CME Group (CME) vs Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
CME Group (CME) has outperformed Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) over the past year, gaining 2.5% versus a loss of 5.8%. Over five years, CME leads with a +27.5% price change compared with +17.9% for ICE. CME Group is the larger company by market cap ($99.40 billion vs $87.21 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while Intercontinental Exchange is growing revenue faster (+7.5% vs +6.4%).
On valuation, Intercontinental Exchange trades at a lower forward P/E (17.6x vs 21.3x for CME Group). CME Group offers the higher dividend yield (1.84% vs 1.29%). CME Group converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 62.5% versus 26.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | CME | ICE |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $276.44 | $155.35 |
| Market cap | $99.40B | $87.21B |
| 1-day change | +2.28% | +1.81% |
| YTD return | -1.03% | -5.79% |
| 1-year return | +2.53% | -5.80% |
| 5-year return | +27.55% | +17.93% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 23.45 | 21.91 |
| Forward P/E | 21.34 | 17.58 |
| EPS (TTM) | $11.79 | $7.09 |
| Dividend yield | 1.84% | 1.29% |
| Annual dividend | $5.10 | $2.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.52B | $12.64B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.37% | +7.47% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $4.07B | $3.31B |
| Operating margin | 64.86% | 39.00% |
| Net margin | 62.45% | 26.23% |
| 52-week high | $329.16 | $176.05 |
| 52-week low | $218.31 | $121.79 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -16.02% | -11.76% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +3.17% | +19.39% |
| Average volume | 2.03M | 3.40M |
| Shares outstanding | 359.58M | 561.39M |
| Employees | 3,875 | 12,725 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service | Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- CME Group is more profitable, keeping 62.5 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 26.2 cents for Intercontinental Exchange.
About CME Group
CME stock →CME Group Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates contract markets for the trading of futures and options on futures contracts worldwide. It offers futures and options products based on interest rates, equity indexes, and foreign exchange; and agricultural, energy, and metals commodities, as well as fixed income and foreign currency trading services.
Finance · Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service · 3,875 employees
About Intercontinental Exchange
ICE stock →Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides technology and data to financial institutions, corporations, and government entities in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Canada, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. It operates through three segments: Exchanges, Fixed Income and Data Services, and Mortgage Technology.
Finance · Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service · 12,725 employees
CME vs ICE FAQ
Which is bigger, CME Group or Intercontinental Exchange?
CME Group (CME) is larger, with a market capitalization of $99.40B compared with $87.21B for Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, CME or ICE?
CME returned +2.53% over the past 12 months, compared with -5.80% for ICE (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, CME or ICE?
ICE has the lower trailing P/E at 21.9, versus 23.4 for CME. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, CME Group or Intercontinental Exchange?
CME Group has the higher yield at 1.84%, compared with 1.29% for Intercontinental Exchange.
Are CME Group and Intercontinental Exchange in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Investment Bankers/Brokers/Service industry within the Finance sector.