really settled. And so, we're certainly focused on what, what kind of benefits they can offer to, to investors, the risks that they introduce, and things like that, to say: Does this fit within our, our risk tolerance? Does it fit within the regulatory mandate that we have?
Adena Friedman: Sure. Thank you. Well, one thing I've said pretty consistently is we really like to operate in regulated markets, and, and we operate best when the markets provide, like, clear rules of the road. And I think that the prediction market space is very dynamic, and the, the regulatory environment is still not really settled. And so, we're certainly focused on what, what kind of benefits they can offer to, to investors, the risks that they introduce, and things like that, to say: Does this fit within our, our risk tolerance? Does it fit within the regulatory mandate that we have?
Speaker #4: Thank you. Well, one thing I've said pretty consistently is we really like to operate in regulated markets. And we operate best when the markets provide clear rules of the road.
Speaker #4: And I think that the prediction market space is very dynamic. The regulatory environment is still not really settled. And so we are we're certainly focused on what kind of benefits they can offer to investors, the risks that they introduce, and things like that to say, does this fit within our risk tolerance?
Speaker #4: Does it fit within the regulatory mandate that we have? Do we feel confident in our ability to be successful? And making sure that we can deliver for investors and deliver a great experience, but also have the proper investor protections that we really look for when we do make decisions to operate markets.
Adena Friedman: Do we feel confident in our ability to be successful in making sure that we can deliver for investors and deliver a great experience, but also have the proper investor protections that we really look for when we do make decisions to operate markets? One of the things that we have been evaluating is within the options business, the potential for us to have event options within the options business so that we can have it within a regulated market. And the other thing is that we do provide technology to the prediction markets, and we also have, you know, can provide data distribution and other things to support prediction markets through other parts of our business.
Do we feel confident in our ability to be successful in making sure that we can deliver for investors and deliver a great experience, but also have the proper investor protections that we really look for when we do make decisions to operate markets? One of the things that we have been evaluating is within the options business, the potential for us to have event options within the options business so that we can have it within a regulated market. And the other thing is that we do provide technology to the prediction markets, and we also have, you know, can provide data distribution and other things to support prediction markets through other parts of our business.
Speaker #4: One of the things that we have been evaluating is within the options business, the potential for us to have event options within the options business so that we can have it within a regulated market.
Speaker #4: And the other thing is that we do provide technology to the prediction markets and we also have can provide data distribution and other things to support prediction markets through other parts of our business.
Speaker #2: Thank you. And I share our next question comes from the line of Owen Lau from Clare Street. Please go
Operator: Thank you. And I show our next question comes from the line of Owen Lau from Clear Street. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. And I show our next question comes from the line of Owen Lau from Clear Street. Please go ahead.
Speaker #2: ahead.
Speaker #7: Hey, good morning. Thank you for—
[Analyst] (Clear Street): Hey, good morning. Thank you for taking my question. I want to go back to the tokenization topic, and how do you think about the risk of splitting liquidity between on chain and traditional, and also the competition between tokenized equities and the issuance of blockchain-native token? A little bit technical, but thanks.
Owen Lau: Hey, good morning. Thank you for taking my question. I want to go back to the tokenization topic, and how do you think about the risk of splitting liquidity between on chain and traditional, and also the competition between tokenized equities and the issuance of blockchain-native token? A little bit technical, but thanks.
Speaker #7: taking my question. I want to go back to the tokenization topic. And how do you think about the risk of splitting liquidity between on-chain and traditional well?
Speaker #7: And also the competition between tokenized equities and issuance of blockchain-native token. A little bit technical, but
Speaker #7: thanks.
Speaker #4: Thank you.
Adena Friedman: Thank you. So we definitely have a real, I think, I would say, a mandate to be the provider that focuses on bringing liquidity together. I mean, that's really our, you know, a big core function of ours, is to drive transparency, liquidity, and integrity across the markets that we operate. So we do actually care a lot about making sure that investors have a complete view of the trading of any sort of equity, whether it's in tokenized form or not, that they have a complete understanding of the risks and benefits of whatever they're trading. So, if it's a full equity versus a synthetic equity, making sure they understand those differences and the risks that they bring, and then also allowing for issuers to have a complete understanding of the trading of their stock.
Adena Friedman: Thank you. So we definitely have a real, I think, I would say, a mandate to be the provider that focuses on bringing liquidity together. I mean, that's really our, you know, a big core function of ours, is to drive transparency, liquidity, and integrity across the markets that we operate. So we do actually care a lot about making sure that investors have a complete view of the trading of any sort of equity, whether it's in tokenized form or not, that they have a complete understanding of the risks and benefits of whatever they're trading. So, if it's a full equity versus a synthetic equity, making sure they understand those differences and the risks that they bring, and then also allowing for issuers to have a complete understanding of the trading of their stock.
Speaker #4: So we definitely have a real I think I would say a mandate to be the provider that focuses on bringing liquidity together. I mean, that's really our big core function of ours is to drive transparency, liquidity, and integrity across the markets that we operate.
Speaker #4: So we do actually care a lot about making sure that investors have a complete view of the trading of any sort of not, that they have a complete understanding of the equity, whether it's in tokenized form or risks and benefits of whatever they're trading.
Speaker #4: So if it's a fully full equity versus a synthetic equity, making sure they understand those differences and the risks that they bring. And then also allowing for issuers to have a complete understanding of the trading of their stock.
Adena Friedman: That is one of the core tenets, frankly, of the National Market System, and it's something that I think we, we feel, it's important to preserve. We have been... You know, we have obviously been engaging very closely with the SEC and with legislators to understand kind of the changes that they're trying to seek to open up the aperture to innovation with tokenized equities. And we did see some guidance from the SEC last night around that topic of tokenized equities, which we're pleased to have an understanding of the framework that we should be operating within, so that we can make sure that we're bringing the right experience to investors and maintaining that issuer choice as to how their stock trades and the transparency that they have.
Speaker #4: That is one of the core tenets, frankly, of the national market system. And it's something that I think we feel it's important to preserve.
That is one of the core tenets, frankly, of the National Market System, and it's something that I think we, we feel, it's important to preserve. We have been... You know, we have obviously been engaging very closely with the SEC and with legislators to understand kind of the changes that they're trying to seek to open up the aperture to innovation with tokenized equities. And we did see some guidance from the SEC last night around that topic of tokenized equities, which we're pleased to have an understanding of the framework that we should be operating within, so that we can make sure that we're bringing the right experience to investors and maintaining that issuer choice as to how their stock trades and the transparency that they have.
Speaker #4: We have been we have obviously been engaging very closely with the SEC and with legislators to understand kind of the changes that they're trying to seek to open up the aperture to innovation with tokenized equities.
Speaker #4: And we did see some guidance from come from the SEC last night around that topic of tokenized equities, which we're pleased to have an understanding of the framework that we should be operating within.
Speaker #4: So that we can make sure that we're bringing the right experience to investors in the and maintaining that issuer choice as to how their stock trades and the transparency that they have.
Speaker #4: So it's a very dynamic time, Owen, and it's something where we have a lot of engagement with our clients and in Washington to make sure we're creating sustainable, path forward for bringing tokenization to the equities markets.
Adena Friedman: So it's a very dynamic time, Owen, and it's something where we have a lot of engagement with our clients and in Washington to make sure we're creating sustainable path forward for bringing tokenization to the equities markets. In terms of blockchain-native, you know, that's a harder thing to do in the equity space. I just have to say, like, to have blockchain-native trading of equities at the scale we have, with the message traffic we have, with the determinism, the speed, the latency, is. I would have to say that's it, the technology's not there to be able to support the level of the level of trading that occurs in the equities markets.
So it's a very dynamic time, Owen, and it's something where we have a lot of engagement with our clients and in Washington to make sure we're creating sustainable path forward for bringing tokenization to the equities markets. In terms of blockchain-native, you know, that's a harder thing to do in the equity space. I just have to say, like, to have blockchain-native trading of equities at the scale we have, with the message traffic we have, with the determinism, the speed, the latency, is. I would have to say that's it, the technology's not there to be able to support the level of the level of trading that occurs in the equities markets.
Speaker #4: In terms of blockchain-native, that's a harder thing to do in the equity space. I just have to say, to have blockchain-native trading of equities at the scale we have with the message traffic we have, with the determinism, the speed, the latency, I would have to say that's a the technology is not there to be able to support the level of the kind of the level of trading that occurs in the equities markets.
Speaker #4: And the other thing we have to think about is capital efficiency, too, in making sure that there's a lot of netting that happens in the equities markets to make it so it's an affordable trading environment for the market participants.
Adena Friedman: And the other thing we have to think about is capital efficiency, too, in making sure that, you know, there's a lot of netting that happens in the equities markets to make it so it's an affordable trading environment for the market participants. So we have to think about how do you persist that efficiency as you're bringing tokenization into the markets as well.
And the other thing we have to think about is capital efficiency, too, in making sure that, you know, there's a lot of netting that happens in the equities markets to make it so it's an affordable trading environment for the market participants. So we have to think about how do you persist that efficiency as you're bringing tokenization into the markets as well.
Speaker #4: And so we have to think about how do you persist that efficiency as you're bringing tokenization into the markets as
Speaker #4: well.
Speaker #2: Thank
Speaker #2: you. And I share our last question in the queue comes from the line of Benjamin Buddish from Barclays. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. I show our last question in the queue comes from the line of Benjamin Budish from Barclays. Please go ahead.
Operator: Thank you. I show our last question in the queue comes from the line of Benjamin Budish from Barclays. Please go ahead.
Speaker #8: Hi, good morning, and thank you for taking the question. Maybe just to round out the discussion on tokenization, if you've talked about some of the benefits capital efficiencies, creating access to new products, round-the-clock trading, if you kind of look forward, say, like five years, and assume a lot of the market sort of migrates to tokenized trading, how do you think about the end benefits to NASDAQ?
[Analyst] (Barclays): Hi, good morning, and thank you for taking the question. Maybe just to round out the discussion on tokenization, if you... You know, you've, you've talked about some of the benefits, capital efficiencies, you know, creating access to new products, and, you know, round-the-clock trading. If you kind of look forward, say, like, five years and assume a lot of the market sort of migrates to tokenized trading, how do you think about the end benefits to Nasdaq? Do you think there could be, you know, a material uplift in trading activity because of these capital efficiencies or around-the-clock trading? Do you see, you know, internal cost saves? Or does it, you know, come down to the same...
Benjamin Budish: Hi, good morning, and thank you for taking the question. Maybe just to round out the discussion on tokenization, if you... You know, you've, you've talked about some of the benefits, capital efficiencies, you know, creating access to new products, and, you know, round-the-clock trading. If you kind of look forward, say, like, five years and assume a lot of the market sort of migrates to tokenized trading, how do you think about the end benefits to Nasdaq? Do you think there could be, you know, a material uplift in trading activity because of these capital efficiencies or around-the-clock trading? Do you see, you know, internal cost saves? Or does it, you know, come down to the same...
Speaker #8: Do you think there could be a material uplift in trading activity because of these capital efficiencies or round-the-clock trading? Do you see internal cost saves?
Speaker #8: Or does it come down to the same if everybody is trading on blockchains, does it come down to the same competitive factors, liquidity, depth of market, that kind of thing?
[Analyst] (Barclays): You know, if, if everybody is trading on blockchains, does it come down to the same competitive factors, you know, liquidity, depth of markets, that kind of thing? It'd be great to get your thoughts there. Thank you.
You know, if, if everybody is trading on blockchains, does it come down to the same competitive factors, you know, liquidity, depth of markets, that kind of thing? It'd be great to get your thoughts there. Thank you.
Speaker #8: It would be great to get your thoughts
Speaker #8: there. Thank you. Yeah.
Speaker #4: I mean, I think that if we think about the evolution of markets and bringing new technologies to markets, anything you can do to drive more capital efficiency opens up the ability for more people to participate.
Adena Friedman: Yeah, I mean, I think that if we think about the evolution of markets and bringing new technologies to markets, anything you can do to drive more capital efficiency opens up the ability for more people to participate. Now, how you bring capital efficiency into tokenized equities is a really, really important question that I don't think we have a perfect answer to at this point. But I do think that that's important. The one area that we're focused on is, with capital efficiency, is collateral movement. You know, there's a lot of collateral that's kind of trapped inside of clearinghouses and clearing brokers because of the fact that it's there's friction to kind of converting that into something that can move and move across. And in fact, you know, the...
Adena Friedman: Yeah, I mean, I think that if we think about the evolution of markets and bringing new technologies to markets, anything you can do to drive more capital efficiency opens up the ability for more people to participate. Now, how you bring capital efficiency into tokenized equities is a really, really important question that I don't think we have a perfect answer to at this point. But I do think that that's important. The one area that we're focused on is, with capital efficiency, is collateral movement. You know, there's a lot of collateral that's kind of trapped inside of clearinghouses and clearing brokers because of the fact that it's there's friction to kind of converting that into something that can move and move across. And in fact, you know, the...
Speaker #4: capital efficiency into tokenized equities Now, how you bring is a really, really important question that I don't think we have a perfect answer to at this point.
Speaker #4: But I do think that that's important. The one area that we're focused on is with capital efficiency is collateral movement. There's a lot of collateral that's kind of trapped inside of clearing houses and clearing brokers.
Speaker #4: Because of the fact that there's friction to kind of converting that into something that can move and move across. And in fact, one of the conversations I've been having—we've been having—with some of the critical infrastructure providers is, how do they manage the netting and the capital obligations and margining in these new, cross, newer market hours?
Adena Friedman: One of the conversations I've been having, we've been having with some of the critical infrastructure providers, is how do they manage the, you know, the netting, the capital obligations, and margining in these new, you know, across newer market hours because the traditional payment rails are not designed for 24/5. So leveraging the tokenization and digital assets, digital capital, to allow for collateral to move more efficiently, we see as a real opportunity. And in 5 years, if that's something where money is just moving consistently across the world, in a tokenized form that allows for more capital efficiency, we see that as opening the aperture. The other thing about 24/5 trading is just, you know, does it increase the addressable market? It's hard to know, right?
One of the conversations I've been having, we've been having with some of the critical infrastructure providers, is how do they manage the, you know, the netting, the capital obligations, and margining in these new, you know, across newer market hours because the traditional payment rails are not designed for 24/5. So leveraging the tokenization and digital assets, digital capital, to allow for collateral to move more efficiently, we see as a real opportunity. And in 5 years, if that's something where money is just moving consistently across the world, in a tokenized form that allows for more capital efficiency, we see that as opening the aperture. The other thing about 24/5 trading is just, you know, does it increase the addressable market? It's hard to know, right?
Speaker #4: Because the traditional payment rails are not designed for 24/5. So leveraging the tokenization and digital assets, digital capital to allow for collateral to move more efficiently, we see as a real opportunity.
Speaker #4: And in five years, if that's something where money is just moving consistently across the world in a tokenized form that allows for more capital efficiency, we see that as opening the aperture.
Speaker #4: The other thing about 24/5 trading is, just, does it increase the addressable market? It's hard to know, right? We've seen a small amount of trading occurring when our systems are not open today.
Adena Friedman: We've seen, you know, a small amount of trading occurring when our systems are not open today, but that we are making a long-term bet that we can open the aperture and increase the addressable market in terms of investors who have access to our markets during their waking hours. And then, of course, it also means that we have an opportunity to provide more services, fintech services to our clients, whether that's surveillance, trade operation, or trade infrastructure, regulatory reporting, things where, as institutional engagement grows and expands around the world, we hope to be a partner to them across our fintech solutions as well.
We've seen, you know, a small amount of trading occurring when our systems are not open today, but that we are making a long-term bet that we can open the aperture and increase the addressable market in terms of investors who have access to our markets during their waking hours. And then, of course, it also means that we have an opportunity to provide more services, fintech services to our clients, whether that's surveillance, trade operation, or trade infrastructure, regulatory reporting, things where, as institutional engagement grows and expands around the world, we hope to be a partner to them across our fintech solutions as well.
Speaker #4: But we are making a long-term bet that we can open the aperture and increase the addressable market in terms of investors who have access to our markets during their waking hours.
Speaker #4: And then, of course, it also means that we have an opportunity to provide more services, fintech services to our clients, whether that's surveillance, trade operation, or trade infrastructure, regulatory reporting, things where, as institutional engagement grows and expands, around the world, we hope to be a partner to them across our fintech solutions as
Speaker #4: And then, of course, it also means that we have an opportunity to provide more services, fintech services to our clients, whether that's surveillance, trade operation, or trade infrastructure, regulatory reporting, things where, as institutional engagement grows and expands, around the world, we hope to be a partner to them across our fintech solutions as well.
Speaker #2: Thank you. This concludes our Q&A session. At this time, I would like to turn the conference back to Adina Friedman, President and CEO for
Speaker #2: Thank you. This concludes our Q&A session. At this time, I would like to turn the conference back to Adina Friedman, President and CEO for Closing Remarks.
Operator: Thank you. This concludes our Q&A session. At this time, I would like to turn the conference back to Adena Friedman, President and CEO, for closing remarks.
Operator: Thank you. This concludes our Q&A session. At this time, I would like to turn the conference back to Adena Friedman, President and CEO, for closing remarks.
Speaker #4: All right. Well, before we close, I want to remind everyone that we have a scheduled we have scheduled our 2026 Investor Day for Wednesday, February 25.
Adena Friedman: All right. Well, before we close, I want to remind everyone that we have scheduled our 2026 Investor Day for Wednesday, 25 February 2026. We hope to see you all there, either in person or virtually, and we look forward to sharing our vision with you. Thank you all for joining, and have a great day. Thank you.
Adena Friedman: All right. Well, before we close, I want to remind everyone that we have scheduled our 2026 Investor Day for Wednesday, 25 February 2026. We hope to see you all there, either in person or virtually, and we look forward to sharing our vision with you. Thank you all for joining, and have a great day. Thank you.
Speaker #4: We hope to see you all there, either in person or virtually. And we look forward to sharing our vision with you. Thank you all for joining, and have a great day.
Speaker #4: Thank
Speaker #4: you. Thank you.
Operator: Thank you. This concludes today's conference call. Thank you for participating. You may now disconnect.
Operator: Thank you. This concludes today's conference call. Thank you for participating. You may now disconnect. Goodbye.
Speaker #2: This concludes today's conference call. Thank you for participating. You may now
