Intercontinental Exchange Reports Record First Quarter 2018 Revenues of $1.2 billion, +5% y/y and GAAP Diluted EPS of $0.79; Record Adjusted Diluted EPS of $0.90, +22% y/y

  • Operating margin of 53%, +3 pts y/y; adj. operating margin of 60%, +3 pts y/y
  • Through April 30, 2018, $539 million returned to stockholders, +28% y/y

ATLANTA & NEW YORK--()--Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE), a leading operator of global exchanges and clearing houses and provider of data and listing services, today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2018. For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, consolidated net income attributable to ICE was $464 million on $1.2 billion of consolidated revenues less transaction-based expenses. First quarter GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $0.79. Adjusted net income was $525 million in the first quarter and adjusted diluted EPS were a record $0.90, up 22% year-over-year. Please refer to the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release for more information on our adjusted operating expenses, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS.

“We are pleased to report on our first quarter performance, delivering strong results across our trading and clearing and our data and listings segments including record revenues," said ICE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey C. Sprecher. "We completed our strategic acquisition of BondPoint while also generating solid organic growth, as customers' demand of our comprehensive suite of multi-asset class workflow and risk management solutions continues to increase."

Scott A. Hill, ICE CFO, added: "Our first quarter performance produced revenue growth, margin expansion and strong cash flow allowing us to return nearly $540 million to stockholders through April, up 28% compared to the prior year. 2018 is off to a promising start and we are well positioned to build on our proven track record of growth, customer service and value creation for our stockholders."

First Quarter 2018 GAAP Results

First quarter 2018 consolidated revenues, less transaction-based expenses, were $1.2 billion. Trading and clearing segment revenues, less transaction-based expenses, were $596 million in the first quarter 2018, up 11% compared to the prior first quarter. Data and listings segment revenues were $629 million in the first quarter of 2018, including data services revenues of $520 million, and listings revenues of $109 million.

Consolidated operating expenses were $575 million for the first quarter of 2018. On an adjusted basis, consolidated operating expenses were $494 million. Consolidated operating income for the first quarter was $650 million and the operating margin was 53%. The effective tax rate for the first quarter was 23%.

Unrestricted cash was $523 million and outstanding debt was $6.9 billion as of March 31, 2018.

Financial Guidance

  • ICE's second quarter 2018 GAAP operating expenses are expected to be in a range of $570 million to $580 million and adjusted operating expenses(1) are expected to be in a range of $500 million to $510 million.
  • ICE's full year 2018 GAAP operating expenses are expected to be in a range of $2.28 billion to $2.32 billion and adjusted operating expenses(1) are expected to be in a range of $2.00 billion to $2.04 billion.
  • ICE's interest expense is expected to be $55 million in the second quarter.
  • ICE's diluted share count for the second quarter is expected to be in the range of 581 million to 583 million weighted average shares outstanding and 580 million to 585 million for the full year.

(1) The 2018 Non-GAAP adjusted operating expense excludes $69 million in amortization of acquisition-related intangibles for the second quarter of 2018 and $274 million for the full year. The GAAP operating expense forecast does not reflect an estimate of acquisition-related transaction and integration costs for the second quarter of 2018.

Earnings Conference Call Information

ICE will hold a conference call today, May 3, at 8:30 a.m. ET to review its first quarter 2018 financial results. A live audio webcast of the earnings call will be available on the company's website at www.theice.com in the investor relations section. Participants may also listen via telephone by dialing 888-317-6003 from the United States, 866-284-3684 from Canada or 412-317-6061 from outside of the United States and Canada. Telephone participants are required to provide the participant entry number 5645515 and are recommended to call 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. The call will be archived on the company's website for replay.

The conference call for the second quarter 2018 earnings has been scheduled for August 2, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Please refer to the Investor Relations website at www.ir.theice.com for additional information.

Historical futures, options and cash ADV, rate per contract, open interest data and CDS cleared information can be found at: http://ir.theice.com/investors-and-media/supplemental-volume-info/default.aspx

   

Consolidated Statements of Income

(In millions, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Revenues: 2018   2017
Transaction and clearing, net $ 898 $ 798
Data services 520 520
Listings 109 108
Other revenues 53   45  
Total revenues 1,580 1,471
Transaction-based expenses:
Section 31 fees 121 91
Cash liquidity payments, routing and clearing 234   214  
Total revenues, less transaction-based expenses 1,225   1,166  
Operating expenses:
Compensation and benefits 240 247
Professional services 30 32
Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs 12 14
Technology and communication 105 98
Rent and occupancy 17 18
Selling, general and administrative 33 41
Depreciation and amortization 138   134  
Total operating expenses 575   584  
Operating income 650   582  
Other income (expense):
Interest expense (52 ) (45 )
Other income, net 19   188  
Other income (expense), net (33 ) 143  
Income before income tax expense 617 725
Income tax expense 143   214  
Net income $ 474   $ 511  
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest (10 ) (8 )
Net income attributable to Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. $ 464   $ 503  
 
Earnings per share attributable to Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. common stockholders:
Basic $ 0.80   $ 0.85  
Diluted $ 0.79   $ 0.84  
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic 582   594  
Diluted 586   599  
Dividend per share $ 0.24   $ 0.20  

   

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

 
As of As of
March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
Assets:
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 523 $ 535
Short-term restricted cash and cash equivalents 804 769
Customer accounts receivable, net 1,167 903
Margin deposits, guaranty funds, and delivery contracts receivable 53,979 51,222
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 161   133  
Total current assets 56,634   53,562  
Property and equipment, net 1,235   1,246  
Other non-current assets:
Goodwill 12,514 12,216
Other intangible assets, net 10,326 10,269
Long-term restricted cash and cash equivalents 331 264
Other non-current assets 1,022   707  
Total other non-current assets 24,193   23,456  
Total assets $ 82,062   $ 78,264  
 
Liabilities and Equity:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 476 $ 462
Section 31 fees payable 120 128
Accrued salaries and benefits 104 227
Deferred revenue 468 125
Short-term debt 2,623 1,833
Margin deposits, guaranty funds, and delivery contracts payable 53,979 51,222
Other current liabilities 176   178  
Total current liabilities 57,946   54,175  
Non-current liabilities:
Non-current deferred tax liability, net 2,292 2,298
Long-term debt 4,269 4,267
Accrued employee benefits 240 243
Other non-current liabilities 309   296  
Total non-current liabilities 7,110   7,104  
Total liabilities 65,056   61,279  
Equity:
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. stockholders’ equity:
Common stock 6 6
Treasury stock, at cost (1,448 ) (1,076 )
Additional paid-in capital 11,428 11,392
Retained earnings 7,182 6,858
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (190 ) (223 )
Total Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. stockholders’ equity 16,978 16,957
Non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries 28   28  
Total equity 17,006   16,985  
Total liabilities and equity $ 82,062   $ 78,264  

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Reconciliation

We use non-GAAP measures internally to evaluate our performance and in making financial and operational decisions. When viewed in conjunction with our GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliation, we believe that our presentation of these measures provides investors with greater transparency and a greater understanding of factors affecting our financial condition and results of operations than GAAP measures alone. In addition, we believe the presentation of these measures is useful to investors for period-to-period comparison of results because the items described below as adjustments to GAAP are not reflective of our core business performance. These financial measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP financial measures and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. We use these adjusted results because we believe they more clearly highlight trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on GAAP financial measures, since these measures eliminate from our results specific financial items that have less bearing on our core operating performance. We strongly recommend that investors review the GAAP financial measures and additional non-GAAP information included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto.

Adjusted operating expenses, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net income attributable to ICE common stockholders and adjusted diluted earnings per share for the periods presented below are calculated by adding or subtracting the adjustments described below, which are not reflective of our cash operations and core business performance, and their related income tax effect and other tax adjustments (in millions, except for per share amounts):

     

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2018

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2017

Total Revenues, less transaction- based expenses $ 1,225   $ 1,166  
Operating Expenses 575 584
Less: Interactive Data transaction and integration costs 12 12
Less: Accruals relating to investigations and inquiries 10
Less: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles 69   65  
Adjusted operating expenses $ 494   $ 497  
Operating income $ 650   $ 582  
Adjusted operating income $ 731   $ 669  
Operating margin 53 % 50 %
Adjusted operating margin 60 % 57 %
   

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2018

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2017

Net income attributable to ICE $ 464 $ 503
Add: Interactive Data transaction and integration costs 12 12
Add: Adjustment to reduce net gain on Trayport divestiture 1
Add: Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles 69 65
Add: Accruals relating to investigations and inquiries 10
Less: Cetip investment gain (176 )
Add / (Less): Income tax effect for the above items (21 ) 28  
Adjusted net income attributable to ICE $ 525   $ 442  
 
Diluted earnings per share attributable to ICE $ 0.79   $ 0.84  
 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share attributable to ICE $ 0.90   $ 0.74  

About Intercontinental Exchange

Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE) is a Fortune 500 and Fortune Future 50 company formed in the year 2000 to modernize markets. ICE serves customers by operating the exchanges, clearing houses and information services they rely upon to invest, trade and manage risk across global financial and commodity markets. A leader in market data, ICE Data Services serves the information and connectivity needs across virtually all asset classes. As the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, the company raises more capital than any other exchange in the world, driving economic growth and transforming markets.

Trademarks of ICE and/or its affiliates include Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, ICE block design, NYSE and New York Stock Exchange. Information regarding additional trademarks and intellectual property rights of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and/or its affiliates is located at http://www.intercontinentalexchange.com/terms-of-use. Key Information Documents for certain products covered by the EU Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulation can be accessed on the relevant exchange website under the heading “Key Information Documents (KIDS).”

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 - Statements in this press release regarding ICE's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see ICE's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as filed with the SEC on February 7, 2018. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of an unanticipated event. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all factors that may affect our business and prospects. Further, management cannot assess the impact of each factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Intercontinental Exchange

ICE-CORP

Contacts

ICE Investor Relations Contact:
Warren Gardiner
+1 770 835 0114
warren.gardiner@theice.com
investors@theice.com
or
ICE Media Contact:
Damon Leavell
+1 212 323 8587
damon.leavell@theice.com
media@theice.com

Contacts

ICE Investor Relations Contact:
Warren Gardiner
+1 770 835 0114
warren.gardiner@theice.com
investors@theice.com
or
ICE Media Contact:
Damon Leavell
+1 212 323 8587
damon.leavell@theice.com
media@theice.com