CME · 10-Q · 2026Q3 · Full report

Operating Expense Trends

CME GROUP INC. · 2026-10-23 · Importance 37 · Surprise 22 · From source text

Nine-month technology expense increased 15.8% to $240.8 million from $208.0 million, primarily because of increased third-party services supporting the Google Cloud transformation project. Licensing and other fee agreement expenses rose 16.7% to $320.1 million from $274.4 million, primarily due to higher volumes for certain equity products. Total expenses increased 6.2% to $1,765.4 million for the first nine months of 2026, including increases in salaries, benefits, and employer taxes associated with 2026 salary increases and higher headcount, particularly in international locations. Rent expense also increased, reflecting the commencement of a new data center lease in the second quarter of 2026 and lease-space reduction gains recorded in 2025.

Key facts

• CME Group's total expenses were $595.9 million in the third quarter of 2026, compared with $565.0 million in 2025. source
• CME Group's total expenses were $1,765.4 million in the first nine months of 2026, compared with $1,662.0 million in 2025. source
• CME Group's rent expenses were higher partly because a new data center lease commenced in the second quarter of 2026. source
• CME Group's technology support services expenses rose because of increased third-party services supporting the ongoing Google Cloud transformation project. source
• CME Group's salaries, benefits and employer taxes expenses were higher in the first nine months of 2026 due to first-quarter 2026 salary increases and increased headcount, primarily in international locations. source
• Operating expenses increased by $30.9 million in the third quarter and $103.4 million in the first nine months of 2026 compared with the same periods in 2025. source
• CME Group's legal fees decreased primarily because of expenses for membership class action lawsuit litigation in the second and third quarters of 2025. source

Impact estimates