ICE vs. CME
ICE (Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.) and CME (CME Group Inc.) are both stocks. Both operate in the Financial Data & Stock Exchanges industry within the Financial Services sector. Over the past 10 years, ICE returned 11.46%/yr vs 14.41%/yr for CME. A 0.59 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
ICE vs. CME - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ICE achieves a -14.24% return, which is significantly lower than CME's -5.27% return. Over the past 10 years, ICE has underperformed CME with an annualized return of 11.46%, while CME has yielded a comparatively higher 14.41% annualized return.
ICE
- 1D
- -2.76%
- 1M
- -11.50%
- YTD
- -14.24%
- 6M
- -11.18%
- 1Y
- -21.89%
- 3Y*
- 10.02%
- 5Y*
- 5.65%
- 10Y*
- 11.46%
CME
- 1D
- 0.84%
- 1M
- -12.97%
- YTD
- -5.27%
- 6M
- -5.27%
- 1Y
- -7.08%
- 3Y*
- 15.77%
- 5Y*
- 7.35%
- 10Y*
- 14.41%
ICE vs. CME - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ICE Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. | -14.24% | 9.92% | 17.46% | 27.12% | -23.91% | 19.94% | 26.15% | 24.47% | 8.11% | 26.60% |
CME CME Group Inc. | -5.27% | 19.83% | 15.41% | 31.32% | -22.89% | 29.47% | -6.34% | 9.67% | 32.15% | 32.35% |
Correlation
The correlation between ICE and CME is 0.40, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.40 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.35 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.48 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 17, 2005 | 0.59 |
The correlation between ICE and CME shifts across timeframes, from 0.35 (3 years) to 0.59 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
ICE:
$78.92B
CME:
$91.76B
ICE:
$6.85
CME:
$11.75
ICE:
20.22
CME:
21.50
ICE:
2.44
CME:
1.88
ICE:
6.06
CME:
13.50
ICE:
2.67
CME:
3.45
ICE:
$13.08B
CME:
$6.76B
ICE:
$8.93B
CME:
$5.84B
ICE:
$7.05B
CME:
$5.69B
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Return for Risk
ICE vs. CME — Risk / Return Rank
ICE
CME
ICE vs. CME - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) and CME Group Inc. (CME). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| ICE | CME | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.67 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.97 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.83 | 0.96 | -0.12 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.85 | -0.33 | -0.52 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.67 | -1.19 | -0.49 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| ICE | CME | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -1.02 | -0.35 | -0.67 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.27 | 0.37 | -0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.52 | 0.61 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.42 | 0.59 | -0.17 |
Drawdowns
ICE vs. CME - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ICE drawdown since its inception was -73.94%, roughly equal to the maximum CME drawdown of -77.50%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ICE and CME.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ICE | CME | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -73.94% | -77.50% | +3.56% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -25.87% | -21.42% | -4.45% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.87% | -21.42% | -4.45% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.32% | -31.74% | -2.58% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.32% | -37.36% | +3.04% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -25.87% | -20.76% | -5.11% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.46% | -20.69% | +4.23% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 13.10% | 6.03% | +7.07% |
Volatility
ICE vs. CME - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE) is 5.38%, while CME Group Inc. (CME) has a volatility of 9.91%. This indicates that ICE experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CME based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ICE | CME | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.38% | 9.91% | -4.53% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.30% | 16.74% | +1.56% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.57% | 20.47% | +1.10% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.02% | 20.03% | +0.99% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.17% | 23.87% | -1.70% |
Dividends
ICE vs. CME - Dividend Comparison
ICE's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.42%, less than CME's 4.43% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CME CME Group Inc. | 4.43% | 1.83% | 4.48% | 4.58% | 5.05% | 3.00% | 3.24% | 2.74% | 2.42% | 4.20% | 4.90% | 5.41% |
ICE Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. | 1.42% | 1.19% | 1.21% | 1.31% | 1.48% | 0.97% | 1.04% | 1.19% | 1.27% | 1.13% | 1.21% | 1.13% |
Financials
ICE vs. CME - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and CME Group Inc.. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
ICE vs. CME - Profitability Comparison
ICE - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. reported a gross profit of 2.89B and revenue of 3.67B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 78.8%.
CME - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, CME Group Inc. reported a gross profit of 1.66B and revenue of 1.88B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 88.1%.
ICE - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. reported an operating income of 1.67B and revenue of 3.67B, resulting in an operating margin of 45.4%.
CME - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, CME Group Inc. reported an operating income of 1.31B and revenue of 1.88B, resulting in an operating margin of 69.7%.
ICE - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. reported a net income of 1.41B and revenue of 3.67B, resulting in a net margin of 38.5%.
CME - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, CME Group Inc. reported a net income of 1.15B and revenue of 1.88B, resulting in a net margin of 61.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions
ICE and CME have a correlation of 0.40, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
CME has higher volatility (9.91%) compared to ICE (5.38%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ICE dropped -73.94% vs CME's -77.50%.
CME currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (-0.35 vs -1.02), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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