Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ)
Nasdaq is the powerhouse behind the famous stock exchange, providing the technology and data that keep global financial markets running smoothly.
Is Nasdaq, Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: There's no rating here and nothing for sale. In its favour: Strong brand recognition as a global financial hub. Worth weighing: High price-to-sales ratio suggests the stock is not cheap. Below, we lay out what it does, what its numbers mean, and the honest risks, so you can decide for yourself.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
How much has Nasdaq, Inc. actually fallen?
Over the last 2 years of daily prices, Nasdaq, Inc. fell as much as −24% from a high to a later low. Drops of this size are a normal part of owning a share - worth knowing in advance, so a dip doesn't come as a shock.
Worst peak-to-trough fall in the daily closing price over the period we hold. Past falls are not a forecast - it can fall further, or recover.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
Nasdaq becomes the dominant global provider of financial infrastructure software.
Increased competition in financial technology erodes market share.
What does Nasdaq, Inc. do?
While most people know Nasdaq as the home for big tech stocks, it actually makes most of its money by selling software, data, and analytics to other financial firms. It acts like the 'plumbing' of the stock market, charging fees for trading, listing companies, and providing the tech that banks use to fight financial crime. How smoothly they absorb recent big acquisitions, like the software firm Adenza, will decide whether they keep growing beyond just being a stock exchange.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on quality and income, and weakest on value.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 1.2% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 15% over the year
- ✓Very profitable - turns about 35% of sales into profit
- ✓Strong return on shareholder money (ROE 17%)
- Quality screens high (73/100)
- Strong brand recognition as a global financial hub
- High profit margins due to software-focused business model
- Diversified income streams beyond just stock trading fees
- Regulatory changes could impact how exchanges operate and charge fees
- Technological disruption from new, agile financial platforms
- Economic downturns leading to fewer companies choosing to list on the exchange
What do Nasdaq, Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does Nasdaq, Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does Nasdaq, Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes - Nasdaq, Inc. currently pays a dividend of about 1.2% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
What do the numbers say about Nasdaq, Inc.'s dividend?
There's no rating here, and we don't judge whether the dividend will continue - that would be advice. Here are the figures income investors usually look at, and what each one means, so you can weigh it up yourself.
Figures are from the latest available data and can be distorted by one-off results. Past payments don't predict future ones, and a dividend can be cut at any time. This lays out the numbers to help you understand them - it is not a view on what will happen.
When does Nasdaq, Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
Nasdaq, Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-22 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-23 | $0.98 | $1.07 | Beat +9% |
| 2026-04-23 | $0.93 | $0.96 | Beat +3% |
| 2026-01-29 | $0.92 | $0.96 | Beat +5% |
| 2025-10-21 | $0.85 | $0.88 | Beat +4% |
| 2025-07-24 | $0.81 | $0.85 | Beat +5% |
| 2025-04-24 | $0.77 | $0.79 | Beat +2% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, Nasdaq, Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 6 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
More in Financial Services
What are the scenarios for Nasdaq, Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of Nasdaq, Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Strong brand recognition as a global financial hub
- High profit margins due to software-focused business model
- Diversified income streams beyond just stock trading fees
- High price-to-sales ratio suggests the stock is not cheap
- Integration of large acquisitions can be complex and costly
- Relies heavily on the health of the broader financial markets
- Regulatory changes could impact how exchanges operate and charge fees
- Technological disruption from new, agile financial platforms
- Economic downturns leading to fewer companies choosing to list on the exchange
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A significant decline in the number of companies choosing to list on the Nasdaq exchange
- Failure to grow the software and data analytics division as planned
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-02 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.