Interactive Brokers Group Reports Brokerage Metrics and Other Financial Information for March 2026, includes Reg.-NMS Execution Statistics
MWN-AI** Summary
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IBKR), a leading automated electronic brokerage firm, released its brokerage metrics for March 2026, showcasing significant performance highlights. The company reported a Daily Average Revenue Trades (DARTs) figure of 4.329 million, marking a 25% increase compared to the previous year, although it dropped by 1% from the prior month. The total client equity at the end of March was $789.4 billion, a robust 38% increase year-on-year, yet it saw a 4% decrease month-over-month.
Moreover, ending client margin loan balances stood at $86.0 billion, reflecting a 35% year-over-year growth but a 4% decline from February 2026. Client credit balances rose to $168.8 billion, including $6.5 billion from insured bank deposit sweeps, up 35% from the previous year and 4% higher than last month. The number of client accounts reached 4.754 million, up 31% year-on-year and 2% monthly.
Interactive Brokers also provided data on execution statistics related to U.S. Reg-NMS stocks, reporting an average trade value of $24,483 in March 2026. The total cost of executing and clearing these trades was about 1.7 basis points, an improvement over the rolling twelve-month average of 2.3 basis points.
Despite facing a reported loss of $772,000 in its U.S. government securities portfolio for the quarter ending March 31, the overall business metrics reflect strong client engagement and growth. The firm continues to emphasize its commitment to technology, automation, and providing competitive execution pricing to its diverse client base, which spans individual investors, hedge funds, and financial advisors, among others.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Based on the March 2026 performance metrics from Interactive Brokers Group, an analysis presents a mixed yet promising outlook for potential investors. The brokerage reported 4.329 million Daily Average Revenue Trades (DARTs), illustrating a healthy 25% year-over-year growth, although this reflects a slight 1% decrease from the previous month. Less favorable trends were observed in client equity and margin loan balances, which fell 4% sequentially to $789.4 billion and $86 billion, respectively. However, the year-over-year increases—38% and 35%—indicate significant growth over a longer timeframe.
Notably, the ending client credit balances rose to $168.8 billion—a 35% increase year-over-year and a 4% rise month-over-month—suggesting a strengthening client confidence and engagement with Interactive Brokers. This aspect, combined with a remarkable 31% rise in client accounts since the previous year, underlines the firm’s expanding market base that could drive future revenue growth.
The execution statistics are particularly noteworthy, as the average cost of executing Reg.-NMS stocks for IBKR Pro clients was approximately 1.7 basis points against a daily VWAP benchmark. This slight increase from the previous twelve-month average reflects competitive pricing in trade execution—favorable for trader retention.
While the mark-to-market loss in U.S. government securities may raise a cautionary flag, it is essential to view this in the context of long-term holding strategies, where such fluctuations are typically temporary. The company’s robust technology infrastructure and emphasis on automation can continue to position it favorably amidst industry shifts and increased retail trading volume.
In conclusion, prospective investors should consider Interactive Brokers’ strong client engagement metrics, competitive execution costs, and robust technological foundation, while remaining vigilant of short-term liquidity fluctuations. Continued growth is expected, driven primarily by expanding client accounts and broker usage in a competitive landscape.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IBKR) an automated global electronic broker, today reported its Electronic Brokerage monthly performance metrics for March.
Brokerage highlights for the month included:
- 4.329 million Daily Average Revenue Trades (DARTs) 1 , 25% higher than prior year and 1% lower than prior month.
- Ending client equity of $789.4 billion, 38% higher than prior year and 4% lower than prior month.
- Ending client margin loan balances of $86.0 billion, 35% higher than prior year and 4% lower than prior month.
- Ending client credit balances of $168.8 billion, including $6.5 billion in insured bank deposit sweeps 2 , 35% higher than prior year and 4% higher than prior month.
- 4.754 million client accounts, 31% higher than prior year and 2% higher than prior month.
- 199 annualized average cleared DARTs 1 per client account.
- Average commission per cleared Commissionable Order 3 of $2.74 including exchange, clearing and regulatory fees. Key products:
| March 2026 | Average | Average Commission per | ||
Order Size | Cleared Commissionable Order | |||
| Stocks | 900 shares | $2.06 | ||
| Equity Options | 6.4 contracts | $3.75 | ||
| Futures | 3.0 contracts | $4.27 |
Futures include options on futures. We estimate exchange, clearing and regulatory fees to be 58% of the futures commissions.
Other financial information for Interactive Brokers Group:
- Mark to market on U.S. government securities portfolio 4 was a loss of $772,000 for the quarter ended March 31 st .
- GLOBAL 5 : The value of the GLOBAL, reported in U.S. dollars, decreased by 0.54% in March and decreased by 0.57% for the quarter ended March 31 st .
In the interest of transparency, we quantify our IBKR PRO clients’ all-in cost of trade execution below.
For the full multimedia release with graph see link:
https://www.interactivebrokers.com/MonthlyMetrics
- Average U.S. Reg-NMS stock trade was $24,483 in March (dividing 2c by 1a in table below).
- In March, IBKR PRO clients’ total cost of executing and clearing U.S. Reg.-NMS stocks through IB was about 1.7 basis points of trade money 6 , as, measured against a daily VWAP 7 benchmark (2.3 basis points net cost for the rolling twelve months).
| IBKR PRO Clients' Reg.-NMS Stock Trading Expense Detail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All amounts are in millions, except % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Previous | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apr '25 | May '25 | June '25 | July '25 | Aug '25 | Sep '25 | Oct '25 | Nov '25 | Dec '25 | Jan '26 | Feb '26 | Mar '26 | 12 Months | ||||||||||||||
| #1a - Number of orders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Buys | 13.79 | 12.15 | 12.36 | 13.94 | 13.28 | 14.80 | 19.06 | 13.73 | 11.92 | 15.26 | 13.79 | 14.99 | 169.07 | |||||||||||||
| Sells | 10.16 | 9.49 | 9.57 | 10.51 | 9.75 | 11.09 | 14.10 | 9.80 | 8.74 | 10.84 | 9.77 | 11.16 | 124.98 | |||||||||||||
| Total | 23.95 | 21.65 | 21.94 | 24.45 | 23.03 | 25.89 | 33.16 | 23.54 | 20.66 | 26.10 | 23.56 | 26.15 | 294.05 | |||||||||||||
| #1b - Number of shares purchased or sold | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares bought | 6,008 | 5,659 | 5,422 | 6,915 | 5,755 | 6,343 | 8,692 | 5,535 | 4,959 | 6,028 | 5,216 | 6,037 | 72,568 | |||||||||||||
| Shares sold | 5,850 | 5,212 | 5,100 | 6,444 | 5,493 | 6,025 | 8,226 | 5,329 | 4,633 | 5,651 | 5,039 | 5,884 | 68,884 | |||||||||||||
| Total | 11,858 | 10,871 | 10,522 | 13,358 | 11,247 | 12,368 | 16,918 | 10,864 | 9,592 | 11,679 | 10,254 | 11,921 | 141,452 | |||||||||||||
| #2 - Trade money including price, commissions and fees | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2a Buy money | $254,062 | $222,977 | $222,050 | $242,089 | $243,723 | $269,595 | $346,785 | $269,238 | $235,591 | $288,332 | $284,291 | $316,467 | $3,195,200 | |||||||||||||
| 2b Sell money | $259,783 | $219,486 | $219,444 | $237,255 | $238,138 | $263,885 | $340,246 | $266,447 | $231,495 | $280,262 | $281,352 | $323,751 | $3,161,544 | |||||||||||||
| 2c Total | $513,845 | $442,463 | $441,494 | $479,345 | $481,861 | $533,479 | $687,031 | $535,685 | $467,087 | $568,594 | $565,644 | $640,218 | $6,356,745 | |||||||||||||
| #3 - Trade value at Daily VWAP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3a Buy value | $254,052 | $223,005 | $222,033 | $241,994 | $243,696 | $269,551 | $346,696 | $269,135 | $235,484 | $288,158 | $284,342 | $316,462 | $3,194,609 | |||||||||||||
| 3b Sell value | $259,985 | $219,608 | $219,540 | $237,248 | $238,200 | $263,939 | $340,324 | $266,503 | $231,527 | $280,198 | $281,478 | $323,858 | $3,162,408 | |||||||||||||
| 3c Total | $514,038 | $442,613 | $441,573 | $479,242 | $481,896 | $533,490 | $687,020 | $535,638 | $467,010 | $568,356 | $565,820 | $640,320 | $6,357,017 | |||||||||||||
| #4 - Total trade expense, including commissions and fees, relative to Daily VWAP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4a Buys (2a-3a) | $9.6 | ($28.0) | $17.0 | $95.3 | $26.8 | $43.3 | $89.0 | $102.5 | $107.4 | $174.5 | ($51.1) | $5.1 | $591.3 | |||||||||||||
| 4b Sells (3b-2b) | $202.8 | $122.0 | $96.5 | ($7.6) | $61.6 | $54.2 | $78.2 | $56.1 | $31.2 | ($63.7) | $125.6 | $106.9 | $863.7 | |||||||||||||
| 4c Total trade expense | $212.4 | $94.0 | $113.5 | $87.7 | $88.3 | $97.5 | $167.2 | $158.6 | $138.6 | $110.8 | $74.5 | $112.0 | $1,455.1 | |||||||||||||
| Trade expense as percentage of trade money | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4c/2c | 0.041% | 0.021% | 0.026% | 0.018% | 0.018% | 0.018% | 0.024% | 0.030% | 0.030% | 0.019% | 0.013% | 0.017% | 0.023% | |||||||||||||
| #5 - Trade expense categories | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5a Total commissions & fees | $52.7 | $44.5 | $41.5 | $51.4 | $46.4 | $51.0 | $69.2 | $46.1 | $39.2 | $48.4 | $43.4 | $48.6 | $582.4 | |||||||||||||
| 5b Execution cost (4c-5a) | $159.7 | $49.5 | $72.0 | $36.3 | $41.9 | $46.5 | $97.9 | $112.5 | $99.4 | $62.4 | $31.1 | $63.4 | $872.6 | |||||||||||||
| #6 - Trade expense categories as percentage of trade money | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total commissions & fees (5a/2c) | 0.010% | 0.010% | 0.010% | 0.010% | 0.010% | 0.010% | 0.010% | 0.009% | 0.009% | 0.009% | 0.008% | 0.008% | 0.009% | |||||||||||||
| Execution cost (5b/2c) | 0.031% | 0.011% | 0.016% | 0.008% | 0.008% | 0.008% | 0.014% | 0.021% | 0.021% | 0.010% | 0.005% | 0.009% | 0.014% | |||||||||||||
| Net Expense to IB Clients | 0.041% | 0.021% | 0.026% | 0.018% | 0.018% | 0.018% | 0.024% | 0.030% | 0.030% | 0.019% | 0.013% | 0.017% | 0.023% |
The above illustrates that the rolling twelve months’ average all-in cost of an IBKR PRO client U.S. Reg.-NMS stock trade was 2.3 basis points.
________________ |
Note 1: Daily Average Revenue Trades (DARTs) – customer orders divided by the number of trading days in the period.
Note 2: FDIC insured client bank deposit sweep program balances with participating banks. These deposits are not reported in the Company’s statement of financial condition.
Note 3: Commissionable Order – a customer order that generates commissions.
Note 4 : Mark to market gains and losses on investments in U.S. government securities and associated hedges are included in Other Income. In the general course of business, we hold these investments to maturity. As a result, accumulated mark to market gains or losses should converge to zero at maturity. Accounting conventions require broker-dealers, unlike banks, to mark all investments to market.
Note 5: In connection with our currency diversification strategy, we have determined to base our net worth in GLOBALs, a basket of 10 major currencies in which we hold our equity. The total effect of the currency diversification strategy is reported in Comprehensive Income and the components are reported in (1) Other Income and (2) Other Comprehensive Income (“OCI”) on the balance sheet. The effect of the GLOBAL on our comprehensive income can be estimated by multiplying the total equity for the period by the change in the U.S. dollar value of the GLOBAL during the same period.
Note 6: Trade money is the total amount of money clients spent or received, including all commissions and fees.
Note 7: Consistent with the clients’ trading activity, the computed VWAP benchmark includes extended trading hours.
________________ |
More information, including historical results for each of the above metrics, can be found on the investor relations page of the Company’s corporate web site, www.interactivebrokers.com/ir .
About Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.:
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: IBKR) is a member of the S&P 500. Its affiliates provide automated trade execution and custody of securities, commodities, foreign exchange, and forecast contracts around the clock on over 170 markets in numerous countries and currencies from a single unified platform to clients worldwide. We serve individual investors, hedge funds, proprietary trading groups, financial advisors and introducing brokers. Our four decades of focus on technology and automation have enabled us to equip our clients with a uniquely sophisticated platform to manage their investment portfolios. We strive to provide our clients with advantageous execution prices and trading, risk and portfolio management tools, research facilities and investment products, all at low or no cost, positioning them to achieve superior returns on investments. Interactive Brokers has consistently earned recognition as a top broker, garnering multiple awards and accolades from respected industry sources such as Barron's, Investopedia, Stockbrokers.com, and many others.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
The foregoing information contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the company's current views with respect to certain current and future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are and will be, as the case may be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the company's operations and business environment which may cause the company's actual results to be materially different from any future results, expressed or implied, in these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to the company on the date of this release. The company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any statements expressed or implied therein will not be realized. Additional information on risk factors that could potentially affect the company's financial results may be found in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Follow Interactive Brokers on social media:
US and World (except Europe): Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , X , YouTube , TikTok
UK and Europe: Facebook , Instagram , X , TikTok
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260401989925/en/
Contacts for Interactive Brokers Group, Inc.
Media: Katherine Ewert, media@ibkr.com
FAQ**
How has the growth in Daily Average Revenue Trades (DARTs) for Interactive Brokers Group Inc. (IBKR) compared to the overall market trends in trading volume over the past year?
What strategies is Interactive Brokers Group Inc. (IBKR) implementing to address the slight decrease in ending client equity and margin loan balances as seen in the recent report?
Given the marked loss on U.S. government securities, how does Interactive Brokers Group Inc. (IBKR) plan to mitigate risks associated with their investment strategies moving forward?
How does Interactive Brokers Group Inc. (IBKR) maintain its competitive edge in commission costs for clients, especially in light of the 1.7 basis points cost for executing U.S. Reg.-NMS stocks?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Interactive Brokers Group Inc. (NASDAQ: IBKR).
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