CME Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CME) today reported revenue of $913 million and operating income of $540 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. Net income was $373 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.10.  On an adjusted basis, net income was $387 million and diluted earnings per share were $1.14.  Financial results presented on an adjusted basis for the fourth quarters of 2016 and 2015 exclude certain items, which are detailed in the reconciliation of non-GAAP results.

Total revenue for full-year 2016 was $3.6 billion and operating income was $2.2 billion.  Net Income was $1.53 billion and diluted earnings per share were $4.53.  Adjusted for non-recurring items, 8 percent year-over-year growth in revenue, coupled with operating expenses up only 1 percent, drove net income of $1.5 billion, up 12 percent compared with 2015, and diluted earnings per share of $4.53, up 12 percent.

“Our diverse risk management products and services continue to increase in demand, especially given the unpredictable nature of ongoing geopolitical changes, and our trading volume for the fourth quarter and full-year 2016 increased more than 12 percent, driving double-digit earnings growth over both periods,” said CME Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Terry Duffy.  “Looking ahead, the opportunity to provide solutions to our global clients has never been greater, and the fact our open interest exceeded 120 million contracts for the first time ever during the fourth quarter shows how engaged they are in our markets.  Further, by driving volume growth and remaining very focused on expense discipline, we were able to declare $1.9 billion of dividends for our shareholders during 2016.”

Fourth-quarter 2016 average daily volume was 16.3 million contracts, up 24 percent from fourth-quarter 2015.  Clearing and transaction fee revenue was $769 million, up 13 percent compared with fourth-quarter 2015.  Fourth-quarter 2016 total average rate per contract was $0.731 cents, down from $0.750 in third-quarter 2016, driven by larger proportion of interest rate volume as well as higher member trading.  Market data revenue was $100 million, up 1 percent compared with the fourth quarter last year.

Full-year 2016 record average daily volume was 15.6 million contracts, up 12 percent from 2015, and included annual records for interest rates, energy, agricultural commodities, metals, total options and electronic options.  Clearing and transaction fee revenue was $3 billion up 9 percent compared to 2015.  The average rate per contract in 2016 was $0.754, down 2 percent from $0.769 in 2015.  Market data revenue was $407 million, up 2 percent compared with the prior year.

As of December 31, 2016, the company had $2.0 billion of cash and marketable securities and $2.2 billion of long-term debt.  The company declared dividends during 2016 of $1.9 billion, including the annual variable dividend for 2016 of $1.1 billion, which was paid in January 2017.  The company has returned more than $7.5 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends since the implementation of the variable dividend policy in early 2012.

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