CME vs NDAQ vs ICE vs CBOE vs MKTX

For growth investors, Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

(CBOE) is the stronger pick with 15. 1% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 3. 8% for MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX). MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX) offers the better valuation at 22. 9x trailing P/E (18. 6x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ) a "Buy" — based on 36 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, MarketAxess Holdings Inc.

(MKTX) is the cheapest at 22. 9x versus Cboe Global Markets, Inc. at 32. 5x. On forward P/E, MarketAxess Holdings Inc. is actually cheaper at 18. 6x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Cboe Global Markets, Inc. wins at 1. 38x versus MarketAxess Holdings Inc. 's 3. 03x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

(CBOE) delivered a total return of +223. 7%, compared to -61. 8% for MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CBOE returned +463. 6% versus MKTX's +38. 3%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), CME Group Inc.

(CME) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 30β versus Nasdaq, Inc. 's 0. 78β — meaning NDAQ is approximately -358% more volatile than CME relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, CME Group Inc. (CME) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 13% versus 81% for Nasdaq, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

(CBOE) is pulling ahead at 15. 1% versus 3. 8% for MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Nasdaq, Inc. grew EPS 60. 1% year-over-year, compared to -8. 5% for MarketAxess Holdings Inc.. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

CME Group Inc.

(CME) is the more profitable company, earning 62. 0% net margin versus 21. 8% for Nasdaq, Inc. — meaning it keeps 62. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: CME leads at 64. 9% versus 28. 4% for NDAQ. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — CME leads at 86. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (CBOE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 38x versus MarketAxess Holdings Inc. 's 3. 03x. A PEG below 1. 5 suggests fair-to-attractive pricing relative to expected growth. On forward earnings alone, MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (MKTX) trades at 18. 6x forward P/E versus 27. 0x for Cboe Global Markets, Inc. — 8. 4x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for NDAQ: 28. 8% to $114. 60.

All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.

CME Group Inc. (CME) offers the highest yield at 3. 8%, versus 0. 8% for Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (CBOE).

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cboe Global Markets, Inc.

(CBOE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 27), 0. 8% yield, +463. 6% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CBOE: +463. 6%, NDAQ: +347. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Financial Services sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: CME is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; NDAQ is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; ICE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CBOE is a mid-cap high-growth stock; MKTX is a small-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.