CME Group Inc. Reports Second-Quarter 2018 Financial Results

CHICAGO, July 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CME) today reported revenue of $1.06 billion and operating income of $667 million for the second quarter of 2018. Net income was $566 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.66. On an adjusted basis, net income was $591 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.74. Financial results presented on an adjusted basis for the second quarters of 2018 and 2017 exclude certain items, which are detailed in the reconciliation of non-GAAP results.(1)

"With double-digit growth in five of our six asset classes, Q2 2018 was our second best quarter ever in average daily volume, following record performance in the first quarter of 2018," said CME Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Terry Duffy. "We continued to see strong global growth as our trading volume increased 30 percent in Asia and 9 percent in Europe. Total revenue grew 15 percent and, along with our continued focus on expense discipline, resulted in margin expansion and an adjusted earnings per share increase of more than 40 percent."

1. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial results mentioned to the respective GAAP figures can be found within the Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Measures chart at the end of the financial statements and earnings presentation materials.

Second-quarter 2018 average daily volume was 18.4 million contracts, up 12 percent compared with second-quarter 2017. Clearing and transaction fee revenue was $906 million, up 14 percent compared with second-quarter 2017. Second-quarter 2018 total average rate per contract was $0.757, compared with $0.706 in first-quarter 2018, driven primarily by an increase in the proportion of the business from higher priced commodity products. Market data revenue was $114 million, up 18 percent compared with the second quarter last year.

As of June 30, 2018, the company had $1.2 billion of cash and marketable securities, excluding $1.6 billion held in escrow related to the potential NEX Group plc acquisition, and $3.4 billion of long-term debt. The company paid dividends during the second quarter of $237.6 million. The company has returned more than $10.1 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends since implementing the variable dividend policy in early 2012.

CME Group will hold a Q&A conference call to discuss second-quarter 2018 results at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time today. A live audio Webcast of the Q&A call will be available on the Investor Relations section of CME Group's Web site at www.cmegroup.com. An archived recording will be available for up to two months after the call.

As the world's leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) is where the world comes to manage risk. CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes, including futures and options based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural products and metals. Around the world, CME Group brings buyers and sellers together through its CME Globex® electronic trading platform. CME Group also operates one of the world's leading central counterparty clearing providers through CME Clearing, which offers clearing and settlement services across asset classes for exchange-traded and over-the-counter derivatives. CME Group products and services ensure that businesses around the world can effectively manage risk and achieve growth.

CME Group, the Globe logo, CME, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Globex and E-mini are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. CBOT, Chicago Board of Trade, are trademarks of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange and ClearPort are trademarks of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. COMEX is a trademark of Commodity Exchange, Inc. Dow Jones, Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and S&P are service and/or trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC, Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and S&P/Dow Jones Indices LLC, as the case may be, and have been licensed for use by Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. We want to caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the factors that might affect our performance are increasing competition by foreign and domestic entities, including increased competition from new entrants into our markets and consolidation of existing entities; our ability to keep pace with rapid technological developments, including our ability to complete the development, implementation and maintenance of the enhanced functionality required by our customers while maintaining reliability and ensuring that such technology is not vulnerable to security risks; our ability to continue introducing competitive new products and services on a timely, cost-effective basis, including through our electronic trading capabilities, and our ability to maintain the competitiveness of our existing products and services, including our ability to provide effective services to the swaps market; our ability to adjust our fixed costs and expenses if our revenues decline; our ability to maintain existing customers, develop strategic relationships and attract new customers; our ability to expand and offer our products outside the United States; changes in regulations, including the impact of any changes in laws or government policy with respect to our industry, such as any changes to regulations and policies that require increased financial and operational resources from us or our customers; the costs associated with protecting our intellectual property rights and our ability to operate our business without violating the intellectual property rights of others; decreases in revenue from our market data as a result of decreased demand; changes in our rate per contract due to shifts in the mix of the products traded, the trading venue and the mix of customers (whether the customer receives member or non-member fees or participates in one of our various incentive programs) and the impact of our tiered pricing structure; the ability of our financial safeguards package to adequately protect us from the credit risks of clearing members; the ability of our compliance and risk management methods to effectively monitor and manage our risks, including our ability to prevent errors and misconduct and protect our infrastructure against security breaches and misappropriation of our intellectual property assets; changes in price levels and volatility in the derivatives markets and in underlying equity, foreign exchange, interest rate and commodities markets; economic, political and market conditions, including the volatility of the capital and credit markets and the impact of economic conditions on the trading activity of our current and potential customers; our ability to accommodate increases in contract volume and order transaction traffic and to implement enhancements without failure or degradation of the performance of our trading and clearing systems; our ability to execute our growth strategy and maintain our growth effectively; our ability to manage the risks and control the costs associated with our strategy for acquisitions, investments and alliances; our ability to continue to generate funds and/or manage our indebtedness to allow us to continue to invest in our business; industry and customer consolidation; decreases in trading and clearing activity; the imposition of a transaction tax or user fee on futures and options on futures transactions and/or repeal of the 60/40 tax treatment of such transactions; our failure to maintain our brand's reputation; the unfavorable resolution of material legal proceedings and the uncertainties of the ultimate impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. For a detailed discussion of these and other factors that might affect our performance, see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent periodic reports filed on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.

                              CME Group Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                       (in millions)


                                            June 30, 2018               December 31,
                                                                           2017
                                            -------------             -------------

    ASSETS

    Current Assets:

    Cash and cash equivalents                                $1,098.9                    $1,903.6

    Marketable securities                            80.9                          90.1

    Accounts receivable, net
     of allowance                                   433.9                         359.7

    Other current assets
     (includes $1,635.5 and
     $0 in restricted cash)                       1,801.6                         367.8

    Performance bonds and
     guaranty fund
     contributions                               36,885.2                      44,185.3
                                                 --------                      --------

    Total current assets                         40,300.5                      46,906.5

    Property, net of
     accumulated depreciation
     and amortization                               380.0                         399.7

    Intangible assets-
     trading products                            17,175.3                      17,175.3

    Intangible assets-other,
     net                                          2,299.0                       2,346.3

    Goodwill                                      7,569.0                       7,569.0

    Other assets (includes
     $1.4 and $2.4 in
     restricted cash)                             1,475.5                       1,394.4
                                                  -------                       -------

    Total Assets                                            $69,199.3                   $75,791.2
                                                            =========                   =========

    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

    Current Liabilities:

    Accounts payable                                            $27.8                       $31.3

    Other current liabilities                       266.6                       1,456.3

    Performance bonds and
     guaranty fund
     contributions                               36,885.2                      44,185.3
                                                 --------                      --------

    Total current liabilities                    37,179.6                      45,672.9

    Long-term debt                                3,419.0                       2,233.1

    Deferred income tax
     liabilities, net                             4,863.1                       4,857.7

    Other liabilities                               614.0                         615.7
                                                    -----                         -----

    Total Liabilities                            46,075.7                      53,379.4
                                                 --------

    Shareholders' equity                         23,123.6                      22,411.8
                                                 --------

    Total Liabilities and
     Equity                                                 $69,199.3                   $75,791.2
                                                            =========                   =========

                                                             CME Group Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                                            Consolidated Statements of Income
                                           (dollars in millions, except per share amounts; shares in thousands)


                                             Quarter Ended                                    Six Months Ended
                                               June 30,                                           June 30,

                                         2018                   2017                    2018                   2017
                                         ----                   ----                    ----                   ----

    Revenues

    Clearing and transaction fees                $906.1                                        $792.0                $1,879.7  $1,584.0

    Market data and information
     services                           113.8                             96.1                               208.7       192.9

    Access and communication fees        26.2                             24.9                                52.2        49.2

    Other                                13.5                             11.6                                28.0        27.8
                                         ----                             ----                                ----        ----

    Total Revenues                    1,059.6                            924.6                             2,168.6     1,853.9

    Expenses

    Compensation and benefits           150.8                            139.7                               303.5       282.3

    Communications                        5.9                              6.0                                11.8        12.3

    Technology support services          19.3                             18.2                                38.9        36.9

    Professional fees and outside
     services                            31.9                             28.6                                74.5        57.2

    Amortization of purchased
     intangibles                         23.6                             24.0                                47.3        48.0

    Depreciation and amortization        27.5                             28.8                                55.6        58.2

    Occupancy and building operations    20.2                             19.2                                40.2        39.3

    Licensing and other fee
     agreements                          39.9                             32.9                                89.4        66.7

    Other                                73.6                             22.0                                99.6        46.9
                                         ----                             ----                                ----        ----

    Total Expenses                      392.7                            319.4                               760.8       647.8
                                        -----                            -----                               -----       -----

    Operating Income                    666.9                            605.2                             1,407.8     1,206.1

    Non-Operating Income (Expense)

    Investment income                   241.9                            112.4                               398.3       251.3

    Interest and other borrowing
     costs                             (33.1)                          (29.0)                             (63.2)     (58.8)

    Equity in net earnings of
     unconsolidated subsidiaries         36.4                             31.8                                76.5        62.6

    Other non-operating income
     (expense)                        (155.3)                          (83.1)                            (273.9)    (116.9)
                                       ------                            -----                              ------      ------

    Total Non-Operating Income
     (Expense)                           89.9                             32.1                               137.7       138.2
                                         ----                             ----                               -----       -----

    Income before Income Taxes          756.8                            637.3                             1,545.5     1,344.3

    Income tax provision                190.7                            221.5                               380.6       528.7
                                        -----                            -----                               -----       -----

    Net Income                                   $566.1                                        $415.8                $1,164.9    $815.6
                                                 ======                                        ======                ========    ======

    Earnings per Common Share:

    Basic                                         $1.67                                         $1.23                   $3.43     $2.41

    Diluted                              1.66                             1.22                                3.42        2.40

    Weighted Average Number of Common
     Shares:

    Basic                             339,465                          338,556                             339,386     338,448

    Diluted                           340,872                          340,020                             340,838     339,974

                                                                  CME Group Inc. and Subsidiaries
                                                                   Quarterly Operating Statistics


                           2Q 2017         3Q 2017          4Q 2017              1Q 2018          2Q 2018
                           -------         -------          -------              -------          -------

    Trading Days                 63                    63                               63                     61     64



                                                      Quarterly Average Daily Volume (ADV)
                                                          CME Group ADV (in thousands)


    Product Line           2Q 2017         3Q 2017          4Q 2017              1Q 2018          2Q 2018
                           -------         -------          -------              -------          -------

    Interest rate             8,210                 7,424                            7,970                 11,948  9,200

    Equity                    2,707                 2,624                            2,632                  4,096  3,086

    Foreign exchange            879                   971                              941                  1,100  1,035

    Energy                    2,632                 2,693                            2,489                  2,754  2,630

    Agricultural commodity    1,491                 1,381                            1,278                  1,593  1,734

    Metal                       533                   611                              616                    713    674
                                ---                   ---                              ---                    ---    ---

    Total                    16,453                15,704                           15,925                 22,204 18,359

    Venue
    -----

    Electronic               14,582                14,264                           14,265                 19,796 16,644

    Open outcry               1,115                   889                            1,066                  1,556  1,066

    Privately negotiated        756                   551                              594                    851    649
                                ---                   ---                              ---                    ---    ---

    Total                    16,453                15,704                           15,925                 22,204 18,359


                                                        Average Rate Per Contract (RPC)
                                                                 CME Group RPC


    Product Line           2Q 2017         3Q 2017          4Q 2017              1Q 2018          2Q 2018
                           -------         -------          -------              -------          -------

    Interest rate                   $0.491                               $0.485                           $0.467         $0.464 $0.491

    Equity                    0.731                 0.738                            0.768                  0.781  0.797

    Foreign exchange          0.807                 0.796                            0.785                  0.762  0.741

    Energy                    1.096                 1.072                            1.133                  1.140  1.142

    Agricultural commodity    1.300                 1.251                            1.251                  1.246  1.274

    Metal                     1.449                 1.376                            1.315                  1.367  1.403
                              -----                 -----                            -----                  -----  -----

    Average RPC                     $0.749                               $0.749                           $0.736         $0.706 $0.757

                                                                  CME Group Inc. and Subsidiaries

                                                            Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Measures

                                                (dollars in millions, except per share amounts; shares in thousands)


                                              Quarter Ended                                   Six Months Ended
                                                June 30,                                          June 30,

                                          2018                   2017                    2018                   2017
                                          ----                   ----                    ----                   ----

    Net Income                                    $566.1                                        $415.8               $1,164.9  $815.6


    Restructuring and severance            0.3                              2.1                                 1.7        3.9


    Amortization of purchased
     intangibles                          23.6                             24.0                                47.3       48.0


    Litigation matters                     1.4                                -                               10.3          -


    Acquisition-related costs(1)           4.8                                -                               14.3          -


    Foreign exchange transaction
     (gains) losses(2)                    47.3                            (4.6)                               48.9      (7.1)


    Acceleration of contractual
     commitments                           0.7                                -                                0.7          -


    Unrealized and realized gains on
     CME Ventures investments           (88.2)                               -                             (89.3)         -


    Gains on sale of BM&FBOVESPA
     shares                                  -                               -                                  -    (86.5)


    Loss on disposal of assets               -                             0.6                                   -       0.6


    Loss on derivatives                   36.9                                -                               36.9          -


    Debt costs related to acquisition      3.5                                -                                3.5          -


    Income tax effect related to above   (6.2)                           (9.1)                             (15.5)    (18.0)


    Other income tax item                  1.2                            (9.9)                                1.2       77.9


    Adjusted Net Income                           $591.4                                        $418.9               $1,224.9  $834.4
                                                  ======                                        ======               ========  ======


    GAAP Earnings per Common Share:

         Basic                                     $1.67                                         $1.23                  $3.43   $2.41

         Diluted                          1.66                             1.22                                3.42       2.40


    Adjusted Earnings per Common
     Share:

         Basic                                     $1.74                                         $1.24                  $3.61   $2.47

         Diluted                          1.74                             1.23                                3.59       2.45


    Weighted Average Number of Common
     Shares:

         Basic                         339,465                          338,556                             339,386    338,448

         Diluted                       340,872                          340,020                             340,838    339,974


    1.             Acquisition-related costs
                   include professional fees
                   related to the proposed
                   acquisition with NEX Group
                   plc.

    2.             Results include foreign
                   exchange transaction net gains
                   and losses principally related
                   to cash held in British pounds
                   within entities whose
                   functional currency is the
                   U.S. dollar.

CME-G

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