Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: IBKR) an automated global electronic broker and market maker, today reported diluted earnings per share on a comprehensive basis of $0.44 for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, compared to diluted earnings per share on a comprehensive basis of $0.30 for the same period in 2016.

Excluding other comprehensive income, the Company reported diluted earnings per share of $0.43 for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.30 for the same period in 2016.

Net revenues were $426 million and income before income taxes was $268 million this quarter, compared to net revenues of $345 million and income before income taxes of $183 million for the same period in 2016.

The results for the quarter were positively impacted by strong growth in net interest income, which increased $46 million, or 34%, and higher commissions, which increased $19 million, or 13% from the year-ago quarter. Trading gains decreased 71% from the year-ago quarter on lower market making trading volumes as we completed the wind down of our U.S. options market making business.

In addition, the results for the quarter include a $32 million gain on our currency diversification strategy, compared to a $13 million gain in the same period in 2016; a $1 million net mark-to-market gain on our U.S. government securities portfolio compared to a $15 million net mark-to-market loss in the same period in 2016; and a $10 million net recovery of exit costs related to the wind-down of our options market making business.

The Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share. This dividend is payable on December 14, 2017 to shareholders of record as of December 1, 2017.

Business Highlights

  • 63% pretax profit margin for this quarter, up from 53% in the year-ago quarter.
  • 61% Electronic Brokerage pretax profit margin for this quarter, up from 56% in the year-ago quarter.
  • Customer equity grew 40% from the year-ago quarter to $115.7 billion and customer debits increased 39% to $25.1 billion.
  • Customer accounts increased 24% from the year-ago quarter to 457 thousand.
  • Total DARTs increased 14% from the year-ago quarter to 695 thousand.
  • Brokerage segment equity was $4.6 billion. Total equity was $6.3 billion.

Segment Overview

Electronic Brokerage

Electronic brokerage segment income before income taxes increased 39%, to $225 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period last year. Net revenues increased 27% to $367 million on higher net interest income, commissions revenue, and a net mark-to-market gain on our U.S. government securities portfolio.

Net interest income increased 31% as average customer credit and margin loan balances and benchmark interest rates increased from the year-ago quarter. Commissions revenue increased 15% from the year-ago quarter on higher customer volumes in options, futures and stocks, which increased 17%, 4% and 50%, respectively, from the year-ago quarter. Other income increased 129% over the year-ago quarter, driven by a non-recurrence of net mark-to-market losses on investments in U.S. government securities in the year-ago quarter. Pretax profit margin was 61% for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, up from 56% in the same period last year.

Customer accounts grew 24% to 457 thousand and customer equity increased 40% from the year-ago quarter to $115.7 billion. Total DARTs1 for cleared and execution-only customers increased 14% to 695 thousand from the year-ago quarter. Cleared DARTs were 646 thousand, 15% higher than in the same period last year.

Market Making

Market making segment income before income taxes increased to $11 million in the quarter ended September 30, 2017, due to lower operating costs, as we completed the wind down of our U.S. options market making business. In addition, the results for the quarter include a $10 million net recovery of exit costs.

Effects of Foreign Currency Diversification

In connection with our currency diversification strategy, we have determined to base our net worth in GLOBALs, a basket of 14 major currencies in which we hold our equity. In this quarter, our currency diversification strategy increased our comprehensive earnings by $32 million, as the U.S. dollar value of the GLOBAL increased by approximately 0.56%. The effects of the currency diversification strategy are reported as components of (1) Other Income in the corporate segment and (2) Other Comprehensive Income (“OCI”).
________________________
1 Daily average revenue trades (DARTs) are based on customer orders.

Conference Call Information:

Interactive Brokers Group will hold a conference call with investors today, October 17, 2017, at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss its quarterly results. Investors who would like to listen to the conference call live should dial 877-324-1965 (U.S. domestic) and 631-291-4512 (international). The number should be dialed approximately ten minutes prior to the start of the conference call. Ask for the “Interactive Brokers Conference Call.”

The conference call will also be accessible simultaneously, and through replays, as an audio webcast through the Investor Relations section of the Interactive Brokers web site, www.interactivebrokers.com/ir.

About Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.:

Interactive Brokers Group affiliates provide automated trade execution and custody of securities, commodities and foreign exchange around the clock on over 120 markets in numerous countries and currencies from a single IB Universal Account℠ to customers worldwide. We service individual investors, hedge funds, proprietary trading groups, financial advisors and introducing brokers. Our four decades of focus on technology and automation has enabled us to equip our customers with a uniquely sophisticated platform to manage their investment portfolios at the lowest cost according to Barron’s Best Online Brokers review, March 20, 2017. We strive to provide our customers with advantageous execution prices and trading, risk and portfolio management tools, research facilities and investment products, all at low prices, positioning them to achieve superior returns on investments.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

The foregoing information contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current views with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the Company’s operations and business environment which may cause the Company’s actual results to be materially different from any future results, expressed or implied, in these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this release. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any statements expressed or implied therein will not be realized. Additional information on risk factors that could potentially affect the Company’s financial results may be found in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
OPERATING DATA

TRADE VOLUMES:

(in 000's, except %)

          Brokerage        
Market Brokerage Non Avg. Trades
Making % Cleared % Cleared % Total % per U.S.

Period

Trades

Change

Trades

Change

Trades

Change

Trades

Change

Trading Day

2014 64,530 206,759 18,055 289,344 1,155
2015 65,937 2% 242,846 17% 18,769 4% 327,553 13% 1,305
2016 64,038 -3% 259,932 7% 16,515 -12% 340,485 4% 1,354
 
3Q2016 15,474 61,181 3,736 80,391 1,256
3Q2017 6,834 -56% 66,262 8% 3,698 -1% 76,794 -4% 1,229
 
2Q2017 7,960 64,823 3,672 76,455 1,214
3Q2017 6,834 -14% 66,262 2% 3,698 1% 76,794 0% 1,229
 
CONTRACT AND SHARE VOLUMES:

(in 000's, except %)

           

TOTAL

Options % Futures* % Stocks %

Period

(contracts)

Change

(contracts)

Change

(shares)

Change

2014 631,265 123,048 153,613,174
2015 634,388 0% 140,668 14% 172,742,520 12%
2016 572,834 -10% 143,287 2% 155,439,227 -10%
 
3Q2016 138,767 32,521 38,515,753
3Q2017 93,470 -33% 31,508 -3% 55,195,706 43%
 
2Q2017 91,879 30,805 53,378,165
3Q2017 93,470 2% 31,508 2% 55,195,706 3%
 

MARKET MAKING

Options % Futures* % Stocks %

Period

(contracts)

Change

(contracts)

Change

(shares)

Change

2014 344,741 15,668 12,025,822
2015 335,406 -3% 14,975 -4% 15,376,076 28%
2016 307,377 -8% 14,205 -5% 13,082,887 -15%
 
3Q2016 74,966 3,338 2,874,332
3Q2017 18,676 -75% 1,040 -69% 1,814,393 -37%
 
2Q2017 19,831 1,143 1,620,275
3Q2017 18,676 -6% 1,040 -9% 1,814,393 12%
 

BROKERAGE TOTAL

Options % Futures* % Stocks %

Period

(contracts)

Change

(contracts)

Change

(shares)

Change

2014 286,524 107,380 141,587,352
2015 298,982 4% 125,693 17% 157,366,444 11%
2016 265,457 -11% 129,082 3% 142,356,340 -10%
 
3Q2016 63,801 29,183 35,641,421
3Q2017 74,794 17% 30,468 4% 53,381,313 50%
 
2Q2017 72,048 29,662 51,757,890
3Q2017 74,794 4% 30,468 3% 53,381,313 3%
 
* Includes options on futures
 
 

INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
OPERATING DATA, CONTINUED

BROKERAGE CLEARED

   Options   %   Futures*   %   Stocks   %

Period

(contracts)

Change

(contracts)

Change

(shares)

Change

2014 225,662 106,074 137,153,132
2015 244,356 8% 124,206 17% 153,443,988 12%
2016 227,413 -7% 128,021 3% 138,523,932 -10%
 
3Q2016 55,579 28,986 34,817,202
3Q2017 64,363 16% 30,034 4% 52,515,806 51%
 
2Q2017 62,342 29,255 50,807,138
3Q2017 64,363 3% 30,034 3% 52,515,806 3%
 
* Includes options on futures
 
BROKERAGE STATISTICS      
(in 000's, except % and where noted)
 
Year over Year

3Q2017

3Q2016

% Change

Total Accounts 457 370 24%
Customer Equity (in billions)* $115.7 $82.7 40%
 
Cleared DARTs 646 564 15%
Total Customer DARTs 695 609 14%
 
Cleared Customers (in $'s, except DART per account)
Commission per DART $3.96 $3.91 1%
DART per Avg. Account (Annualized) 365 390 -6%
Net Revenue per Avg. Account (Annualized) $3,249 $3,191 2%
 
Consecutive Quarters

3Q2017

2Q2017

% Change

Total Accounts 457 428 7%
Customer Equity (in billions)* $115.7 $104.8 10%
 
Cleared DARTs 646 621 4%
Total Customer DARTs 695 669 4%
 
Cleared Customers (in $'s, except DART per account)
Commission per DART $3.96 $4.00 -1%
DART per Avg. Account (Annualized) 365 372 -2%
Net Revenue per Avg. Account (Annualized) $3,249 $3,141 3%
 
* Excludes non-customers.
 
 

INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NET INTEREST MARGIN
(UNAUDITED)

  Three Months Ended September 30,     Nine Months Ended September 30,
2017   2016 2017   2016
(in millions)
Average interest-earning assets
Segregated cash & securities $ 24,043 $ 25,525 $ 24,207 $ 24,027
Customer margin loans 24,132 16,473 22,017 15,917
Securities borrowed 4,096 4,275 4,071 4,056
Other interest earning assets   3,155   2,169   2,748   2,484
$ 55,426 $ 48,442 $ 53,043 $ 46,484
 
Average interest-bearing liabilities
Customer credit balances $ 46,910 $ 41,414 $ 44,901 $ 39,297
Securities loaned   3,964   3,071   3,765   2,758
$ 50,874 $ 44,485 $ 48,666 $ 42,055
 
Net interest income
Segregated cash and securities, net $ 66 $ 40 $ 160 $ 110
Customer margin loans 106 54 270 157
Securities borrowed and loaned, net 42 42 112 118
Customer credit balances (40) (3) (80) (8)
Other net interest income1   9   3   18   12
Net interest income $ 183 $ 136 $ 480 $ 389
 
Net interest margin ("NIM")   1.31%   1.12%   1.21%   1.12%
 
Annualized yields
Segregated cash & securities 1.09% 0.62% 0.88% 0.61%
Customer margin loans 1.74% 1.30% 1.64% 1.32%
Customer credit balances 0.34% 0.03% 0.24% 0.03%

 

1Includes income from financial instruments which has the same characteristics as interest, but is reported in other income.
 
 

INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(UNAUDITED)

    Three Months     Nine Months
Ended September 30, Ended September 30,
2017   2016 2017   2016
(in millions)
 
Electronic Brokerage Net revenues $ 367 $ 288 $ 1,015 $ 945
Non-interest expenses   142   126   407   357
 
Income before income taxes $ 225 $ 162 $ 608 $ 588
 
Pre-tax profit margin 61% 56% 60% 62%
 
Market Making Net revenues $ 30 $ 43 $ 61 $ 145
Non-interest expenses   19   36   96   113
 
Income (loss) before income taxes $ 11 $ 7 $ (35) $ 32
 
Pre-tax profit (loss) margin 37% 16% -57% 22%
 
Corporate 1 Net revenues $ 29 $ 14 $ 111 $ 113
Non-interest expenses   (3)   -   (1)   -
 
Income before income taxes $ 32 $ 14 $ 112 $ 113
 
Total Net revenues $ 426 $ 345 $ 1,187 $ 1,203
Non-interest expenses   158   162   502   470
 
Income before income taxes $ 268 $ 183 $ 685 $ 733
 
Pre-tax profit margin 63% 53% 58% 61%
 
1Corporate includes corporate related activities as well as inter-segment eliminations and gains and losses on positions held as part of our overall currency diversification strategy.
 
 

INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

  Three Months   Nine Months
Ended September 30, Ended September 30,
2017   2016 2017   2016
(in millions, except share and per share data)
 
Revenues:
Trading gains $ 11 $ 38 $ 26 $ 124
Commissions 163 144 477 462
Interest income 243 157 626 446
Other income   70   27   205   228
 
Total revenues 487 366 1,334 1,260
 
Interest expense   61   21   147   57
 
Total net revenues   426   345   1,187   1,203
 
Non-interest expenses:
Execution and clearing 61 62 185 183
Employee compensation and benefits 64 58 192 174
Occupancy, depreciation and amortization 11 13 34 38
Communications 7 7 22 23
General and administrative 15 19 67 46
Customer bad debt   -   3   2   6
 
Total non-interest expenses   158   162   502   470
 
Income before income taxes 268 183 685 733
 
Income tax expense   21   15   56   55
 
Net income 247 168 629 678
 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests   216   148   551   598
 
Net income available for common stockholders $ 31 $ 20 $ 78 $ 80
 
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 0.44 $ 0.30 $ 1.12 $ 1.22
Diluted $ 0.43 $ 0.30 $ 1.10 $ 1.20
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic 71,109,577 67,083,654 69,405,624 65,351,842
Diluted 71,973,483 68,470,224 70,409,619 66,738,754
 
Comprehensive income:
Net income available for common stockholders $ 31 $ 20 $ 78 $ 80
Other comprehensive income:
Cumulative translation adjustment, before income taxes 1 - 11 3
Income taxes related to items of other comprehensive income   -   -   -   -
Other comprehensive income, net of tax   1   -   11   3
Comprehensive income available for common stockholders $ 32 $ 20 $ 89 $ 83
 
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests $ 216 $ 148 $ 551 $ 598
Other comprehensive income - cumulative translation adjustment 5   2   55   19
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests $ 221 $ 150 $ 606 $ 617
 
 

INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
EARNINGS PER SHARE ON COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

  Three Months   Nine Months
Ended September 30, Ended September 30,
2017   2016 2017   2016
(in millions, except share and per share data)
 
Comprehensive income available for common stockholders, net of tax $ 32 $ 20 $ 89 $ 83
 
Comprehensive earnings per share:
Basic $ 0.45 $ 0.31 $ 1.28 $ 1.27
Diluted $ 0.44 $ 0.30 $ 1.26 $ 1.25
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic 71,109,577 67,083,654 69,405,624 65,351,842
Diluted 71,973,483 68,470,224 70,409,619 66,738,754
 
 

INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)

  September 30,

2017

   December 31,

2016

(in millions)
 
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,056 $ 1,925
Cash and securities - segregated for regulatory purposes 23,566 24,017
Securities borrowed 4,195 3,629
Securities purchased under agreements to resell 589 111
Financial instruments owned, at fair value 2,580 4,037
Receivables from customers, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 25,333 19,409
Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations 1,039 1,040
Other assets   485   505
 
Total assets $ 59,843 $ 54,673
 
Liabilities and equity
 
Liabilities
Short-term borrowings $ 38 $ 74
Securities loaned 4,132 4,293
Financial instruments sold but not yet purchased, at fair value 1,177 2,145
Other payables:
Customers 47,550 41,731
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations 233 239
Other payables   401   371
  48,184   42,341
 
Total liabilities   53,531   48,853
 
Equity
Stockholders' equity 1,096 974
Noncontrolling interests   5,216   4,846
Total equity   6,312   5,820
 
Total liabilities and equity $ 59,843 $ 54,673
 
  September 30, 2017     December 31, 2016

Ownership of IBG LLC Membership Interests

Interests

  

%

Interests

    

%

 

IBG, Inc.

71,477,590 17.4% 67,989,967 16.6%

Noncontrolling interests (IBG Holdings LLC)

340,229,444 82.6% 341,444,304 83.4%
 

Total IBG LLC membership interests

411,707,034 100.0% 409,434,271 100.0%