NASDAQ OMX Reports Record Fourth Quarter 2010 Results

NEW YORK, Feb. 2, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. ("NASDAQ OMX^®") (Nasdaq:NDAQ) reported strong results for the fourth quarter of 2010. Net income attributable to NASDAQ OMX for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $137 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, compared with $101 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2010, and $43 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2009. For the full year of 2010, net income attributable to NASDAQ OMX was $395 million, or $1.91 per diluted share.

Included in the fourth quarter of 2010 results are $9 million of expenses associated with workforce reductions, merger and strategic initiatives, and other items, offset by $36 million of benefits primarily associated with the tax impact of these items and the restructuring of certain NASDAQ OMX subsidiaries.

Financial Highlights:

• Net exchange revenues were $400 million, an 8% increase over Q409 results.
• Non-GAAP operating income improved to $184 million, up 12% from the prior year quarter, while operating margins increased to 46%.
• Non-GAAP Net Income was $110 million, an increase of 11% over Q409 results.
• Non-GAAP EPS increased to $0.55, up from $0.46 in the prior year quarter.
• GAAP EPS increased to $0.69, up $0.49 from $0.20 in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Bob Greifeld, Chief Executive Officer, NASDAQ OMX said:

"In 2010 we saw a sizable return on the strategic decisions we made in recent years. This was driven by a well-designed diversification strategy and buoyed by our major acquisitions.  As a result, we achieved a record performance, seeing excellent growth in derivatives and strength in our European-based businesses.  This year we plan to continue our success as we further diversify and leverage the scale of our business model." 

Business Highlights

• On December 21, 2010, NASDAQ OMX completed a share repurchase from Borse Dubai totaling $497 million, or 22.8 million shares. This transaction was financed with $130 million of cash on hand and $367 million from the net proceeds of 7-year senior bonds with a 5.25% coupon rate. Share repurchases for the full year of 2010 totaled $797 million, or 37.8 million shares, representing approximately 18% of NASDAQ OMX's total shares outstanding at the beginning of 2010. 

European Transaction Services

• Witnessed significant growth in derivative trading and clearing revenues and transaction volumes when compared to the prior year quarter. Total revenues increased 23% when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 while average daily volumes for options, futures, and fixed-income contracts traded or cleared on the Nordic derivatives market grew by 20%.
• Launched Genium INET, a comprehensive multi-asset trading and clearing system, in the Nordic derivatives market. In addition to powering its own markets, this technology is part of NASDAQ OMX's commercial exchange technology offering, giving customers access to the fastest and most robust trading system in the world.
• Expanded the Nordic clearinghouse by offering members the opportunity to clear repurchase agreement ("repo") transactions. As a result of an agreement between the Swedish Money Market Council and NASDAQ OMX, the entire Swedish Interbank repo market will ultimately be cleared through NASDAQ OMX Stockholm AB. 

U.S. Transaction Services

• NASDAQ OMX was number one in U.S. equity options market share for the fourth quarter and full year of 2010. Additionally, net U.S. derivative trading and clearing revenues for the fourth quarter of 2010 grew to $42 million, representing an increase of 35% when compared to the prior year period, while revenues for the full year increased to $150 million.   
• Launched NASDAQ OMX PSX ("PSX"), the first U.S. equity trading platform with a price-size priority model. PSX is an equity exchange model that encourages participants to display more shares in the transparent marketplace by offering improved execution opportunities for large orders. More displayed volume encourages greater transparency in the public marketplace and increased depth at a given price level for customers.
• Acquired FTEN, Inc., a leading provider of Real-Time Risk Management ("RTRM") solutions for the financial securities market. FTEN is a market leader in RTRM and, with the implementation of new market access rules, is well positioned to grow as the industry becomes more focused on solutions for effectively managing risk.   

Market Technology

• The Australian Securities Exchange launched its next generation trading system, ASX Trade, which is powered by NASDAQ OMX's Genium INET platform. The Genium INET platform combines rich functionality with high reliability, and has delivered significant latency and transaction capacity improvements. 

Issuer Services

• Acquired Stockholm-based Zoomvision Mamato ("ZVM"), a company that provides live webcasting services, primarily for investor relations professionals. ZVM is now part of NASDAQ OMX's Global Corporate Solutions division, which provides a range of investor relations products, market analytics and governance services that help public and private companies minimize risk, maximize efficiency, and increase transparency. 
• Announced a plan with the Singapore Exchange ("SGX") to offer companies cross listing opportunities. NASDAQ-listed companies with strong brand awareness and active business endeavors in Asia will benefit from a secondary listing on SGX. SGX-listed companies interested in reaching U.S. investors will be able to list their ADRs on The NASDAQ Stock Market.

Operating Highlights

U.S. Equities

• Total matched market share of U.S. equities was 19.6% in the fourth quarter of 2010, with NASDAQ matching 16.8%, NASDAQ OMX BX ("BX") matching 2.3% and PSX matching 0.5%. Total matched market share was 22.3% in the third quarter of 2010 (NASDAQ: 19.1%; BX: 3.2%) and 24.0% in the fourth quarter of 2009 (NASDAQ: 20.6%; BX: 3.4%). Total matched share volume was 93.1 billion shares in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared with 107.8 billion shares in the third quarter of 2010 and 126.1 billion shares in the fourth quarter of 2009. 

European Equities

• Total average daily volume was 275 thousand trades in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared with 264 thousand in the third quarter of 2010 and 220 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2009. Total average daily value traded was $3.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared with $2.8 billion in the third quarter of 2010 and $3.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009. 

U.S. Options

• Total market share of U.S. equity options was 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2010, with PHLX matching 26.5% and NOM matching 4.9%. Total market share of U.S. equity options was 28.8% in the third quarter of 2010 (PHLX: 23.7%; NOM: 5.1%) and 22.5% in the fourth quarter of 2009 (PHLX: 19.4%; NOM: 3.1%). Total industry average daily volume was 15.1 million contracts in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared with 12.5 million contracts in the third quarter of 2010 and 12.9 million contracts in the fourth quarter of 2009. 

European Derivatives

• In the fourth quarter of 2010, the average daily volume of options, futures and fixed-income contracts was 436 thousand (Q310: 398 thousand; Q409: 363 thousand). Within NASDAQ OMX Commodities, cleared power contracts during the fourth quarter of 2010 totaled 529 terawatt hours ("TWh") (Q310: 382 TWh; Q409: 599 TWh).

Listings

• New listings totaled 63 in the fourth quarter of 2010 compared with 45 in the third quarter of 2010 and 67 in the fourth quarter of 2009. Of the 63 new company listings in the fourth quarter of 2010, 54 listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market and 9 listed on the exchanges that comprise NASDAQ OMX Nordic and NASDAQ OMX Baltic. New listings in the fourth quarter of 2010 included 37 initial public offerings, compared with 18 in the third quarter of 2010 and 19 in the fourth quarter of 2009. 

Market Technology

• Total order intake, which represents the value of orders signed, was $71 million during the fourth quarter of 2010, compared with $27 million in the third quarter of 2010 and $148 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2010, total order value, which represents the total contract value of orders signed that are yet to be recognized as revenue, was $495 million, compared with $446 million at the end of the third quarter of 2010 and $417 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2009.  

Adena Friedman, Chief Financial Officer, said:

"The repurchase of 22.8 million shares during the quarter resulted in the successful culmination of the share repurchase plan launched earlier in the year, during which we bought back 18% of NASDAQ OMX's outstanding shares valued at nearly $800 million. In 2011, our goal is to continue to manage our capital effectively as we focus on investments in new initiatives and debt retirement."

Expense Guidance

Total operating expenses for the full year of 2011 are expected to be in the range of $920 million to $940 million. This guidance includes expenses associated with recent acquisitions such as FTEN and SMARTS, and approximately $25 million in non-recurring costs. 

Financial Review

Revenues

Revenues less transaction rebates, brokerage, clearance and exchange fees ("net exchange revenues") were $400 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, an increase of $28 million, or 8%, from the third quarter of 2010 and an increase of $31 million, or 8%, from the fourth quarter of 2009.   Changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar had the impact of increasing revenues in the fourth quarter of 2010 by $8 million when compared to the third quarter of 2010, and by $1 million when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009.

Market Services

Market Services net exchange revenues were $265 million, up 6% when compared to the third quarter of 2010 results and up 10% when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009.

Transaction Services

Net exchange revenues from Transaction Services were $182 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, an increase of $14 million, or 8%, when compared to the third quarter of 2010, and an increase of $32 million, or 21%, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009.  

• Total net cash equity trading revenues were $60 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, down $3 million, or 5%, from the third quarter of 2010, but up $8 million, or 15%, from the prior year quarter. 

• Net U.S. cash equity trading revenues decreased $5 million when compared to the third quarter of 2010 due to lower trading volumes, which declined 14% from third quarter of 2010 levels, and lower market share. Net revenues increased $8 million when compared to the prior year quarter due primarily to modified rates, offset somewhat by lower trading volumes.
• European cash equity trading revenues increased $2 million when compared to results from the third quarter of 2010 and were equal to revenues in the fourth quarter of 2009.   When compared to the third quarter of 2010 the increase in revenue is due to higher trading activity and to changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar. 
• Included in U.S. cash equity trading revenues in the fourth quarter of 2010 are $57 million in SEC Section 31 fees, compared with $60 million in the third quarter of 2010 and $103 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. Corresponding cost of revenues, reflecting the reimbursement of these fees to the SEC, is included in brokerage, clearance and exchange fees.

• Total net derivative trading and clearing revenues were $74 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, up $14 million, or 23%, from the third quarter of 2010 and up $17 million, or 30%, from the prior year quarter.   

• Net U.S. derivative trading and clearing revenues increased $8 million when compared to the third quarter of 2010 and $11 million when compared to fourth quarter of 2009 revenues. The increases when compared to both periods are due to higher market share and higher industry volumes.
• European derivative trading and clearing revenues increased $6 million when compared to the third quarter of 2010 and to the fourth quarter of 2009. Increases when compared to both periods are due to higher trading and clearing volumes for options, futures and fixed-income products, and activity associated with repo contracts launched in the fourth quarter of 2010. The increase when compared to the third quarter of 2010 is also driven by higher activity associated with trading and clearing energy derivative products. Contributing to the increase when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 are revenues associated with Nord Pool ASA, which was acquired in the second quarter of 2010.

• Access Services revenues were $48 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, an increase of $3 million, or 7%, when compared to the third quarter of 2010 and an increase of $7 million, or 17%, when compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues when compared to the third quarter of 2010 is primarily due to increased demand for access services. The increase in revenues when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 is due to revised fees for access services and increased demand for co-location services.

Market Data

Market Data revenues were $79 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, up $3 million, or 4%, when compared to the third quarter of 2010, but down $5 million, or 6%, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009.  

• Net U.S. tape plans revenues were $28 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, equal to revenues in the third quarter of 2010 but down $5 million, or 15%, when compared to the prior year quarter. The reduction in revenues when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 is due to lower plan shareable revenue and to declines in trading and quoting market share of U.S equities, as calculated under the SEC-mandated market data revenue quoting and trading formula.  
• U.S. market data products revenues were $32 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, equal to revenues reported in the third quarter of 2010, but up $1 million, or 3%, when compared to the prior year quarter. The increase in revenues when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 is driven by the growth of new products such as BX TotalView, options data feeds, and global access products. 
• European market data products revenues were $19 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, an increase of $3 million, or 19%, when compared to the third quarter of 2010, but a decrease of $1 million, or 5%, when compared to the prior year quarter. The increase when compared to the third quarter of 2010 is primarily due to modified fees for market data products and to changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar. The decrease in revenues when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009 is due primarily to declines in subscriber populations, discontinued products and changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar.

Issuer Services

Issuer Services revenues were $89 million, an increase of $4 million, or 5%, when compared to the third quarter of 2010, and an increase of $6 million, or 7%, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009.

Global Listing Services

Global Listing Services revenues were $77 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, up $4 million, or 5%, from the third quarter of 2010 and the fourth quarter of 2009. The increase when compared to both periods is primarily due to increases in Corporate Services revenues, resulting from higher demand for services from listed companies. 

Global Index Group

Global Index Group revenues were $12 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, equal to revenues in the third quarter of 2010, and up $2 million, or 20%, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009.   Higher revenues when compared to the prior year quarter are primarily due to increases in asset sizes of licensed exchange traded funds ("ETFs") as well as additional demand for new licensed ETFs and other financial products. 

Market Technology

Market Technology revenues were $46 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, up $8 million, or 21%, from the third quarter of 2010, and up $2 million, or 5%, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. These increases relate to the inclusion of revenue associated with SMARTS, which was acquired during the third quarter of 2010. Also contributing to the increase in revenues when compared to the third quarter of 2010 are revenues associated with higher change request and advisory fees.   

Operating Expenses

Total non-GAAP operating expenses increased $13 million, or 6%, to $216 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 from $203 million in the third quarter of 2010, and increased $12 million, or 6%, from $204 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in expenses when compared to the third quarter of 2010 is driven by higher compensation and depreciation and amortization expenses resulting from the inclusion of expenses related to SMARTS, which was acquired in the third quarter of 2010. Also contributing to the increase was the impact of changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar, which had the effect of increasing expenses by $6 million when compared to the third quarter of 2010. The increase in expenses from the fourth quarter of 2009 is primarily due to higher compensation expenses associated with SMARTS, increases in professional and contract services costs,  and changes in the exchange rates of various currencies as compared to the U.S. dollar, which had the effect of increasing expenses by $2 million.

Net Interest Expense

Net interest expense was $24 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, compared with $23 million for the third quarter of 2010 and $22 million for the fourth quarter of 2009. Included in total net interest expense for the fourth quarter of 2010 is $20 million in interest expense, $4 million of non-cash expense associated with the accretion of senior and convertible notes, and $2 million in non-cash debt amortization expenses and other related fees. Interest income for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $2 million. 

Income Tax Provision

The non-GAAP tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2010 was 31%, while the effective tax rate on a reported GAAP basis was 9%. The lower than normal GAAP tax rate is primarily due to the permanent tax effect of the restructuring of certain NASDAQ OMX subsidiaries. This resulted in a one-time reduction in deferred tax liabilities due to a revised effective tax rate and a one-time tax deduction for a capital loss. 

Earnings Per Share

On a non-GAAP basis, fourth quarter 2010 earnings per diluted share were $0.55 as compared to non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.50 in the third quarter of 2010 and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.46 in the prior year quarter. NASDAQ OMX's weighted average shares outstanding used to calculate diluted earnings per share was 200 million for the fourth quarter of 2010, 204 million for the third quarter of 2010, and 215 million for the fourth quarter of 2009. 

About NASDAQ OMX

The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. is the world's largest exchange company. It delivers trading, exchange technology and public company services across six continents, with approximately 3,600 listed companies. NASDAQ OMX offers multiple capital raising solutions to companies around the globe, including its U.S. listings market, NASDAQ OMX Nordic, NASDAQ OMX Baltic, NASDAQ OMX First North, and the U.S. 144A sector. The company offers trading across multiple asset classes including equities, derivatives, debt, commodities, structured products and exchange-traded funds. NASDAQ OMX technology supports the operations of over 70 exchanges, clearing organizations and central securities depositories in more than 50 countries. NASDAQ OMX Nordic and NASDAQ OMX Baltic are not legal entities but describe the common offering from NASDAQ OMX exchanges in Helsinki, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Iceland, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius. For more information about NASDAQ OMX, visit http://www.nasdaqomx.com. *Please follow NASDAQ OMX on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/NASDAQ-OMX/108167527653) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/nasdaqomx).

NDAQF

Non-GAAP Information

In addition to disclosing results determined in accordance with GAAP, NASDAQ OMX also discloses certain non-GAAP results of operations, including net income, diluted earnings per share, operating expenses, and operating income that make certain adjustments or exclude certain charges and gains that are described in the reconciliation table of GAAP to non-GAAP information provided at the end of this release. Management believes that this non-GAAP information provides investors with additional information to assess NASDAQ OMX's operating performance by making certain adjustments or excluding costs or gains and assists investors in comparing our operating performance to prior periods. Management uses this non-GAAP information, along with GAAP information, in evaluating its historical operating performance.

The non-GAAP information is not prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to non-GAAP information used by other companies. The non-GAAP information should not be viewed as a substitute for, or superior to, other data prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this communication contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. NASDAQ OMX cautions readers that any forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to (i) projections about our future financial results, growth, trading volumes, tax benefits and achievement of synergy targets, (ii) statements about the implementation dates and benefits of certain strategic initiatives, (iii) statements about our integrations of our recent acquisitions and (iv) other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond NASDAQ OMX's control. These factors include, but are not limited to, NASDAQ OMX's ability to implement its strategic initiatives, economic, political and market conditions and fluctuations, government and industry regulation, interest rate risk, U.S. and global competition, and other factors detailed in NASDAQ OMX's filings with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission, including its annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q which are available on NASDAQ OMX's website at http://www.nasdaqomx.com and the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. NASDAQ OMX undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT: The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc.

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