CME Group (CME): analysis in plain words
Is CME Group cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
CME Group (CME) is listed on the Nasdaq and we classify it in financial services and payments. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against CME Group according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
CME Group (CME) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $308.27 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 25.3x | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +13.0% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | 63.5% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.3x | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 1.71% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $110.3 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The CME Group figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any CME figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How CME Group makes money
CME Group runs derivatives exchanges including CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX, where traders buy and sell futures and options on interest rates, stock indexes, energy, metals, currencies and farm products. Most revenue comes from clearing and transaction fees charged per contract, with market data sales on top.
Over the last 12 months, CME Group brought in revenue of $7.0 billion. For every 100 it sells, CME Group keeps 100.0 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and 65.9 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 3,875 full-time employees, that is about $2 million of revenue per employee.
CME Group against its sector
To know whether a CME Group figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares CME Group with the median of the 21 financial services and payments companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | CME Group | financial services and payments median |
|---|---|---|
| P/E | 25.3x | 27.9x (21) |
| Revenue growth | +13.0% | +12.4% (24) |
| Net margin | 63.5% | 25.8% (24) |
| Dividend yield | 1.71% | 0.81% (24) |
| Net debt / EBITDA | 0.3x | 0.6x (13) |
In short, against the typical financial services and payments company, CME Group earns a wider margin, pays a higher dividend yield and carries less debt. By size, CME Group ranks number 9 of 22 financial services and payments companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for CME Group
These are the strengths in the CME Group figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Its net margin over the last 12 months is 63.5% (sector median: 25.8%): CME Group turns a large share of its sales into profit.
- CME Group earns 16.1% a year on its shareholders' money (return on equity).
- CME Group is selling more than a year ago: +13.0% in its latest quarter (the typical financial services and payments company grew +12.4%).
The main risk for CME Group
The CME Group figures as of November 4, 2026 show no clear red flag (no heavy debt, no losses, no falling sales). Its main risk is the one built into its business: a drop in the payment, investment or trading volumes it earns fees on, plus regulation.
Frequently asked questions about CME Group
Is it a good time to buy CME Group stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell CME Group, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, CME Group stock trades at $308.27, 6% below its 52-week high ($329.16) and 41% above its low ($218.31). Its P/E is 25.3x against a financial services and payments median of 27.9x, and 23.3x on the earnings analysts expect over the next 12 months. With CME Group, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does CME Group pay a dividend?
Yes. As of November 4, 2026, CME Group pays $5.20 per share a year, which at today's price is a yield of 1.71%. It uses 93% of its profit to pay it. The financial services and payments median on Fintols is 0.81%.
Is CME Group stock expensive?
It depends on what you compare it with. On P/E, CME Group trades at 25.3x its last 12 months of earnings: in line with the financial services and payments median (27.9x). Including its debt, CME Group is valued at 22.3x its EBITDA (EV/EBITDA). A high P/E alone does not make CME Group expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are CME Group's competitors?
On Fintols we compare CME Group with Moody's, Intercontinental Exchange and Apollo, which are also in financial services and payments. As of November 4, 2026, Moody's is worth $91.1 billion and trades on a P/E of 32.4; Intercontinental Exchange is worth $97.8 billion and trades on a P/E of 23.8; Apollo is worth $72.5 billion. Each has a side-by-side comparison with CME Group below.
CME Group competitors
- Moody's (MCO) analysis · CME Group vs Moody's comparison
- Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) analysis · CME Group vs Intercontinental Exchange comparison
- Apollo (APO) analysis · CME Group vs Apollo comparison
To understand CME Group better
- Economic Moats Explained: From Warren Buffett to AI
- P/E Ratio and EPS Explained: How to Read Them Without Traps
More companies like CME Group: financial services and payments stocks and S&P 500 companies. Open the full CME analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about CME Group, not investment advice.