MarketAxess Announces Trading Volume Statistics for February 2026
NEW YORK--( BUSINESS WIRE)--MarketAxess Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: MKTX), the operator of a leading electronic trading platform for fixed-income securities, today announced trading volume and preliminary variable transaction fees per million (“FPM”) for February 2026. 1
Chris Concannon, CEO of MarketAxess, commented:
“We generated strong variable commission revenue growth to start 2026, driven by 20% growth in total credit ADV year-to-date, and benefiting from a 3% increase in total credit FPM month-over-month in February. Our estimated U.S. high-grade market share in February was negatively impacted by strong new issuance and a decrease in portfolio trading activity by our core clients. As we have noted previously, portfolio trading activity can fluctuate significantly month-to-month as clients modulate activity. We believe that the recent geopolitical events, as well as the very strong new issuance calendar year-to-date are supportive of a return to higher levels of volatility, as well as an increase in the velocity of trading in the global credit markets."
Select February 2026 Highlights* (See tables 1-1C and table 2)
Our new initiatives continued to show progress year-over-year across the client-initiated, portfolio trading and dealer-initiated channels.
Client-Initiated Channel
Portfolio Trading Channel
Dealer-Initiated Channel
February 2026 Variable Transaction Fees Per Million 1 (See table 1D)
*All comparisons versus February 2025 unless noted.
Table 1: MarketAxess ADV
Month
% Change
Feb-26
Jan-26
Feb-25
MoM
YoY
MKTX ADV ($ millions)
Credit
U.S. High-Grade (incl. SD PT) 2
$
8,026
$
8,387
$
7,409
(4
)
%
8
%
U.S. High-Grade (excl. SD PT) 2
7,779
8,110
7,061
(4
)
10
U.S. High-Yield (incl. SD PT) 2
1,701
1,748
1,575
(3
)
8
U.S. High-Yield (excl. SD PT) 2
1,480
1,592
1,438
(7
)
3
Emerging Markets
4,647
5,468
4,105
(15
)
13
Eurobonds
2,674
2,803
2,272
(5
)
18
Other Credit Products 3
681
620
617
10
10
Municipal Bonds
681
620
614
10
11
Total MKTX Credit ADV (excl. SD PT) 2
$
17,261
$
18,593
$
15,493
(7
)
11
Rates
U.S. Government Bonds
$
27,509
$
27,707
$
26,901
(1
)
%
2
%
Agencies and Other Government Bonds
923
1,392
969
(34
)
(5
)
Total MKTX Rates ADV
$
28,432
$
29,099
$
27,870
(2
)
2
Total MKTX Trading ADV
$
45,693
$
47,692
$
43,363
(4
)
5
U.S. Trading Days 4
19
20
19
U.K. Trading Days 4
20
21
20
Table 1A: Market ADV
Month
% Change
Feb-26
Jan-26
Feb-25
MoM
YoY
MARKET ADV ($ millions)
Credit
U.S. High-Grade TRACE
$
47,928
$
47,579
$
41,522
1
%
15
%
U.S. High-Yield TRACE
13,602
13,265
12,999
3
5
Total U.S. Credit TRACE
61,530
60,844
54,521
1
13
Municipal Bonds MSRB
9,724
9,389
8,943
4
9
Rates
U.S. Government Bonds TRACE
$
1,205,789
$
1,192,395
$
999,242
1
%
21
%
Agency TRACE
2,980
4,332
5,144
(31
)
(42
)
U.S. Trading Days 4
19
20
19
U.K. Trading Days 4
20
21
20
Table 1B: Estimated Market Share
Month
Bps Change
Feb-26
Jan-26
Feb-25
MoM
YoY
MKTX ESTIMATED MARKET SHARE (%)
U.S. High-Grade
% of U.S. High-Grade TRACE 2
16.7
%
17.6
%
17.8
%
(90)
bps
(110)
bps
U.S. High-Yield
% of U.S. High-Yield TRACE 2
12.5
%
13.2
%
12.1
%
(70)
bps
+40
bps
Other Credit Products
% of Municipal Bonds MSRB
7.0
%
6.6
%
6.9
%
+40
bps
+10
bps
Rates
% of U.S. Government Bonds TRACE
2.3
%
2.3
%
2.7
%
-
bps
(40)
bps
Table 1C: Strategic Priorities ADV 2
Month
% Change
Feb-26
Jan-26
Feb-25
MoM
YoY
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES ADV ($ millions)
Client-Initiated Channel
U.S. Credit Block Trading
$
3,422
$
3,667
$
2,625
(7
)
%
30
%
Emerging Markets Block Trading
2,027
2,536
1,657
(20
)
22
Eurobonds Block Trading
596
633
379
(6
)
57
Portfolio Trading Channel
Total MKTX Portfolio Trading
$
1,539
$
1,989
$
1,463
(23
)
%
5
%
Total MKTX U.S. Credit Portfolio Trading
1,148
1,583
1,217
(27
)
(6
)
Total U.S. Credit TRACE Portfolio Trading
7,352
7,582
5,877
(3
)
25
Dealer-Initiated Channel
Total Dealer Initiated (DRFQ & Mid-X)
$
1,833
$
1,777
$
1,861
3
%
(2
)
%
Other
Open Trading
$
5,404
$
5,317
$
4,600
2
%
17
%
AxessIQ
206
208
158
(1
)
30
U.S. Trading Days 4
19
20
19
U.K. Trading Days 4
20
21
20
Table 1D: Variable Transaction Fees Per Million (FPM) 1
Month
% Change
Feb-26
Jan-26
Feb-25
MoM
YoY
AVG. VARIABLE TRANS. FEE PER MILLION (FPM)
Total Credit
$
136
$
132
$
143
3
%
(5
)
%
Total Rates
4.56
5.18
4.29
(12
)
6
1
The FPM for total credit and total rates for February 2026 is preliminary and may be revised in subsequent updates and public filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any fee information in future press releases.
2
Effective with the release of our January 2026 trading volume statistics, the Company revised certain aspects of its reporting methodology for estimated market share to provide a more comprehensive view of platform activity and enhance comparability with industry peers. The Company now highlights estimated market share for U.S. high-grade and U.S. high-yield on an all-in basis, which includes single-dealer portfolio trading activity, and the Company will no longer report estimated market share on an "excluding single-dealer portfolio trading" basis. Single-dealer portfolio trading activity continues to be excluded from the “Total MKTX Credit ADV (excl. SD PT)” line in Table 1, the “Total Credit” FPM calculation in Table 1D and the “Total Credit Trading” line in Table 2. “SD PT” is defined as single-dealer portfolio trades. As used in Table 1 to highlight the effect of single dealer portfolio trading on U.S. high-grade and U.S. high yield ADVs, “SD PT” means single-dealer portfolio trades.
3
“Other Credit Products” includes municipal bonds, leveraged loans, convertible bonds and structured products.
4
The number of U.S. trading days is based on the SIFMA holiday recommendation calendar and the number of U.K. trading days is based primarily on the U.K. Bank holiday schedule.
General Notes Regarding the Data Presented
Reported MarketAxess volume in all product categories includes only fully electronic trading volume. MarketAxess trading volumes and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (“TRACE”) reported volumes are available on the Company’s website at investor.marketaxess.com/volume.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including statements about the outlook and prospects for the Company, market conditions and industry growth, as well as statements about the Company’s future financial and operating performance. These and other statements that relate to future results and events are based on MarketAxess’ current expectations. The Company’s actual results in future periods may differ materially from those currently expected or desired because of a number of risks and uncertainties, including: global economic, political and market factors; the level of trading volume transacted on the MarketAxess platform; the rapidly evolving nature of the electronic financial services industry; the level and intensity of competition in the fixed-income electronic trading industry and the pricing pressures that may result; the variability of our growth rate; our ability to introduce new fee plans and our clients’ response; our ability to attract clients or adapt our technology and marketing strategy to new markets; risks related to our growing international operations; our dependence on our broker-dealer clients; the loss of any of our significant institutional investor clients; our exposure to risks resulting from non-performance by counterparties to transactions executed between our clients in which we act as an intermediary in matched principal trades; risks related to self-clearing; risks related to sanctions levied against states or individuals that could expose us to operational or regulatory risks; the effect of rapid market or technological changes on us and the users of our technology; issues related to the development and use of artificial intelligence; our dependence on third-party suppliers for key products and services; our ability to successfully maintain the integrity of our trading platform and our response to system failures, capacity constraints and business interruptions; the occurrence of design defects, errors, failures or delays with our platforms, products or services; our vulnerability to malicious cyber-attacks and attempted cybersecurity breaches; our actual or perceived failure to comply with privacy and data protection laws; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights or technology and defend against intellectual property infringement or other claims; our use of open-source software; our ability to enter into strategic alliances and to acquire other businesses and successfully integrate them with our business; our dependence on our management team and our ability to attract and retain talent; limitations on our flexibility because we operate in a highly regulated industry; the increasing government regulation of us and our clients; risks related to the divergence of U.K. and European Union legal and regulatory requirements following the U.K.’s exit from the European Union; our exposure to costs and penalties related to our extensive regulation; our risks of litigation and securities laws liability; our tax filing positions; the effects of climate change or other sustainability risks that could affect our operations or reputation; our future capital needs and our ability to obtain capital when needed; limitations on our operating flexibility contained in our credit agreement; our exposure to financial institutions by holding cash in excess of federally insured limits; and other factors. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More information about these and other factors affecting MarketAxess’ business and prospects is contained in MarketAxess’ periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and can be accessed at www.marketaxess.com.
About MarketAxess
MarketAxess (Nasdaq: MKTX) operates a leading electronic trading platform that delivers greater trading efficiency, a diversified pool of liquidity and significant cost savings to institutional investors and broker-dealers across the global fixed-income and other markets. Approximately 2,100 firms leverage MarketAxess’ patented technology to efficiently trade fixed-income securities. Our automated and algorithmic trading solutions, combined with our integrated and actionable data offerings, help our clients make faster, better-informed decisions on when and how to trade on our platform. MarketAxess’ award-winning Open Trading® marketplace is widely regarded as the preferred all-to-all trading solution in the global credit markets. Founded in 2000, MarketAxess connects a robust network of market participants through an advanced full trading lifecycle solution that includes automated trading solutions, intelligent data and index products and a range of post-trade services. Learn more at www.marketaxess.com and on X @MarketAxess.
Table 2: Trading Volume Detail
Month Ended February 28,
In millions (unaudited)
2026
2025
% Change
Volume
ADV
Volume
ADV
Volume
ADV
Credit
High-grade
$
147,796
$
7,779
$
134,161
$
7,061
10
%
10
%
High-yield
28,114
1,480
27,320
1,438
3
3
Emerging markets
88,288
4,647
78,000
4,105
13
13
Eurobonds
53,480
2,674
45,440
2,272
18
18
Other credit
12,939
681
11,718
617
10
10
Total credit trading 1
330,617
17,261
296,639
15,493
11
11
Rates
U.S. government bonds 2
522,677
27,509
511,116
26,901
2
2
Agency and other government bonds 1
18,393
923
19,243
969
(4
)
(5
)
Total rates trading
541,070
28,432
530,359
27,870
2
2
Total trading
$
871,687
$
45,693
$
826,998
$
43,363
5
5
Number of U.S. Trading Days 3
19
19
Number of U.K. Trading Days 4
20
20
Year-to-Date Ended February 28,
In millions (unaudited)
2026
2025
% Change
Volume
ADV
Volume
ADV
Volume
ADV
Credit
High-grade
$
310,005
$
7,949
$
279,313
$
6,983
11
%
14
%
High-yield
59,954
1,537
54,278
1,357
10
13
Emerging markets
197,657
5,068
154,402
3,860
28
31
Eurobonds
112,347
2,740
91,647
2,182
23
26
Other credit
25,343
650
23,051
576
10
13
Total credit trading 1
705,306
17,944
602,691
14,958
17
20
Rates
U.S. government bonds 2
1,076,813
27,611
1,001,968
25,049
7
10
Agency and other government bonds 1
47,571
1,163
42,924
1,027
11
13
Total rates trading
1,124,384
28,774
1,044,892
26,076
8
10
Total trading
$
1,829,690
$
46,718
$
1,647,583
$
41,034
11
14
Number of U.S. Trading Days 3
39
40
Number of U.K. Trading Days 4
41
42
1
Consistent with FINRA TRACE reporting standards, both sides of trades are included in the Company's reported volumes when the Company executes trades on a matched principal basis between two counterparties.
Consistent with industry standards, U.S. government bond trades are single-counted.
The number of U.S. trading days is based on the SIFMA holiday recommendation calendar.
The number of U.K. trading days is based primarily on the U.K. Bank holiday schedule.