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Nasdaq (NDAQ) Beats on Q2 Earnings, Narrows Expense Guidance

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Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2020 adjusted earnings per share of $1.54, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.45 by 6.2%. The bottom line increased 26.2% year over year.

The company witnessed growth in Market Services segment and non-trading revenues. Strategic acquisitions contributed to revenues in the quarter.

Performance in Detail

Nasdaq’s revenues of $699 million increased 12% year over year. The upside was primarily attributable to a $50 million positive impact from organic growth in the Market Services segment, a $25 million positive impact from organic growth in the non-trading segments and a $3 million increase from the inclusion of revenues from acquisitions. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.8%.

Adjusted operating expenses were $327 million in the reported quarter, up 2% from the year-ago period owing to $7 million increase from the impact of acquisitions as well as higher compensation expense. However, lower general, administrative and other costs, decreased marketing and advertising expense and a favorable impact from foreign exchange of $2 million were partial offsets.

Operating margin of 53% expanded 500 basis points year over year.

In the U.S. market, Nasdaq welcomed 55 new listings, including 42 IPOs. Nasdaq's Nordic and Baltic exchanges and Nasdaq First North added 13 new listings, including 9 IPOs.

Nasdaq, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
 

Nasdaq, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Nasdaq, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Nasdaq, Inc. Quote

Segment Details

Net revenues at Market Services were up 22% from the year-ago quarter to $276 million. This upside was due to higher revenues from cash equity trading.

Revenues at Corporate Services increased 2% year over year to $126 million, driven by higher corporate solutions revenues.

Information Services revenues rose 10% year over year to $213 million. Higher market data revenues, index revenues as well as investment data & analytics revenues drove the upside.

Revenues at Market Technology increased 6% year over year to $84 million, driven by higher SaaS surveillance revenues.

Financial Update

Nasdaq had cash and cash equivalents of $711 million as of Jun 30, 2020, up 114.2% from the 2019-end level. As of Jun 30, 2020, long-term debt increased 16.2% from 2019-end level to $3.4 billion.

During the reported quarter, Nasdaq issued a $500 million 30-year bond and repaid all commercial paper and borrowings under its revolver. This helped to lower leverage while improving its available liquidity.

As of Jun 30, 2020, Nasdaq had $480 million remaining under its share repurchase authorization.

Guidance Narrowed

Nasdaq expects 2020 non-GAAP operating expense in the range of $1.33 billion to $1.36 billion, compared with $1.32 billion to $1.37 billion guided earlier. This reflects lower corporate travel, lower event spending and delays in hiring, partially offset by unfavorable changes in foreign exchange rates

Non-GAAP tax rate is estimated to be in the range of 25.5% to 27.5% in 2020.

Dividend Update

The board of directors announced quarterly dividend of 49 cents per share. The dividend will be paid out on Sep 25 to shareholders of record as of Sep 11, 2020.

Zacks Rank

Nasdaq currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Upcoming Q2 Releases

CME Group (CME - Free Report) will release results on Jul 29. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings stands at $1.62 per share.

Intercontinental Exchange (ICE - Free Report) will release earnings on Jul 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same stands at $1.04 per share.

Cboe Global Markets (CBOE - Free Report) will release earnings on Jul 31. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same stands at $1.25 per share.

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