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Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2025
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of StoneX Group Inc. and all entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Basis of Presentation
In the Consolidated Income Statements, total revenues reported combine gross revenues for the physical commodities business and metals business and net revenues for all other businesses, including metals transacted by broker-dealer subsidiaries. The subtotal Operating revenues in the Consolidated Income Statements is physical commodities cost of sales deducted from total revenues. The subtotal Net operating revenues in the Consolidated Income Statements is operating revenues less transaction-based clearing expenses, introducing broker commissions, and interest expense. Transaction-based clearing expenses are variable expenses paid to executing brokers, exchanges, clearing organizations, and banks, typically related to transactional volumes. Introducing broker commissions include commission paid to non-employee third parties that have introduced clients to the Company. Net operating revenues represent revenues available to pay variable compensation to risk management consultants and traders, certain non-variable expenses, as well as variable and non-variable expenses related to both operational and administrative employees.
Use of Estimates
Use of Estimates
Preparing consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires that management make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. The most significant of these estimates and assumptions in the current year relate to fair value measurements for financial instruments; revenue recognition; valuation of inventories; acquisition valuation for goodwill, intangible assets, and consideration payable; as well as income taxes. These estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions the Company may undertake in the future. The Company reviews all significant estimates affecting the financial statements on a recurring basis and records the effect of any necessary adjustments prior to financial statement issuance. Although these and other estimates and assumptions are based on the best available information, actual results could be materially different from these estimates.
Foreign Currency Translation
Foreign Currency Translation
The Company’s consolidated financial statements are reported in U.S. dollars. The Company’s subsidiaries maintain their records either in U.S. dollars or, as appropriate, the currencies of the countries in which they operate. The method of translating local currency financial information into U.S. dollars depends on whether the economy in which the foreign subsidiary operates has been designated as highly inflationary. Economies with a three-year cumulative inflation rate of more than 100% are considered highly inflationary.
Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries in non-highly inflationary economies are translated into U.S. dollars using rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. Translation adjustments are recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). Revenues and
expenses are translated at rates of exchange in effect at relevant times during the year. Transaction gains and losses related to changes in currency rates are recorded in earnings.
Foreign subsidiaries that operate in highly inflationary countries use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency. Local currency monetary assets and liabilities are remeasured into U.S. dollars using rates of exchange as of each balance sheet date, with remeasurement adjustments and other transaction gains and losses recognized in earnings. Nonmonetary assets and liabilities
do not fluctuate with changes in the local currency exchange rates to the dollar as the translated amounts for nonmonetary assets and liabilities at the end of the accounting period in which the economy becomes highly inflationary becomes the accounting basis for those assets and liabilities in the period of change and subsequent periods. Revenues and expenses are translated at rates of exchange in effect at relevant times during the year.
The Company operates asset management and debt trading businesses in Argentina. Operating revenues from the Company’s Argentine subsidiaries were approximately 1% of the consolidated operating revenues for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025. The Company designated Argentina’s economy as highly inflationary for accounting purposes and has accounted for its Argentine entities using the U.S. dollar as the functional currency.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers cash held at banks and all highly liquid investments not held for trading purposes, with original or acquired maturities of 90 days or less, including certificates of deposit and money market mutual funds, to be cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consists of cash, certificates of deposit, and money market mutual funds not deposited with or pledged to clearing organizations, broker-dealers, clearing organizations or counterparties, or segregated under federal or other regulations. Certificates of deposit are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value, and may be withdrawn at any time, at the discretion of the Company. Money market mutual funds are stated at their net asset value.
Cash, Securities and Other Assets Segregated under Federal and other Regulations
Cash, Securities and Other Assets Segregated under Federal and other Regulations
Pursuant to requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act and Commission Regulation 30.7 of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) in the U.S., the Markets in Financial Instruments Implementing Directive 2006/73/EC underpinning the Client Asset (“CASS”) rules in the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) handbook in the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), and the Securities & Futures Act (“SFA”) in Singapore, funds deposited by clients relating to futures and options on futures contracts in regulated commodities must be carried in separate accounts, which are designated as segregated or secured client accounts. Additionally, in accordance with Rule 15c3-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Rule 15c3-3”), the Company maintains separate accounts for the exclusive benefit of securities clients and proprietary accounts of broker dealers (“PABs”). Rule 15c3-3 requires the Company to maintain special reserve bank accounts (“SRBAs”) for the exclusive benefit of securities clients and PABs. The deposits in segregated client accounts and SRBAs are not commingled with Company funds. Under the FCA’s rules, certain categories of clients may choose to opt-out of segregation.
Collateralized Transactions
Collateralized Transactions
The Company enters into securities purchased under agreements to resell, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, securities borrowed transactions, and securities loaned transactions primarily to fund principal debt trading, acquire securities to cover short positions, acquire securities for settlement, or meet counterparty needs under matched-booked trading strategies.
These transactions are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at their contractual amounts plus accrued interest. In connection with these agreements and transactions, it is the Company’s policy to receive or pledge cash or securities to collateralize such agreements and transactions in accordance with contractual arrangements. The Company monitors the fair value of its collateral on a daily basis, and the Company may require counterparties, or may be required by counterparties, to deposit additional collateral or return collateral pledged. Interest income and interest expense are recognized over the life of the arrangements and are recorded in the Consolidated Income Statements as Interest income or Interest expense, as applicable. The carrying amount of these transactions approximate fair value due to their short-term nature and the level of collateralization.
Certain transactions may be classified in securities purchased under agreements to resell rather than securities borrowed because the characteristics and circumstances more closely align with this presentation, although the securities’ legal form is securities borrowed.
Repurchase and Reverse repurchase agreement netting
Repurchase and Reverse repurchase agreement netting
The Company undertakes certain clearing arrangements and related agreements that meet the criteria for netting under Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 210-20, Balance Sheet – Offsetting. Netting occurs within Securities purchased under agreements to resell and Securities sold under agreements to repurchase.
Deposits with and Receivables from Broker-dealers, Clearing Organizations and Counterparties, and Payables to Broker-dealers, Clearing Organizations and Counterparties
Deposits with and Receivables from Broker-dealers, Clearing Organizations and Counterparties, and Payables to Broker-dealers, Clearing Organizations and Counterparties
Deposits with broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties pertain primarily to deposits made to satisfy margin requirements on client and proprietary open futures and options on futures positions and to satisfy the requirements set by clearing exchanges for clearing membership. The Company also deposits margin with various counterparties for over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivative contracts. These deposits are also included in deposits with broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties. The Company also deposits cash margin with various securities clearing organizations as an ongoing condition of the securities clearing relationships, and these deposits are included in deposits with and receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties. Deposits with and receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties are reported gross, except where a right of offset exists. As of September 30, 2025 and 2024, the Company had cash and cash equivalents on deposit with or pledged to broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties of approximately $5,114.5 million and $2,614.2 million, respectively.
Deposits with and receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties also includes guaranty deposits with clearing exchanges. The guaranty deposits are held by the clearing exchanges for use in potential default situations by one or more members of the clearing exchanges. The guaranty deposits may be applied to the Company’s obligations to the clearing exchange, or to the clearing exchange’s obligations to unrelated parties.
Deposits with and receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties also include securities pledged to clearing exchanges. Some of these securities are included in the cash equivalents on deposit with or pledged to broker-dealers. These securities are either pledged to the Company by its clients or represent investments of client funds. It is the Company’s practice to include client-owned securities on its Consolidated Balance Sheets, as the rights to those securities have been transferred to the Company under the terms of the relevant futures trading agreements. Securities pledged primarily include U.S. Treasury obligations, U.S. governmental agency obligations, and foreign government obligations. Securities that are not client-owned, and represent an investment of client funds, are adjusted to fair value with associated changes in unrealized gains or losses recorded in Interest income in the Consolidated Income Statements. For client-owned securities, the change in fair value is offset against the payable to clients with no impact recognized in the Consolidated Income Statements. The total fair value of such client owned and non-client owned securities included within Deposits with and receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties, net was $6,335.2 million and $2,951.5 million as of September 30, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Management has considered guidance required by ASC 860, Transfers and Servicing as it relates to securities pledged by clients to margin their futures and options on futures trading accounts. Management believes that the transferor surrenders control over those assets because, under the guidance, the transferee relinquishes control of the assets to the Company, among other factors. Under this guidance, the Company reflects the client collateral assets and corresponding liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2025 and 2024.
Deposits with and receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties also includes amounts due from clearing exchanges for unrealized gains and losses associated with clients’ options on futures contracts. See discussion in the Financial Instruments section below for additional information on the Company’s accounting policies for derivative contracts. For client-owned derivative contracts, the fair value is offset against the payable to clients with no impact recognized on the Consolidated Income Statements.
The Company maintains client omnibus and proprietary accounts with other clearing organizations. The equity balances in those accounts, along with any margin cash or securities deposited with the clearing organizations are included in deposits with and receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties.
Deposits with and receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties also include amounts due from or due to clearing exchanges for daily variation settlements on open futures and options on futures positions. The variation settlements due from or due to clearing exchanges are paid in cash on the following business day. Variation settlements equal the daily settlement of futures contracts and premiums on options on futures contracts.
Deposits with and receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties further include amounts receivable for securities sold but not yet delivered by the Company on settlement date (“fails-to-deliver”) and net receivables arising from unsettled proprietary trades.

Payables to broker-dealers, clearing organizations, and counterparties primarily include amounts payable for securities purchased but not yet received by the Company on settlement date (“fails-to-receive”) and net payables arising from unsettled proprietary trades.

Deposits with and receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations and counterparties, and payables to broker-dealers, clearing organizations and counterparties also include amounts related to the value of registered broker-dealer clients cross-currency payment transactions related to the Payments segment. These amounts arise due to a clearing period before funds are received and payments are made, which usually is one to two business days.
Receivable from and Payables to Clients
Receivable from and Payables to Clients
Receivable from clients, net includes the total of net deficits in individual exchange-traded futures and OTC derivative trading accounts carried by the Company. Client deficits arise from realized and unrealized trading losses on client OTC, futures, options on futures, swaps and forwards and amounts due on cash and margin transactions. Client deficit accounts are reported gross of client accounts that contain net credit or positive balances, except where a right of offset exists. Net deficits in individual futures exchange-traded and OTC derivative trading accounts include both secured and unsecured deficit balances due from clients as of the balance sheet date. Secured deficit amounts are backed by U.S. Treasury obligations and commodity warehouse receipts. These U.S Treasury obligations and commodity warehouse receipts are netted against the secured deficit amounts when conditions necessary for the right to offset exist.
Receivable from clients, net also includes the net amounts receivable from securities clients in connection with the settlement of regular-way cash securities, margin loans to clients, and client cash debits. It is the Company’s policy to report margin loans and payables that arise due to positive cash flows in the same client’s accounts on a net basis when the conditions for netting as specified in U.S. GAAP are met. Clients’ securities transactions cleared by the Company are recorded on a settlement date basis, but the Company makes accruals necessary to adjust any uncompleted transactions to a trade date basis for consolidated reporting, under U.S. GAAP. Securities cleared by the Company and pledged to the Company as a condition of custodial clearing arrangements are owned by the clients, including those that collateralize margin or other similar transactions, and are not reflected on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as the Company does not have title to, or beneficial interests, in those assets. The carrying value of the receivables and payables approximates fair value due to their short-term nature.
Receivable from clients, net also include amounts receivable from non-broker-dealer clients for securities sold but not yet delivered by the Company on settlement date (“fails-to-deliver”) and net receivables arising from unsettled proprietary trades.
Payables to clients represent the total of client accounts with credit or positive balances. Client accounts are used primarily in connection with exchange-traded and OTC commodity, foreign exchange, precious metals, and securities transactions and include gains and losses on open trades as well as securities and cash margin deposits made as required by the Company, the exchange-clearing organizations or other clearing organizations. Client accounts with credit or positive balances are reported gross of client deficit accounts, except where a right of offset exists.
Payables to broker-dealers and counterparties also includes amounts payable to non-broker-dealer clients for securities purchased but not yet received by the Company on settlement date (“fails-to-receive”) and net payables arising from unsettled proprietary trades.
Receivable from and payables to clients also include amounts related to the value of non-registered broker-dealer clients’ cross-currency payment transactions related to the Payments segment. These amounts arise due to a clearing period before the funds are received and payments are made, which usually is one to two business days.
The future collectability of receivable from clients can be impacted by the Company’s collection efforts, client financial stability, and the general economic climate. In determining collectability, the Company considers a number of factors including, but not limited to, historical collection experience, current and forecasted economic and business conditions, internal and external credit risk ratings, collateral terms, payment terms, client financial strength, and aging of the financial asset. The Company adheres to the Current Expected Credit Loss model and, in addition, may use specific-identification in certain circumstances to further inform estimates. The Company may unilaterally close client trading positions in certain circumstances. In addition, to evaluate client margining and collateral requirements, client positions are stress tested regularly and monitored for excessive concentration levels relative to the overall market size. Furthermore, in certain instances, the Company is indemnified and able to charge back introducing broker-dealers for bad debts incurred by their clients.
The Company generally writes off an outstanding receivable balance when all economic means of recovery have been exhausted. That determination considers information such as the occurrence of significant changes in the client’s financial
position such that the client can no longer pay the obligation, or that the proceeds from collateral will not be sufficient to pay the balance.
Physical Commodities Inventory
Physical Commodities Inventory
Inventories of certain agricultural commodities are carried at net realizable value, which approximates fair value less disposal costs. Agricultural commodities inventories have reliable, readily determinable and realizable market prices, relatively predictable and insignificant costs of disposal, and are available for immediate delivery. Changes in the fair values of these agricultural commodities inventories are included as a component of Cost of sales of physical commodities in the Consolidated Income Statements.
Inventories of precious metals held by subsidiaries that are not broker-dealers are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value, using the weighted-average price and first-in first-out costing method. Changes in the values of these inventories are included as a component of Cost of sales of physical commodities in the Consolidated Income Statements.
Precious metals inventory held by StoneX Financial Ltd, a U.K. based broker-dealer subsidiary, is measured at fair value, with changes in fair value included as a component of Principal gains, net in the Consolidated Income Statements, in accordance with U.S. GAAP accounting requirements for broker-dealers.
Property and Equipment
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization and depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the improvement or the term of the lease, whichever is shorter. Expenditures that increase the value or productive capacity of assets are capitalized. When an asset is retired, sold, or otherwise disposed of, the carrying amount and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included in earnings. The Company had no assets held for sale at September 30, 2025 and 2024.
The Company accounts for costs incurred to develop its trading platforms and related software in accordance with ASC 350-40, Internal-Use Software, which requires that such technology be capitalized in the application development stage. Costs related to planning, training, administration, and non-value added maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Capitalized software development costs are amortized over the useful life of the software, which the Company generally estimates at three years.
In accordance with ASC 360-10, Property, Plant and Equipment, the Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets when events and circumstances warrant such review. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is considered impaired when the anticipated identifiable undiscounted cash flows from such an asset (or asset group) are less than carrying value. In that event, a loss is recognized in the amount by which the carrying value exceeds fair market value of the long-lived asset. The Company has identified impairment indicators as of September 30, 2025, discussed in Note 7. The Company did not identify impairment indicators as of September 30, 2024. This standard applies to assets held for use and not to assets held for sale.
Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets
Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets
Goodwill is the cost of acquired companies in excess of the fair value of identifiable net assets at acquisition date. Goodwill is not subject to amortization, but rather is evaluated for impairment at least annually. The Company evaluates its goodwill for impairment during the fourth quarter of its fiscal year or more frequently if indicators of potential impairment exist, in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other. Goodwill impairment is determined by comparing the estimated fair value of a reporting unit (generally defined as the businesses for which financial information is available and reviewed regularly by management) with its respective carrying value. If the estimated fair value exceeds the carrying value, goodwill at the reporting unit level is not deemed to be impaired. However, if the estimated fair value is below carrying value, further analysis is required to determine the amount of the impairment.
In the course of evaluating the potential impairment of goodwill, the Company may perform either a qualitative or a quantitative assessment. The Company’s qualitative assessment of potential impairment may result in the determination that a quantitative impairment analysis is not necessary. Under this elective process, the Company assesses qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads the Company to determine that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If after assessing the totality of events and circumstances, the Company determines it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, then performing a quantitative analysis is not required. However, if the Company concludes otherwise, then the Company performs a quantitative impairment analysis.
If the Company either chooses not to perform a qualitative assessment, or the Company chooses to perform a qualitative assessment but is unable to qualitatively conclude that no impairment has occurred, then the Company performs a quantitative evaluation. In the case of a quantitative assessment, the Company estimates the fair value of the reporting unit with which the goodwill that is subject to the quantitative analysis is associated and compares it to the carrying value. If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company estimates the fair value of all assets and liabilities of the reporting unit, including goodwill. If the carrying value of the reporting unit’s goodwill is greater than the estimated fair value, an impairment charge is recognized for the excess. The fair value of the Company’s reporting units exceeded their respective carrying values under the qualitative assessment approach. No goodwill impairment charges were recorded for any of the periods presented, nor were any indicators present.
Identifiable intangible assets subject to amortization are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated period of benefit, ranging from five to twenty years. Both definite and indefinite lived identifiable intangible assets are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances suggest that an asset’s or asset group’s carrying value may not be fully recoverable. Residual value is presumed to be zero for all identifiable intangible assets. No intangible impairment charges were recorded for any of the periods presented, nor were any indicators present.
Financial Instruments Owned and Sold, Not Yet Purchased
Financial Instruments Owned and Sold, Not Yet Purchased
Financial instruments owned and sold, not yet purchased, at fair value consist of financial instruments carried at fair value, measured on a recurring basis, or amounts that approximate fair value. Related realized and unrealized gains and losses are recognized in current period earnings within Principal gains, net, Interest income, Interest expense, and Cost of sales of physical commodities in the Consolidated Income Statements. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties.
The Company has entered into certain mortgages and other loans that will eventually be securitized. The Company has elected the fair value option, under ASC 825, because this election aligns mark to market recognition of these assets with the rest of the Company’s portfolio of similar assets. Changes to the value of these assets are recorded to Principal gains, net in the Consolidated Income Statements.
Financial instruments owned and sold, not yet purchased comprise primarily the financial instruments held by the Company’s broker-dealer subsidiaries and the Company’s OTC derivative swap dealer. Financial instruments owned and financial instruments sold, not yet purchased, includes trading securities that the Company holds as a principal. The Company has not classified any financial instruments owned or sold, not yet purchased, as available-for-sale or held-to-maturity.
Financial instruments owned and sold, not yet purchased includes derivative instruments that the Company holds as a principal which are primarily transacted on an OTC basis. As a derivatives dealer, the Company utilizes these instruments to manage exposures to foreign currency, commodity price and interest rate risks for the Company and its clients. The Company’s objectives for holding derivatives include reducing, eliminating, and efficiently managing the economic impact of these exposures as effectively as possible. The Company’s derivative instruments also include forward purchase and sale commitments for the physical delivery of agricultural and energy related commodities in a future period. Contracts for the sale of agricultural and energy commodities generally do not extend beyond one year, while contracts to purchase agricultural and energy commodities generally relate to the current or future crop year.
Derivative instruments are measured at fair value on a recurring basis. For derivatives for which the Company does not elect hedge accounting, realized and unrealized gains and losses from the changes in fair value of derivative instruments are recognized immediately in current period earnings. Realized and unrealized gains and losses from the derivative instruments in which the Company acts as a dealer are included within Principal gains, net on the Consolidated Income Statements. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on firm purchase and sale commitments are included within Cost of sales of physical commodities on the Consolidated Income Statements.
To reduce credit exposure on the derivative instruments for which the Company acts as a dealer, the Company may enter into a master netting arrangement that allows for settlement of all derivative transactions with each counterparty. In addition, the credit support annex that accompanies master netting arrangements allows parties to the master netting agreement to mitigate their credit risk by requiring the party which is out of the money to post collateral. The Company accepts collateral in the form
of cash or other marketable securities. Where permitted, the Company elects to net-by-counterparty certain derivative instruments entered into under a legally enforceable master netting agreement and, therefore, the fair value of those derivative instruments are netted by counterparty in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. As the Company elects to net-by-counterparty the fair value of such derivative instruments, the Company also nets-by-counterparty cash collateral exchanged as part of those derivative instruments.
The Company also brokers foreign exchange forwards, options and cash, or spot, transactions between clients and external counterparties. A portion of the contracts are arranged on an offsetting basis, limiting the Company’s risk to performance of the two offsetting parties. The offsetting nature of the contracts eliminates the effects of market fluctuations on the Company’s operating results. Due to the Company’s role as a principal participating in both sides of these contracts, the amounts are presented gross on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their respective fair values, net of offsetting assets and liabilities.
The Company holds proprietary positions in its foreign exchange line of business. On a limited basis, the Company’s foreign exchange trade desk will accept a client transaction and will offset that transaction with a similar but not identical position with a counterparty. These unmatched transactions are intended to be short-term in nature and are often conducted to facilitate the most effective transaction for the Company’s client. These spot and forward contracts are accounted for as free-standing derivatives and reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at their fair values.
The Company may lease commodities to or from clients or counterparties. These commodity leases, which primarily involve precious metals, are recorded at fair value utilizing the fair value option based on guidance in ASC 825-10, Financial Instruments - Fair Value Option. These commodities leases represent hybrid financial instruments which contain both a dollar denominated loan host contract and an embedded forward derivative contract on the underlying commodities, which can be settled in either cash or metals. As permitted by the fair value option election, the entire instrument is recorded at fair value as either an asset or liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company elects to value all of its commodities lease agreements at fair value using the fair value option.
Derivative instruments and hedging activities
Derivative instruments and hedging activities
The Company executes interest rate swaps and foreign currency hedges to lessen the impacts of changes to interest rates and currency exchange rates, respectively, as well as to benefit from favorable conditions. The Company recognizes all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value. For all of the Company’s derivative positions that are designated and qualify as part of a cash flow hedging relationship, the Company performs an initial quantitative effectiveness test to achieve hedge accounting treatment as a component of other comprehensive income until the hedged transactions are realized in earnings. All of the Company’s cash flow hedges were initially deemed highly effective and continue to be, through qualitative assessment, as of September 30, 2025 for both accounting and tax purposes. The Company has elected hedge accounting for both U.S. GAAP and tax purposes. The Company maintains formal documentation through a periodic memo and accounting analysis that cover what is being hedged, how it is being hedged, initial hedge effectiveness, qualitative subsequent analysis, and the nature of the risk being hedged, among other required analyses.
Exchange and Clearing Organization Memberships
Exchange and Clearing Organization Memberships
The Company or its affiliates are required to hold certain exchange and clearing organization memberships and pledges them for clearing purposes, in order to provide the right to process trades directly with the respective venues. Exchange memberships include seats on the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”), the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”), the Commodity Exchange, Inc. (“COMEX”) Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, Mercado de Valores de Buenos Aires S.A. (“MERVAL”), the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) Growth and Emerging Markets, InterContinental Exchange, Inc. (“ICE”) Futures US, and the London Metal Exchange (“LME”). Exchange firm and clearing organization common stock include shares of CME Group, Inc., ICE, MIAX Futures Exchange, LME Holdings Limited, and the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”).
Exchange and clearing organization memberships required in order to conduct business through the respective venues are recorded at cost and are included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Equity investments in exchange firm common stock not required in order to conduct business on the exchanges are classified as trading securities included within Financial instruments owned, at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded as a component of Principal gains, net on the Consolidated Income Statements. The fair value of exchange firm common stock not required in order to conduct business on the exchanges is determined from quoted market prices.
Exchange memberships that represent both (a) an ownership interest and the right to conduct business in the respective venues and are held for operating purposes, or (b) an ownership interest, which must be held by the Company to conduct business in the respective venues are accounted for as an ownership interest at cost with appropriate consideration for other-than-temporary impairment.
Alternatively, exchange memberships, or seats, that only represent the right to conduct business on an exchange, but not an ownership interest in the exchange, are accounted for as intangible assets at cost with potential impairment determined under Accounting Standards Codification 350-30, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other. As of and during the year ended September 30, 2025, there were no indicators of impairment that would suggest that the carrying value of exchange memberships that don’t represent an ownership interest are impaired, primarily based upon projections of future cash flows and earnings attributable to access these respective venues.
Commodity Financing
Commodity Financing
The Company also participates in commodity repurchase transactions that are accounted for as commodity inventory and purchases and sales of physical commodities as opposed to secured borrowings. The repurchase price under these arrangements is not fixed at the time of execution and, therefore, does not meet all the criteria to be accounted for as product financing arrangements.
Lenders Under Loans and Senior Secured Borrowings
Lenders Under Loans
Lenders under loans are accounted for at amortized cost, which approximates fair value due to variable rates of interest.
Senior Secured Borrowings
Senior secured borrowings are accounted for at amortized cost, and are stated net of unamortized deferred financing costs and original issue discount.
Contingent Consideration and Acquisitions
Contingent Consideration
For acquisitions which include contingent consideration as a component of the purchase price, the Company estimates and records the fair value of the contingent consideration at the acquisition date. Additionally, each reporting period, the Company estimates changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, and any change in fair value is recognized in the Consolidated Income Statements. Estimating contingent consideration fair value incorporates assumptions regarding future operating results, discount rates, and probabilities assigned to various potential operating results scenarios.
Acquisitions
The Company applies acquisition accounting on the date of acquisition to those transactions meeting the definition of a business under ASC 805. Applying acquisition accounting requires the Company to allocate the purchase consideration to the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed on acquisition date. In determining the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, the Company frequently utilizes a third-party valuation specialist. The Company applies certain significant assumptions, estimates, and judgments in determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on acquisition date. These significant assumptions, estimates, and judgments include, but are not limited to, cash flow forecasts, discount rates, client churn rates, royalty rates, and economic lives. Any excess of the purchase consideration over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Alternatively, in an instance where the fair value of the net assets acquired exceeds the purchase consideration, the Company records a bargain purchase gain in the Consolidated Income Statements at the date of acquisition. While the Company uses its best estimates and assumptions as a part of the purchase price allocation to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, these estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the remeasurement period, which may extend one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the Consolidated Income Statements rather than adjusted through goodwill or bargain purchase gains. The Company includes the post-acquisition results of acquired businesses in the Consolidated Income Statements from the date of acquisition. Acquisition related costs, such as fees for attorneys, accountants, and investment bankers, are expensed as incurred and are not capitalized as part of the purchase price.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition
The Company accounts for revenue earned from contracts with clients for services such as the execution, clearing, brokering, and custody of futures and options on futures contracts, OTC derivatives, and securities, investment management, and underwriting services under FASB ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“Topic 606”). Revenues for these services are recognized when the performance obligations related to the underlying transaction are completed.
Only when goods or services are transferred to clients are revenues recognized and the amount reflects the consideration that the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. Revenues are analyzed to determine whether the Company is the principal (i.e. reports revenue on a gross basis) or agent (i.e., reports revenues on a net basis) in the contract. Principal or agent designations depend primarily on the control an entity has over the good or service before control is transferred to a client. The indicators of which party exercises control include primary responsibility over performance obligations, inventory risk before the good or service is transferred, and discretion in establishing the price.
The revenue recognition model does not apply to revenues associated with dealing, or market-making, activities in financial instruments or contracts in the capacity of a principal, including derivative sales contracts which result in physical settlement and interest income.
Cost of Sales of Physical Commodities
Cost of Sales of Physical Commodities
Cost of sales of physical commodities includes finished commodity or raw material and processing costs along with operating costs relating to the receipt, storage and delivery of physical commodities. Cost of sales of physical commodities also includes changes in the fair value of agricultural commodity inventories held for sale and adjustments for related forward purchase and sale commitments and exchange-traded futures and options contracts. Cost of sales of physical commodities further includes lower of cost or net realizable value for energy commodities and certain precious metals.
The Company’s cost of sales of physical commodities and the related impact on inventory are valued using various methods, including average costing and specific identification, in different geographies and for different business lines.
Interest Expense
Interest Expense
Interest expense is recognized on an accrual basis. Interest expense is incurred on outstanding balances on the Company’s credit facilities. Interest expense is also incurred on fixed income securities sold, not yet purchased, that the Company holds in its market-marking businesses. Interest expense is also incurred from collateralized transactions, including securities loaned and securities sold under agreements to repurchase.
Transaction-Based Clearing Expenses
Transaction-Based Clearing Expenses
Clearing fees and related expenses include primarily variable expenses for clearing and settlement services, including fees the Company pays to executing brokers, exchanges, clearing organizations and banks. These fees are based on transaction volume and recorded as expense on trade date. Clearing fees are passed on to clients and are presented gross in the consolidated statements of income as the Company acts as a principal for these transactions.
Introducing Broker Commissions
Introducing Broker Commissions
Introducing broker commissions are amounts paid to non-employee individuals or organizations that maintain relationships with clients and introduce them to the Company. Introducing brokers accept exchange-based futures and options orders from those clients, while the Company directly provides all account, transaction and margining services, including accepting money, securities and property from the clients. Introducing brokers bring clients to the Company’s OTC, physical commodity and payment businesses as well. Introducing broker commissions are determined monthly and settled regularly.
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation and benefits consists primarily of salaries, incentive compensation, share-based compensation, variable compensation, including commissions, related payroll taxes and employee benefits. The Company classifies employees as either front office, operational or administrative personnel, which includes executive officers. Variable compensation paid to front office personnel generally represents a fixed percentage of revenues generated, and in some cases, revenues produced less direct costs and an overhead allocation. The Company accrues commission expense on a trade-date basis.
Share-Based Compensation
The Company grants long-term equity awards under its stock-based compensation plans to certain employees of the Company. These awards include stock options, restricted stock, and performance share units. The Company accounts for share-based compensation resulting from these awards in accordance with the guidance in ASC 718-10, Compensation - Stock Compensation. The fair value of stock option awards is estimated using a Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model.
The fair value of restricted stock and performance share units is the closing market price per share of the Company’s common stock on the grant date less the present value of the expected dividends, if any, not received during the vesting period. The Company estimates the fair value of performance share units using the closing market price of Company common stock on the date of grant, based on the performance condition that was most probable at that time. The Company amortizes the calculated fair value over the requisite service period for each vesting tranche of the award. The Company reassesses the probability at each reporting period and recognize the cumulative effect of the change in estimate in the period of change.
In the reporting period it becomes probable that the minimum performance threshold specified in the performance share unit award will be achieved, the Company recognizes compensation expense for the proportionate share of the total fair value of the performance share units related to the vesting period that has already lapsed for the performance share units expected to vest. The remaining fair value of the performance share units expected to vest is expensed on a straight-line basis over the remainder of the vesting period. In the event the Company determines it is no longer probable that the minimum performance threshold specified in the award will be achieved, the Company reverses all of the previously recognized compensation expense in the reporting period such a determination is made.
Share-based employee awards that require future service are amortized over the relevant service period. For awards granted, compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period for the entire award. Forfeitures are accounted for as they occur in determining share-based employee compensation expense. See Note 16 for further information on the Company’s share-based compensation.
Selling and Marketing
Selling and Marketing
The Company generally expenses Selling and marketing costs as incurred. The Company’s policy includes expensing commercial media development costs as incurred, rather than deferring them until the related commercial airs. The Company expenses air time, such as television air-time, as used.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes
Income tax expense includes U.S. federal, state and local and foreign income taxes. Certain items of income and expense are not reported in tax returns and financial statements in the same year. Accounting for income taxes aims to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year. The Company utilizes the asset and liability method to provide income taxes on all transactions recorded in the consolidated financial statements. This method requires that income taxes reflect the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities for book and tax purposes. Accordingly, a deferred tax asset or liability for each temporary difference is determined based on the tax rates that the Company expects to be in effect when the underlying items of income and expense are realized. Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns, including the repatriation of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company recognizes the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authority, based upon the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit recognized in the consolidated financial statements from such a position is measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
Additional Paid-In Capital
Additional Paid-In Capital
The Company’s additional paid-in capital (“APIC”) consists of stockholder contributions that are in excess of par value of common stock, also including amounts related to stock options exercises and share-based compensation.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income consists of net income and other gains and losses affecting stockholders’ equity that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net income. Other comprehensive income (loss) includes net actuarial gains and losses from defined benefit pension plans, the unrealized gains and losses from the Company’s cash flow hedges, as well as gains and losses on foreign currency translations.
Accounting Standards Adopted
Accounting Standards Adopted
In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07, Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires entities to enhance disclosures regarding segments, including significant segment expenses. The Company adopted ASU No. 2023-07 for its annual reporting for fiscal 2025 and updated its disclosures to conform to the new segment disclosure requirement, and applied the updated disclosure requirements retrospectively to all periods presented. See Note 22 for more information.
Earnings per Share The Company presents basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) using the two-class method which requires all outstanding unvested share-based payment awards that contain rights to non-forfeitable dividends and therefore participate in undistributed earnings with common stockholders be included in computing earnings per share. Under the two-class method, net income is reduced by the amount of dividends declared in the period for each class of common stock and participating security. The remaining undistributed earnings are then allocated to common stock and participating securities, based on their respective rights to receive dividends. Restricted stock awards granted to certain employees and directors contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends at the same rate as common stock, and are considered participating securities. Basic EPS has been computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding.