MarketAxess Reports Record Q4 Trading Volume Amid Sector Rotation
MarketAxess Holdings Inc. experienced a price decline of 5.02%, crossing below the 5-day SMA, while the broader market showed positive movements with the Nasdaq-100 up 0.67% and the S&P 500 up 0.25%.
This decline occurs amid a significant report from MarketAxess, which highlighted a record Q4 trading volume with a 29% growth in client-initiated trades. The company's performance in U.S. credit trading increased by 21%, and emerging markets trading surged by 41%, indicating strong client demand and a robust position in the fixed-income market. Despite these positive developments, the stock's movement suggests sector rotation as investors may be reallocating their investments.
The implications of this price movement could indicate a temporary shift in investor sentiment, as the strong trading volume and market share growth reflect the company's solid fundamentals. However, the stock's decline may prompt investors to reassess their positions in light of broader market trends.
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- Record Revenue: MarketAxess achieved a record revenue of $846 million in Q4 2025, reflecting a 10% year-over-year growth, which underscores the company's successful expansion in global markets and investment in multiprotocol solutions, enhancing its competitive edge.
- Cash Flow and Return Plans: The company generated $347 million in free cash flow in 2025 and returned $474 million to investors through share repurchases and dividends, further boosting investor confidence while announcing a $400 million capital return plan, indicating strong financial health.
- Trading Volume Growth: Block trading ADV increased by 29%, with a 28% market share in U.S. high-yield portfolio trading, demonstrating robust momentum in electronic trading, which is expected to drive future revenue growth.
- Future Outlook: The CFO projected mid-single-digit growth in services revenue for 2026, with expenses expected to range between $530 million and $545 million, while management reiterated an 8% to 9% revenue growth target over the next three years, reflecting confidence in sustained growth.
- Dividend Increase: MarketAxess has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.78 per share, reflecting a 2.6% increase from the previous $0.76, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to stable cash flow and shareholder returns.
- Revenue Growth Target: The company outlines an ambitious revenue growth target of 8%-9% through 2028, driven primarily by a surge in block trading, which is expected to enhance its competitive position and attract more investor interest.
- Financial Performance: While MarketAxess reported a non-GAAP EPS of $1.68, beating estimates by $0.04, its revenue of $209.4 million fell short of expectations by $1.95 million, indicating challenges in the current market environment.
- Shareholder Returns: The dividend will be payable on March 4, with a record date of February 18, signaling the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders while actively navigating market volatility challenges.
- Earnings Beat: MarketAxess reported a Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $1.68, exceeding expectations by $0.04, indicating strong profitability despite revenue falling slightly short of forecasts.
- Revenue Growth Challenges: Total revenue reached $209.4 million, up 3.5% year-over-year, but missed expectations, primarily impacted by foreign currency fluctuations, highlighting challenges in the market environment.
- Strong Trading Channel Performance: The Client-Initiated Channel saw a 29% increase in average daily volume, with emerging markets and eurobonds growing by 41% and 43% respectively, demonstrating success in the company's diversified trading strategies.
- Cautious Future Outlook: For 2026, the company expects mid-single-digit growth in service revenue, an 8% increase in expenses, and capital expenditures between $65 million and $75 million, reflecting a cautious approach to future investments.
- Philip Morris Earnings Outlook: The expected EPS for Q4 2025 is $1.67, representing a 7.74% increase year-over-year, showcasing the company's ability to consistently exceed market expectations and enhancing its competitive edge in the tobacco industry.
- Cboe Global Markets Performance: The forecasted EPS is $2.93, reflecting a significant 39.52% increase from the previous year, indicating a strong recovery and improved profitability that may attract more investor interest.
- Biogen Earnings Warning: The anticipated EPS is $1.60, a substantial 53.49% decrease compared to last year, highlighting significant challenges the company faces, which could impact market confidence and stock performance.
- AerCap's Stability: The expected EPS is $3.31, unchanged from last year, indicating the company's resilience in the transportation sector, maintaining profitability despite industry fluctuations.
- Earnings Announcement Date: MarketAxess is set to release its Q4 earnings on February 6 before market open, with consensus EPS estimate at $1.64 and revenue estimate at $211.35 million, reflecting a 4.4% year-over-year growth, which will provide critical insights into the company's financial health.
- Historical Performance: Over the past year, MarketAxess has beaten EPS estimates 100% of the time and revenue estimates 75% of the time, indicating the company's reliability in financial forecasting and bolstering market confidence.
- Estimate Revision Dynamics: In the last three months, EPS estimates have seen one upward revision and eight downward revisions, while revenue estimates have experienced two upward revisions and six downward revisions, suggesting a cautious market sentiment regarding the company's future performance.
- Stock Buyback Plan: MarketAxess has recently increased its stock repurchase authorization to $505 million, a move that not only reflects the company's confidence in its stock value but may also enhance shareholder returns and strengthen market expectations for future growth.
- Record Trading Volume: MarketAxess reported a total credit trading volume of $18.6 billion in January 2026, marking a 28% year-over-year increase, with emerging markets achieving a record average daily volume (ADV) of $5.5 billion, indicating robust performance and sustained market demand in the fixed-income sector.
- Emerging Markets Surge: The ADV for emerging markets reached $5.468 billion, up 50% from last year, showcasing the company's expanding capabilities in global markets and significantly enhancing its competitive position, which may lead to increased market share.
- Multi-Channel Trading Growth: The client-initiated trading channel saw a 56% increase in ADV, with U.S. high-grade bonds achieving an ADV of $2.8 billion, a 33% rise, demonstrating the success of the company's diversified trading strategies and enhancing client retention and market competitiveness.
- Commission Revenue Growth: Although the total credit variable transaction fee per million declined by 4% year-over-year, the increase in trading volume is expected to drive significant revenue growth, reflecting the company's strong profitability and ongoing revenue generation potential in the market.






