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Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE)
NYSE:ICE

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) AI Stock Analysis

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ICIntercontinental Exchange
(NYSE:ICE)
77Outperform
Intercontinental Exchange has a strong overall performance with robust financials and positive earnings call sentiment. Technical indicators suggest potential overbought conditions, and the high valuation reflects growth prospects but may temper short-term gains. The company's strategic initiatives and successful integration of acquisitions underscore its potential for continued growth.
Positive Factors
Acquisitions
ICE's recent acquisition of Black Knight contributes to the defensiveness of the stock and provides a solid recurring revenue foundation.
Earnings
There is a positive revision in the earnings per share for Intercontinental Exchange Inc.
Negative Factors
Mortgage Market
High mortgage rates and rising housing prices have slowed the mortgage market to the lowest levels seen over the last several decades.

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Intercontinental Exchange Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionFounded in 2000, Georgia-based Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. engages in the management of online marketplaces. It operates regulated exchanges, clearing houses, and listings venues for commodity, financial, fixed income, and equity markets in the United States, the United Kingdom, European Union, Singapore, Israel, and Canada. It operates in two segments, Trading and Clearing; and Data and Listings.
How the Company Makes MoneyIntercontinental Exchange generates revenue through several key streams: transaction and clearing fees from its trading platforms, data services subscriptions, and listing fees. Transaction fees are earned each time a trade is executed on its exchanges, while clearing fees are collected for processing and settling trades. ICE Data Services provides critical market data and analytics to financial institutions, which is monetized through subscription-based models. Additionally, ICE earns revenue from companies that pay to list their securities on its stock exchanges. Strategic partnerships and acquisitions further bolster ICE's offerings and market presence, enhancing its ability to generate income across its diversified business segments.

Intercontinental Exchange Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Intercontinental Exchange exhibits strong financial performance with solid revenue and profit growth. The income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow scores reflect efficient cost management and financial stability. Despite some leverage concerns and margin pressure, overall financial health is robust.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Intercontinental Exchange has demonstrated strong revenue and profit growth over recent years. The gross profit margin has improved significantly, indicating efficient cost management. The net profit margin and EBIT margin are robust, showcasing profitability. A notable highlight is the consistent revenue growth rate, with the most recent year showing a substantial increase. However, the slight dip in EBITDA margin suggests some pressure on operating efficiencies.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The balance sheet reflects a stable equity position with a healthy return on equity, indicating effective use of shareholder funds. The equity ratio remains strong, suggesting a good balance between equity and total assets. However, the debt-to-equity ratio is relatively high, implying potential leverage risks, although this is common in the capital markets industry. Overall, the balance sheet indicates financial stability with moderate leverage concerns.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
Cash flow analysis reveals strong operating cash flow, exceeding net income consistently, which is a positive indicator of cash generation efficiency. Free cash flow growth is impressive, supporting potential reinvestment and shareholder returns. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is healthy, although the free cash flow to net income ratio shows some variability, which could signal fluctuations in capital expenditures.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
11.76B9.90B9.64B9.17B8.24B
Gross Profit
6.52B5.66B5.20B5.02B4.30B
EBIT
4.31B3.69B2.52B6.22B3.03B
EBITDA
6.08B4.90B4.80B5.82B3.87B
Net Income Common Stockholders
2.75B2.37B1.45B4.06B2.09B
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
1.37B2.11B1.80B607.00M583.00M
Total Assets
139.43B136.08B194.34B193.50B126.20B
Total Debt
20.70B22.91B18.38B14.17B16.86B
Net Debt
19.86B22.01B16.58B13.56B16.27B
Total Liabilities
111.71B110.30B171.58B170.75B106.57B
Stockholders Equity
27.72B25.72B22.71B22.71B19.50B
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
4.20B3.05B3.07B2.67B2.47B
Operating Cash Flow
4.61B3.54B3.55B3.12B2.88B
Investing Cash Flow
-921.00M-8.80B677.00M-786.00M-9.83B
Financing Cash Flow
79.00M-64.34B-1.84B62.03B6.74B

Intercontinental Exchange Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price171.61
Price Trends
50DMA
158.46
Positive
100DMA
158.70
Positive
200DMA
153.48
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
3.60
Positive
RSI
65.55
Neutral
STOCH
58.99
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ICE, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 171.61 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 168.44, above the 50-day MA of 158.46, and above the 200-day MA of 153.48, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 3.60 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 65.55 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 58.99 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for ICE.

Intercontinental Exchange Risk Analysis

Intercontinental Exchange disclosed 38 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Intercontinental Exchange reported the most risks in the “Finance & Corporate” category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Intercontinental Exchange Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (64)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
CMCME
82
Outperform
$90.80B26.0513.31%4.05%9.88%9.18%
79
Outperform
$22.13B29.3017.87%1.14%8.51%1.13%
ICICE
77
Outperform
$97.59B35.529.94%1.04%15.32%14.02%
75
Outperform
$47.14B42.509.98%1.19%21.96%-8.37%
73
Outperform
$7.46B27.1919.74%1.53%9.06%6.10%
64
Neutral
$14.34B10.619.28%4.07%18.04%-9.54%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ICE
Intercontinental Exchange
171.61
33.88
24.60%
CBOE
Cboe Global Markets
212.37
27.01
14.57%
CME
CME Group
254.48
44.58
21.24%
MKTX
Marketaxess Holdings
195.85
-9.17
-4.47%
NDAQ
Nasdaq
78.80
21.72
38.05%

Intercontinental Exchange Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date: Feb 6, 2025 | % Change Since: 6.79% | Next Earnings Date: May 1, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call reflects a strong performance with record earnings and revenue growth, significant achievements in the energy and interest rate segments, and successful integration of acquisitions. However, there are some challenges in the mortgage technology and fixed income segments, with certain headwinds affecting specific areas.
Highlights
Record Earnings and Revenue
Full year adjusted earnings per share totaled $6.07, an increase of 8% year-over-year. Net revenues totaled a record $9.3 billion, up 6% on a pro forma basis for the Black Knight acquisition.
Energy Markets Growth
Global Energy business revenues grew 38% year-over-year, driven by a 31% increase in natural gas and environmental products for the full year.
Interest Rate Business Strength
Interest Rates segment saw record revenues, with a 38% year-over-year growth in the fourth quarter and 30% growth for the year.
Successful Black Knight Integration
Achieved $175 million in run rate expense synergies post-acquisition of Black Knight, raising the synergy target to $230 million by 2025.
Free Cash Flow and Shareholder Returns
Generated $3.6 billion in free cash flow, returned $1 billion to shareholders through dividends, and reduced leverage to under 3.3 times EBITDA.
Lowlights
Mortgage Technology Challenges
Fourth quarter recurring revenues in Mortgage Technology were down year-over-year. Some headwinds expected from renewals on Encompass, particularly from 2020 and 2021 vintages.
Exchange Data Services Decline
Sequential decline in Exchange Data Services due to a one-time full year true up to tape revenues at the NYSE, with expected rebound in the first quarter of 2025.
Fixed Income and Data Services Headwinds
Lower tax loss harvesting activity in the municipal bonds business and lower levels of member interest due to two Fed cuts in late 2024.
Company Guidance
During the ICE Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Conference Call, the company provided extensive guidance and performance metrics for the fiscal year 2024 and expectations for 2025. ICE reported a record full-year adjusted earnings per share of $6.07, marking an 8% increase year-over-year, with net revenues reaching $9.3 billion, up 6% pro forma for the Black Knight acquisition. The company achieved $175 million in run-rate expense synergies from the acquisition, raising the synergy target to $230 million. ICE's full-year free cash flow was $3.6 billion, with $1 billion returned to shareholders and leverage reduced to under 3.3 times EBITDA. They plan to repurchase shares in the first quarter of 2025. Fourth-quarter adjusted earnings per share were $1.52, representing a 14% year-over-year increase, with net revenues at $2.3 billion. The Exchange segment saw a 9% increase in net revenues, driven by a 13% rise in transaction revenues. For 2025, ICE anticipates mid-single-digit growth in Fixed Income and Data Services recurring revenues, while Mortgage Technology revenues are expected to grow in the low-to-mid single-digit range. Full-year 2025 adjusted operating expenses are projected between $3,915 million and $3,965 million, with a tax rate of 24% to 26% and capital expenditures of $730 million to $780 million. ICE continues to focus on leveraging its data, technology, and customer-driven innovation across its multifaceted business model to drive future growth and shareholder value.
Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.