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Third-Quarter 2015 Financial Highlights
- Trading Volume Increases 6 Percent, With Record Trading Volume in Index Options and Futures
- Operating Revenue Increases 26 Percent to $187.0 Million
- GAAP Net Income Allocated to Common Stockholders Increases 40 Percent to $67.2 Million; Diluted EPS of $0.81, Up 42 Percent
- Adjusted Net Income Allocated to Common Stockholders Rose 31 Percent to $63.0 Million; Adjusted Diluted EPS of $0.76, Up 33 Percent(1)
- GAAP Operating Margin of 54.1 Percent Compared With 50.4 Percent, Up 370 Basis Points
CBOE Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBOE) today reported net income allocated to common stockholders of $67.2 million, or $0.81 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2015, compared with $48.1 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2014. On an adjusted basis, net income allocated to common stockholders was $63.0 million, or $0.76 per share, up 31 percent and 33 percent, respectively, over the third quarter of last year. Operating revenue for the quarter was $187.0 million, up 26 percent compared with $148.9 million in the third quarter of 2014.
Financial results presented on an adjusted basis for the third quarter of 2015 exclude the recognition of a tax benefit, which is detailed in the reconciliation of non-GAAP results.
"The record financial results we delivered this quarter highlight the utility of our proprietary products, S&P 500 Index (SPX) options, Russell 2000 Index (RUT) options and CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) futures and options. Throughout the third quarter, we also advanced key growth initiatives in developing new products, increasing access to our marketplace, and growing our customer base in order to pave the way for continued success this year and beyond," said Edward T. Tilly, CBOE Holdings' Chief Executive Officer. "As a result, we remain optimistic about our ability to deliver sustainable long-term value to our customers and our shareholders."
"We are very pleased with our results for the third quarter as we achieved new highs across a number of financial measures, including operating revenue, operating margin and earnings per share. Our operating margin hit a new high of 54.1 percent, underscoring the operating leverage inherent in our business model and the potential for further gains as we invest in our strategic growth initiatives while prudently managing expenses," said Alan J. Dean, CBOE Holdings' Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
(1) A full reconciliation of our non-GAAP results to our GAAP results for the 2015 and 2014 reporting periods is included in the attached tables. See "Non-GAAP Information" in the accompanying financial tables.
Key Statistics and Financial Highlights
The table below highlights CBOE Holdings' operating results on a GAAP basis and an adjusted basis for the comparative quarters and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. Financial results presented on an adjusted basis provide supplemental information to facilitate period-over-period comparisons by adjusting for certain items that management believes are not indicative of the company's core operating performance.
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(in millions, except per share, revenue per contract and trading days) |
3Q 2015 |
3Q 2014 |
Y/Y Change |
YTD 2015 |
YTD 2014 |
Y/Y Change |
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Key Statistics: |
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Total Trading Days |
64 |
|
64 |
|
|
188 |
|
188 |
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Average Daily Volume (options and futures) |
5.25 |
|
4.95 |
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6% |
|
4.80 |
|
5.13 |
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(6%) |
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Total Trading Volume (options and futures) |
335.7 |
|
316.9 |
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6% |
|
902.3 |
|
964.2 |
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(6%) |
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Average Revenue Per Contract |
$ |
0.431 |
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$ |
0.329 |
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31% |
|
$ |
0.383 |
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$ |
0.327 |
|
17% |
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GAAP Financial Highlights: |
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Total Operating Revenues |
$ |
187.0 |
|
$ |
148.9 |
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26% |
|
$ |
478.6 |
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$ |
450.7 |
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6% |
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Total Operating Expenses |
85.9 |
|
73.8 |
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16% |
|
234.6 |
|
223.9 |
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5% |
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Operating Income |
101.1 |
|
75.1 |
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35% |
|
244.0 |
|
226.8 |
|
8% |
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Operating Margin % |
54.1% |
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50.4% |
|
370 bps |
|
51.0% |
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50.3% |
|
70 bps |
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Net Income |
$ |
67.5 |
|
$ |
48.4 |
|
39% |
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$ |
154.6 |
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$ |
140.4 |
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10% |
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Net Income Allocated to Common Stockholders |
$ |
67.2 |
|
$ |
48.1 |
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40% |
|
$ |
153.9 |
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$ |
139.3 |
|
10% |
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Diluted EPS |
$ |
0.81 |
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$ |
0.57 |
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42% |
|
$ |
1.85 |
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$ |
1.62 |
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14% |
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Weighted Average Shares Outstanding |
82.8 |
|
85.1 |
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(3%) |
|
83.3 |
|
85.8 |
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(3%) |
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Adjusted Financial Highlights (1) |
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Total Operating Expenses |
$ |
85.9 |
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$ |
73.8 |
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16% |
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$ |
234.6 |
|
$ |
221.4 |
|
6% |
|
|
Operating Income |
101.1 |
|
75.1 |
|
35% |
|
244.0 |
|
229.4 |
|
6% |
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Operating Margin % |
54.1% |
|
50.4% |
|
370 bps |
|
51.0% |
|
50.9% |
|
10 bps |
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Net Income |
$ |
63.2 |
|
$ |
48.4 |
|
31% |
|
$ |
150.6 |
|
$ |
141.9 |
|
6% |
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Net Income Allocated to Common Stockholders |
$ |
63.0 |
|
$ |
48.1 |
|
31% |
|
$ |
149.9 |
|
$ |
140.8 |
|
6% |
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Diluted EPS |
$ |
0.76 |
|
$ |
0.57 |
|
33% |
|
$ |
1.80 |
|
$ |
1.64 |
|
10% |
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(1) A full reconciliation of our non-GAAP results to our GAAP results for the 2015 and 2014 reporting periods is included in the attached tables. See "Non-GAAP Information" in the accompanying financial tables. |
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Revenues
Operating revenue was $187.0 million in the third quarter of 2015, up $38.1 million, or 26 percent, from $148.9 million in the third quarter of 2014. This was largely driven by a $40.5 million increase in transaction fees, partially offset by a $1.6 million decrease in access fees.
Transaction fees rose 39 percent in the quarter due to a 31 percent increase in the average revenue per contract (RPC) and a 6 percent increase in trading volume compared with the third quarter of 2014. Total trading volume in the third quarter was 335.7 million contracts, or 5.25 million contracts per day, compared with volume of 316.9 million contracts, or 4.95 million contracts per day, in last year's third quarter. Trading volume in the third quarter included record volume for index options and futures. The RPC was $0.431 compared with $0.329 in the third quarter of 2014.
The higher RPC primarily reflects a favorable shift in the mix of products traded with a higher proportion of volume coming from index options and futures contracts, which generate the highest RPC. These product categories accounted for 44.6 percent of trading volume in the third quarter of 2015 compared with 33.8 percent in the third quarter of 2014. Additionally, the RPC increased across each product category due to fee adjustments and lower volume discounts and incentives.
The average revenue per contract represents total transaction fee revenue divided by total reported trading volume for Chicago Board Options Exchange® (CBOE®), C2 Options ExchangeSM (C2SM) and CBOE Futures ExchangeSM (CFE®).
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses were $85.9 million for the third quarter of 2015, up $12.1 million or 16 percent, compared with $73.8 million for the same period in 2014, primarily due to higher costs for professional fees and outside services, royalty fees and depreciation and amortization.
The company's core operating expenses, which include total operating expenses less volume-based expenses, depreciation and amortization, accelerated stock-based compensation expense and unusual or one-time expenses, were $51.1 million for the third quarter of 2015, up $4.8 million, or 10 percent, compared with last year's third quarter. The increase in core operating expenses primarily reflects increases of $4.4 million in professional fees and outside services and $0.9 million in compensation and benefits. The increase in professional fees and outside services is primarily attributed to the company's outsourcing of certain regulatory services to FINRA, which occurred in December 2014. The increase in compensation and benefits was largely due to higher expenses for stock-based compensation and incentive compensation, driven by the company's stronger financial performance.
Volume-based expenses, which include royalty fees and order-routing fees, were $22.4 million in the third quarter of 2015, an increase of $5.2 million or 30 percent, compared with the same period last year. This increase includes higher royalty fees of $5.6 million, partially offset by lower order-routing fees of $0.4 million. The increase in royalty fees was driven by higher trading volume in licensed index products, which rose 40.7 percent over last year's third quarter.
Operating Margin
The company's operating margin reached a record high of 54.1 percent for the third quarter of 2015, an increase of 370 basis points compared with 50.4 percent for the third quarter of 2014. The margin increase reflects the positive operating leverage generated from the company's higher revenue base.
Effective Tax Rate
On a GAAP basis, the company reported an effective tax rate of 33.4 percent for the current quarter compared with 35.4 percent in last year's third quarter. The effective tax rate for the third quarter of this year included the benefit of the release of uncertain tax positions. Excluding a non-GAAP adjustment of $4.3 million, the effective tax rate for the current quarter was 37.7 percent.
Year to date, the company's adjusted effective tax rate of 38.5 percent is in line with its guidance range for the full-year 2015 of 38.5 percent to 39.5 percent.
Operational Highlights and Recent Developments
- On October 20, CBOE started trading options on three FTSE Russell indexes: the Russell 1000® Index, the Russell 1000 Value Index and the Russell 1000 Growth Index.
- On October 16, the company announced a minority investment in CurveGlobal, a new interest rate derivatives venture of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) and a number of major dealer banks.
- On October 1, the company added SPXPM index options to its 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. CT extended trading session.
- On September 10, the company announced its plans to work with Environmental Financial Products, LLC (EFP) to provide a new interbank lending exchange, the American Financial Exchange (AFX), and to launch a new interest rate benchmark (Ameribor). The company has a minority equity interest in AFX.
- In August, several trading records were set at CBOE Holdings, including new single-day volume highs for CBOE, C2, total index options and S&P 500® Index (SPX) options, and new monthly average daily volume (ADV) records in CBOE Volatility Index® (VIX® Index) options and S&P 500 Index (SPX) options.
- On August 7, the company finalized its acquisition of the market data services and trading analytics platforms of Livevol, Inc., a leading provider of equity and index options technology and market data services to professional and retail traders.
- On July 23, CFE introduced the trading of futures with weekly expirations on the VIX Index and on October 8, CBOE started trading VIX Weeklys options.
2015 Fiscal Year Financial Guidance
The company updated its guidance for core expenses for the 2015 fiscal year primarily as a result of higher performance-driven compensation tied to the company's improved financial performance.
- Core expenses for the 2015 fiscal year are now expected to be in the range of $194.0 million to $196.0 million. The previous guidance range was $190.0 million to $194.0 million. The increase primarily reflects higher incentive-based compensation, which is aligned with the company's financial performance.
The company also reaffirmed guidance for the 2015 fiscal year as follows:
- Continuing stock-based compensation expense included in core expenses is expected to be approximately $12.0 million for the full year.
- Capital expenditures are expected to be in the range of $37.0 million to $40.0 million.
- Depreciation and amortization expense is expected to be in the range of $46.0 million to $48.0 million.
- The adjusted effective tax rate for the full-year 2015 is expected to be in the range of 38.5 percent to 39.5 percent. Significant changes in trading volume, expenses, state and local tax rates and other items, including ongoing state and federal tax audits, could materially impact this expectation.
Return of Capital to Stockholders
As announced on October 28, 2015, CBOE Holdings' Board of Directors declared a fourth-quarter dividend of $0.23 per share, payable December 18, 2015, to stockholders of record as of December 4, 2015.
During the third quarter of 2015, the company repurchased 297,394 shares of its common stock under its share repurchase program at an average price of $63.12 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $18.8 million. Year to date, the company has repurchased 1,627,901 shares at an average price of $59.83 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $97.4 million.
Since the inception of its share repurchase program in 2011 through September 30, 2015, the company has repurchased 9,482,971 shares of its common stock at an average price of $43.00 per share, for a total of $407.8 million.
As of September 30, 2015, the company had approximately $92.2 million of availability remaining under its existing share repurchase authorizations.
Earnings Conference Call
Executives of CBOE Holdings will host a conference call to review its third-quarter financial results today, October 30, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. ET/7:30 a.m. CT. The conference call and any accompanying slides will be publicly available via live webcast from the Investor Relations section of the company's website at www.cboe.com under Events & Presentations. Participants may also listen via telephone by dialing (866) 807-9684 from the United States, (866) 450-4696 from Canada or (412) 317-5415 for international callers. Telephone participants should place calls 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. The webcast will be archived on the company's website for replay. A telephone replay of the earnings call also will be available from approximately 11:00 a.m. CT, October 30, 2015, through 11:00 p.m. CT, November 6, 2015, by calling (877) 344-7529 from the U.S., (855) 669-9658 from Canada or (412) 317-0088 for international callers, using replay code 10072818.
