Intercontinental Exchange ICE is poised to grow on the strength of its compelling portfolio, expansive risk-management services, strategic buyouts, solid balance sheet and effective capital deployment. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 and 2025 earnings has moved up 1 cent each in the past seven days, reflecting analysts’ optimism.
Shares of this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company have gained 6.6% year to date, outperforming the industry’s increase of 4.4%.
Earnings of ICE grew 10% in the last five years, better than the industry average of 9.8%. Intercontinental has a solid surprise history, beating earnings estimates in three of the last four reported quarters while missing in one, the average being 2.94%.
Its return on invested capital in the trailing 12 months was 6.6%, outperforming the industry average of 4.8%. This reflects its efficiency in utilizing funds to generate income.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Can the Stock Retain the Momentum?
Intercontinental Exchange’s top line has been improving over the years, increasing at a five-year CAGR of 10%. An expansive and compelling product and a broad range of risk management services should help it retain momentum.
Apart from organic growth, ICE has an impressive inorganic growth track record, which also helps it achieve expense synergies. The Black Knight acquisition complements its existing revenue streams and improves the mix of high-growth recurring revenues. ICE estimates mid-single digit growth in Fixed Income and Data Services recurring revenues.
With more than 5,000 indices representing more than $1 trillion in benchmark assets under management, ICE is the second-largest global fixed-income provider.
The U.S. residential mortgage industry is experiencing accelerated digitization. ICE, with the largest mortgage network across the United States, remains well poised to benefit from this trend. Intercontinental projects Mortgage revenues to grow at an average annual rate of 8-10% over the next 10 years, while the Mortgage Technology business is expected to grow in the low to mid-teens. ICE estimates total revenues from the mortgage technology business to be flat to down in the low-single-digit range in 2024.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 earnings is pegged at $5.95, indicating an increase of 5.9% year over year on 15.3% higher revenues of $9.2 billion. The consensus estimate for 2025 earnings is pegged at $6.59, implying an upside of 10.7% on 5.5% higher revenues of $9.7 billion. The long-term earnings growth rate is currently pegged at 9%, better than the industry average of 8.1%.
Its healthy and minimal risk-based balance sheet is likely to continue providing stability and buoyancy over the medium to long term while supporting strategic investments.
A solid capital position aids Intercontinental Exchange in distributing wealth to shareholders through share buybacks and dividends. While ICE has more than doubled its dividends in the last six years, it has $2.5 billion remaining under its authorization kitty.
Stocks to Consider
Some better-ranked stocks from the finance sector are Coinbase Global COIN, First BanCorp FBP and Morgan Stanley MS. Each stock presently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Coinbase delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 364.63%. COIN stock has gained 27.8% year to date. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COIN’s 2024 EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of 1,804.5%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for First BanCorp’s 2024 and 2025 EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of 3.5% and 6.2%, respectively. Year to date, FBP has gained 9.6%. First BanCorp delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 17.05%.
Morgan Stanley delivered a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 11.15%. Year to date, the stock has risen 9%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MS’s 2024 and 2025 earnings suggests a year-over-year rise of 25.3% and 13.3%, respectively.
Buy 5 Stocks BEFORE Election Day
Biden or Trump? Zacks is releasing a FREE Special Report, Profit from the 2024 Presidential Election (no matter who wins).
Since 1950, presidential election years have been strong for the market. This report names 5 timely stocks to ride the wave of electoral excitement.
They include a medical manufacturer that gained +11,000% in the last 15 years… a rental company absolutely crushing its sector… an energy powerhouse planning to grow its already large dividend by 25%… an aerospace and defense standout that just landed a potentially $80 billion contract… and a giant chipmaker building huge plants in the U.S.
Morgan Stanley (MS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (ICE) : Free Stock Analysis Report
First BanCorp. (FBP) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Coinbase Global, Inc. (COIN) : Free Stock Analysis Report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
