MarketAxess Holdings Inc logo

MarketAxess Holdings Inc(MKTX)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL RECENCY
1-STAR RATING
Consider higher Upturn Star rating
BUY for 74 days
PROFIT SINCE LAST BUY
+2.79% ▲
LAST CLOSE
$165.22
11/13/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for MKTX

11/13/2026: MKTX (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.

MarketAxess Holdings Inc is a prominent financial technology company that operates a leading electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities. The company has a strong position in the corporate bond market, driven by its innovative all-to-all trading protocol known as Open Trading. Its growth story centers on the secular shift of bond trading from manual processes to digital execution, alongside expanding high-margin data and index services. However, it faces intense competitive pressure from incumbents and market-specific risks tied to global bond volumes. Investors should monitor market share trends and the successful adoption of new automated trading features, as the stock remains sensitive to market-wide volatility.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorStrong fitThe company benefits from the secular, multi-year shift toward fixed-income electronification.
Momentum investorMixed fitMomentum depends on positive volume trends and sustained market volatility in bond trading.
Value investorMixed fitThe stock often commands a premium valuation due to its high-margin, software-like business model.
Dividend investorMixed fitWhile they pay a dividend, the focus remains primarily on capital appreciation through growth.
Low-risk investorWeak fitThe company's performance is tied to financial market activity, which carries inherent market volatility.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highAs a financial exchange stock, price fluctuates based on overall market sentiment and interest rate environments.
Valuation riskMediumThe stock often trades at higher multiples, leaving little room for error if growth slows.
Competition risk (traditional and platform incumbents)HighIntense competition from Bloomberg and Tradeweb exerts constant pressure on fees and margins.
Business qualityStrongThe company operates a high-margin, network-effect-driven business with strong recurring revenue.
Dividend incomeLowDividends are a secondary feature to the growth-focused nature of the business.
Execution riskMediumMaintaining complex, low-latency trading infrastructure requires constant innovation and capital investment.

Key Highlights

Company Size Mid-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 5.81B USD
Price to earnings Ratio 20.24
1Y Target Price 162.22
Price to earnings Ratio 20.24
1Y Target Price 162.22
Volume (30-day avg) 762.9K shares
Beta 0.8
52 Weeks Range 107.72 - 193.04
Updated Date 11/13/2026
52 Weeks Range 107.72 - 193.04
Updated Date 11/13/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 1.88%
Basic EPS (TTM) 8.16

Sector & Industry Intelligence

Sector

Financial Services

Constructive
Sentiment
Bullish
Momentum
BUY Breadth Improving
BUY participation
50.4%
Active BUY / eligible
61 / 121
30-Day BUY Count Change
+45
Market state
Bullish

More qualifying stocks are receiving or maintaining BUY advisories, indicating improving market participation.

Industry

Capital Markets

BUY participation
0.0%
Active BUY / eligible
0 / 11
30-Day BUY Count Change
-1

Sector signal summarizes BUY breadth conditions for the sector. It does not override this stock’s BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory.

Price Behavior

Flat / Range-Bound
PRICE PATH

Flat / Range-Bound

The stock price has been trading within a narrow range with minimal directional movement.

Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Choppy

The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 14.85%
Avg. Invested days 43
Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 2.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/13/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
MKTX receives a 4-star rating, supported by strong unit economics, and solid company fundamentals. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum, and limited analyst upside.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
MKTX has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, moderate growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong cash generation (FCF margin 44.0%) and strong profitability (net margin 29.0%) are partially offset by negative earnings growth (-10.0%), moderate revenue growth (+3.8%), very low insider ownership of 0.87%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
MKTX's financial health is supported by strong liquidity, including working-capital and asset support (WC/assets 41.0%). Cash strength is solid (4 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Free-cash-flow growth is MKTX's strongest growth driver at +13.8% FY2025 versus FY2024 (solid, 4 stars). By comparison, while earnings growth (-10.0%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 104.7% and approximately 84.2% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership is only 0.87%, which materially reduces the ownership score.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 11.36%
PRIMECAP Management Company 9.96%
North Reef Capital Management LP 9.65%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 5.97%
AQR Capital Management LLC 5.65%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
MKTX generates approximately $699 of gross profit, $412 of operating income, and $440 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong margins, cash conversion, and capital efficiency support the rating.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 32.72%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
MKTX has a high-quality, liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Quality TiltSmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Trading CommissionsVariable transaction fees earned from trades executed on the MarketAxess platform.The company acts like a marketplace tollbooth, charging fees whenever investors or dealers trade bonds.
Information ServicesSubscription revenue from proprietary data, indices, and analytics products.Steady, predictable income from selling data that traders need to make decisions.
Post-Trade ServicesFees for regulatory reporting and processing services.Recurring revenue from helping banks comply with complex financial regulations.

Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth

Revenue by Products

Product revenue - Year on Year

Revenue by Geography

Geography revenue - Year on Year

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-10-23
When Before Market
Estimate 1.95
Actual 1.86

Profitability

Profit Margin 33.51%
Operating Margin (TTM) 41.19%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 10.46%
Return on Equity (TTM) 21.85%

Valuation

Trailing PE 20.24
Forward PE 19.12
Enterprise Value 5.59B
Price to Sales(TTM) 6.67
Enterprise Value 5.59B
Price to Sales(TTM) 6.67
Enterprise Value to Revenue 6.41
Enterprise Value to EBITDA 12.69
Shares Outstanding 35.20M
Shares Floating 29.63M
Shares Outstanding 35.20M
Shares Floating 29.63M
Percent Insiders 0.87
Percent Institutions 104.68

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.