CME Group beats analyst estimates, nearly doubles profits

CME Group Inc.’s profit nearly doubled in the fourth quarter, its earnings propelled by last year's acquisition of the Chicago Board of Trade and growing electronic trading volumes.

The Chicago-based exchange beat Wall Street estimates with $201 million in fourth quarter earnings ended Dec. 31. It was a 95 percent jump in earnings from $103 million a year ago. Earnings per diluted share were $3.75 versus $2.91, well above the analysts' average estimate of $2.61.

Revenue jumped almost 90 percent to $530 million in the fourth quarter, up from $281 million last year. On a pro-forma basis, which includes CBOT from last year, revenue increased 23 percent from $431 million, and profits increased 36 percent from $148 million.

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