Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: ICEAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

ICE AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) operates leading global exchanges, data services, and mortgage technology platforms. In FY2025, the company grew revenue 7.5% to $12.64B while generating $4.29B in free cash flow. Over the trailing twelve months, ICE maintained a robust operating margin of 52.6% with diluted EPS of $7.09.

Market cap
$90.70B
Revenue (TTM)
$10.56B
P/E
22.8x
fwd 18.1x
1Y return
6.8%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$187.53
16.1% vs last close

Bull case

  • Operating margin expanded to 52.6% over the trailing twelve months, reflecting significant operating efficiency.
  • Free cash flow generation remained strong at $4.29B in FY2025, comfortably supporting $1.39B in share repurchases and $1.10B in dividends.
  • Analysts expect FY2026 EPS to increase 17.5% to $8.17, supported by a perfect track record of 4 EPS beats over the last four quarters.

Bear case

  • The stock trades at a forward P/E of 18.1x and a price-to-sales ratio of 8.6x, both substantially higher than the peer medians of 12.2x and 3.1x.
  • ICE carries $18.57B in net debt with cash and short-term investments of only $1.95B as of June 30, 2026.
  • ICE's 1-year share price return of 6.8% significantly lagged the S&P 500 return of 16.8%.

What Intercontinental Exchange does

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. delivers market infrastructure, data services, and technology solutions to financial institutions, corporations, and government entities across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The company operates through three segments: Exchanges, Fixed Income and Data Services, and Mortgage Technology. Its Exchanges segment runs regulated venues and clearinghouses for trading derivatives, commodities, interest rates, foreign exchange, and cash equities. Fixed Income and Data Services supplies market data, analytics, and connectivity. Its Mortgage Technology segment provides residential mortgage origination platforms, closing solutions, and data tools. Founded in 2000, ICE is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Growth and profitability

Between FY2020 and FY2025, ICE delivered a 5-year revenue compound annual growth rate of 8.9%. Annual revenue expanded from $9.17B in FY2021 to $12.64B in FY2025, with net income rising from $4.06B in FY2021 to $3.30B in FY2025 following a dip to $1.45B in FY2022. Gross margin reached 61.9% in FY2025, up from 54.7% in FY2021, while operating margin hit 38.7%. For the trailing twelve months, revenue stood at $10.56B with an operating margin of 52.6% and a net profit margin of 38.2%. In the quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue increased 4.8% year-over-year, and earnings climbed 14.2%.

ICE income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, ICE held $1.95B in cash and short-term investments against $20.53B in total debt, resulting in net debt of $18.57B. Total assets stood at $174.25B and shareholders' equity was $29.55B, reflecting a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 1.01. During FY2025, the business produced $4.66B in operating cash flow and invested $373.0M in capital expenditures. Capital returns in FY2025 included $1.39B in share buybacks and $1.10B in dividends paid, while the 5-year share count grew 0.2%.

ICE balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

ICE trades at a trailing price-to-earnings multiple of 22.8x and a forward P/E of 18.1x, higher than the median of its S&P 500 Financial Services peers at 14.2x and 12.2x, respectively. The company carries an enterprise value of $105.68B and an EV-to-EBITDA multiple of 13.8x, which sits below the peer median of 15.7x. Over the past year, ICE stock posted a return of 6.8%, trailing the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year period, the stock gained 33.4% compared to 83.0% for the broader index.

ICE key metrics →

ICE dividend

ICE pays a forward annual dividend of $2.08 per share, representing a 1.29% dividend yield and a 26.6% payout ratio. The company has paid consecutive dividends for 14 years, achieving a 5-year annualized dividend growth rate of 9.9%. Dividends are distributed quarterly, with the next ex-dividend date on December 16, 2026.

ICE dividend history →

What analysts expect

Wall Street analysts hold 8 Strong Buy, 5 Buy, 2 Hold, 0 Sell, and 1 Strong Sell recommendations on ICE. The mean price target of $187.53 represents 16.1% upside over the last close of $161.56. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $8.17 (a 17.5% increase) on revenue of $11.07B. For the following fiscal year, 15 analysts forecast EPS of $8.89 on revenue of $11.72B. The company beat EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, with next earnings scheduled for October 29, 2026.

ICE forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • A debt burden of $20.53B leaves the company with net debt of $18.57B and a tight current ratio of 1.01.
  • Quarterly revenue growth decelerated to 4.8% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026, below the peer median of 10.3%.
  • A valuation multiple of 22.8x trailing earnings leaves the stock vulnerable if FY2026 revenue misses the $11.07B analyst estimate.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this ICE AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: ICE income statement, ICE balance sheet, ICE key metrics, ICE analyst forecast, ICE chart. See the ICE stock overview for the latest quote and news.

ICE AI stock analysis FAQ

What is ICE's current dividend yield and payout ratio?

ICE pays a forward annual dividend of $2.08 per share, which equals a 1.29% yield. The payout ratio stands at 26.6%.

How does ICE's valuation compare to its peer group?

ICE trades at a trailing P/E of 22.8x and a forward P/E of 18.1x, above the median of its S&P 500 Financial Services peers at 14.2x and 12.2x. However, its EV-to-EBITDA multiple of 13.8x is lower than the peer median of 15.7x.

What is the consensus analyst target price for ICE?

The mean analyst price target is $187.53, which is 16.1% above the stock's closing price of $161.56 on October 16, 2026.

How much debt does ICE have on its balance sheet?

As of June 30, 2026, ICE had $20.53B in total debt and $1.95B in cash and short-term investments, resulting in net debt of $18.57B.

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