10-Q/APeriod: Q1 FY2002

CME GROUP INC. Quarterly Report (Amendment) for Q1 Ended Mar 31, 2002

Filed September 26, 2002For Securities:CME

Summary

CME Group Inc. (CME) reported solid financial performance for the first quarter of 2002, as detailed in this amended 10-Q filing. The company saw a significant increase in trading volume, up 34.3% year-over-year, reaching a record 120.5 million contracts. This growth was primarily driven by strong performance in interest rate and equity index contracts, with electronic trading on the GLOBEX platform also showing substantial gains. Despite increased revenue driven by higher volumes, net revenue grew by a more modest 9.7% due to factors like volume discounts, limits on certain GLOBEX fees, and a decrease in non-member trade participation. Net income rose to $22.7 million from $17.9 million in the prior year, largely influenced by a significant non-cash stock-based compensation adjustment. Excluding this non-cash item, operating income saw a slight decrease, reflecting increased operating expenses related to headcount, professional fees, and promotion. The company continues to invest in technology and expand its offerings, including new market data services.

Key Highlights

  • 1Total revenues increased by 12.9% to $104.1 million for Q1 2002 compared to $92.2 million in Q1 2001.
  • 2Net income increased by 26.6% to $22.7 million in Q1 2002, up from $17.9 million in Q1 2001, largely due to a significant positive adjustment in stock-based compensation.
  • 3Trading volume surged by 34.3% year-over-year, reaching a record 120.5 million contracts in Q1 2002.
  • 4Electronic trading via the GLOBEX platform saw substantial growth, with volume increasing by 94.5% to represent 25.3% of total volume.
  • 5Clearing and transaction fees rose by 9.8% to $77.9 million, driven by higher volumes but partially offset by volume discounts and fee limits.
  • 6Operating expenses increased by 1.5% to $63.2 million, with notable increases in salaries, professional fees, and depreciation, partially offset by a significant decrease in stock-based compensation.
  • 7The company made an additional investment of $3.1 million in its joint venture, OneChicago, LLC.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary driver of revenue growth is a significant increase in trading volume, which rose by 34.3% year-over-year. This surge in activity, particularly in interest rate and equity index contracts, led to higher clearing and transaction fees, although the net revenue growth was moderated by volume discounts and fee structures.

Net income increased primarily due to a substantial favorable adjustment in stock-based compensation expense, which is a non-cash item. This adjustment significantly boosted reported net income. Excluding this, the operating margin slightly decreased due to increased operating expenses and the impact of revenue-mitigating factors like volume discounts on per-contract fees.

CME Group contributed an additional $3.1 million to its joint venture, OneChicago, LLC, in the first quarter of 2002. As of March 31, 2002, CME Group held a 42% interest in OneChicago. The joint venture reported a net loss of $0.5 million for the quarter, which is reflected in CME's 'Other Revenue' as a reduction.

The company restated its financial statements for the quarters ended March 31, 2002 and 2001, primarily to correct the accounting treatment for a stock option granted to the CEO. This restatement resulted in an increase in net income for Q1 2002 from $17.1 million to $22.7 million and for Q1 2001 from $19.9 million to $17.9 million, impacting reported earnings per share significantly.