ICE vs. NDAQ: Intercontinental Exchange vs. Nasdaq Stock Comparison
How do Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and Nasdaq (NDAQ) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.
Company Profile
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and Nasdaq (NDAQ) are both classified in the Financial Exchanges & Data sub-industry within the broader Capital Markets industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.
| Profile Item | ICE | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. | Nasdaq, Inc. Common Stock |
| Country/Region | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Financials | Financials |
| GICS Industry Group | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| GICS Industry | Capital Markets | Capital Markets |
| GICS Sub-Industry | Financial Exchanges & Data | Financial Exchanges & Data |
| Market Capitalization | 96.27 billion USD | 59.88 billion USD |
| Currency | USD | USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | Nasdaq |
| Listing Date | November 16, 2005 | July 1, 2002 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Price Performance
Cumulative Growth
Trailing Returns
Calendar-Year Returns
Performance Metrics
| Metric | ICE | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Total Return (1Y) | 18.71% | 26.55% |
| Total Return (3Y, Annualized) | 18.62% | 30.18% |
| Total Return (5Y, Annualized) | 6.59% | 10.68% |
Risk Profile
Drawdown History
Return Distribution
Risk Metrics
| Metric | ICE | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Volatility (1Y, Annualized) | 25.87% | 28.74% |
| Beta (5Y) | 0.82 | 0.94 |
| Max Drawdown (5Y) | -33.97% | -32.57% |
| Avg. Volume (3M) | 3.09M | 3.13M |
Risk-Adjusted Performance
Risk-Return Positioning
Risk-Adjusted Metrics
| Metric | ICE | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio (1Y) | 0.56 | 0.77 |
| Sortino Ratio (1Y) | 0.80 | 1.09 |
Profitability
ROE (TTM)
Both Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 14.40% and Nasdaq (NDAQ) at 17.33% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
14.40%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- ICE
- 14.40%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
NDAQ
Financial Services industry group
17.33%
- Max
- 44.78%
- Q3
- 21.85%
- NDAQ
- 17.33%
- Median
- 12.91%
- Q1
- 4.48%
- Min
- -18.71%
Net Margin (TTM)
For every dollar of sales, both Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 38.14% and Nasdaq (NDAQ) at 36.06% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
38.14%
- Max
- 62.84%
- ICE
- 38.14%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
NDAQ
Financial Services industry group
36.06%
- Max
- 62.84%
- NDAQ
- 36.06%
- Q3
- 28.05%
- Median
- 15.36%
- Q1
- 4.82%
- Min
- -28.52%
Operating Margin (TTM)
Both Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 52.77% and Nasdaq (NDAQ) at 50.57% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
52.77%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- ICE
- 52.77%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
NDAQ
Financial Services industry group
50.57%
- Max
- 107.33%
- Q3
- 55.90%
- NDAQ
- 50.57%
- Median
- 30.09%
- Q1
- 14.60%
- Min
- -44.34%
Profitability Metrics
| Metric | ICE | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM) | 14.40% | 17.33% |
| ROA (TTM) | 2.28% | 6.10% |
| Net Margin (TTM) | 38.14% | 36.06% |
| Operating Margin (TTM) | 52.77% | 50.57% |
| Gross Margin (TTM) | -- | -- |
Growth
Revenue Growth
Both Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 7.47% and Nasdaq (NDAQ) at 11.65% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.
EPS Growth
Nasdaq (NDAQ) at 60.10% sits in the top EPS growth quartile, while Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 20.71% is closer to the peer norm — faster per-share earnings growth for NDAQ.
Growth Metrics
| Metric | ICE | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue Growth (YoY) | 7.47% | 11.65% |
| Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR) | 9.47% | 9.89% |
| EPS Growth (YoY) | 20.71% | 60.10% |
| EPS Growth (3Y CAGR) | 30.77% | 10.99% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
current ratio doesn’t apply on either side: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in Financial Services and Nasdaq (NDAQ) in Financial Services both report balance sheets without a current/non-current split, so their short-term liquidity is better judged through regulatory and funding measures.
Debt / Equity (MRQ)
debt-to-equity ratio is set aside for both: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in Financial Services and Nasdaq (NDAQ) in Financial Services run businesses where balance-sheet leverage is part of the model, so capital-adequacy and funding measures are the better gauges of balance-sheet risk.
Financial Strength Metrics
| Metric | ICE | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Debt / Equity (MRQ) | -- | -- |
| Net Debt / EBITDA | -- | -- |
Dividends
Dividend Yield (TTM)
Both Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 1.17% and Nasdaq (NDAQ) at 1.09% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
1.17%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- ICE
- 1.17%
- Median
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
NDAQ
Financial Services industry group
1.09%
- Max
- 9.77%
- Q3
- 3.92%
- Median
- 1.09%
- NDAQ
- 1.09%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
Both Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 27.79% and Nasdaq (NDAQ) at 31.69% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
27.79%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- ICE
- 27.79%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
NDAQ
Financial Services industry group
31.69%
- Max
- 241.07%
- Q3
- 97.36%
- NDAQ
- 31.69%
- Median
- 25.77%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
Dividend Metrics
| Metric | ICE | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.17% | 1.09% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 27.79% | 31.69% |
Valuation
P/E Ratio (TTM)
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 23.47 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Nasdaq (NDAQ) at 29.27 sits in the richer quartile — NDAQ needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
23.47
- Max
- 45.85
- Q3
- 24.64
- ICE
- 23.47
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
NDAQ
Financial Services industry group
29.27
- Max
- 45.85
- NDAQ
- 29.27
- Q3
- 24.64
- Median
- 15.37
- Q1
- 9.68
- Min
- 0.16
P/S Ratio (TTM)
Both look expensive on sales: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 8.82 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Nasdaq (NDAQ) at 10.36 prices even higher, above its industry range.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
8.82
- Max
- 9.23
- ICE
- 8.82
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
NDAQ
Financial Services industry group
10.36
- NDAQ
- 10.36
- Max
- 9.23
- Q3
- 4.57
- Median
- 2.72
- Q1
- 1.28
- Min
- -0.55
P/B Ratio (MRQ)
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at 3.22 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Nasdaq (NDAQ) at 4.99 carries an above-peer premium to book — NDAQ is pricier on assets.
ICE
Financial Services industry group
3.22
- Max
- 7.79
- Q3
- 3.63
- ICE
- 3.22
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
NDAQ
Financial Services industry group
4.99
- Max
- 7.79
- NDAQ
- 4.99
- Q3
- 3.63
- Median
- 1.57
- Q1
- 0.81
- Min
- -0.39
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | ICE | NDAQ |
|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio (TTM) | 23.47 | 29.27 |
| P/S Ratio (TTM) | 8.82 | 10.36 |
| P/B Ratio (MRQ) | 3.22 | 4.99 |
| Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM) | -- | -- |