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Item 3 — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. · 10-Q · Q2 FY2026 · Period ended Jun 30, 2026
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We are exposed to various market risks. Our exposures to market risks arise from assumptions built into our pricing models, equity price risk, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations related to our international operations, changes in interest rates and risks relating to the extension of margin credit to our customers.
Market risk refers to the risk that a change in the level of one or more market prices, rates, indices, implied volatilities (the price volatility of the underlying instrument imputed from option prices), correlations or other market factors, such as market liquidity, will result in losses for a position or portfolio. Generally, we incur trading‑related market risk as a result of our remaining market making activities, where the substantial majority of our Value‑at‑Risk (“VaR”) for market risk exposures is generated. In addition, we incur non‑trading‑related market risk primarily from investment activities and from foreign currency exposure held in the equity of our foreign subsidiaries, i.e., our non‑U.S. brokerage subsidiaries and information technology subsidiaries, and held to meet target balances in our currency diversification strategy.
We use various risk management tools in managing our market risk, which are embedded in our real‑time market making systems. We employ certain hedging and risk management techniques to protect us from a severe market dislocation. Our risk management policies are developed and implemented by our Steering Committee, which is chaired by our Chief Executive Officer and comprised of senior executives of our various operating subsidiaries. The strategy of our remaining market making activities is to calculate quotes a few seconds ahead of the market and execute small trades at a tiny but favorable differential as a result. This strategy is made possible by our proprietary pricing model, which evaluates and monitors the risks inherent in our portfolio, assimilates external market data and reevaluates the outstanding quotes in our portfolio many times per second. Our model automatically rebalances our positions throughout each trading day to manage risk exposures on our options and futures positions and the underlying securities and will price the increased risk that a position would add to the overall portfolio into the bid and offer prices we post. Under risk management policies implemented and monitored primarily through our computer systems, reports to management, including risk profiles, profit and loss analysis and trading performance, are prepared on a real‑time basis as well as daily and periodical bases. Although our remaining market making activities are completely automated, the trading process and our risk are monitored by a team of individuals who, in real time, observe various risk parameters of our consolidated positions. Our assets and liabilities are marked‑to‑market daily for financial reporting purposes and re‑valued continuously throughout the trading day for risk management and asset/liability management purposes.
We use a covariant VaR methodology to measure, monitor and review the market risk of our market making portfolios, with the exception of fixed income products, and our currency exposures. The risk of fixed income products, which comprise primarily U.S. government securities, is measured using a stress test.
Pricing Model Exposure
As described above, our proprietary pricing model, which continuously evaluates and monitors the risks inherent in our portfolio, assimilates external market data and reevaluates the outstanding quotes in our entire portfolio many times per second. Certain aspects of the model rely on historical prices of securities. If the behavior of price movements of individual securities diverges substantially from what their historical behavior would predict, we might incur trading losses. We attempt to limit such risks by diversifying our portfolio across many different options, futures and underlying securities and avoiding concentrations of positions based on the same underlying security. Historically, our losses from these events have been immaterial in comparison to our annual trading profits.
Foreign Currency Exposure
As a result of our international activities and accumulated earnings in our non-U.S. subsidiaries, our income and equity are exposed to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. For example, our non-U.S. subsidiaries are exposed to foreign exchange risks as described below:
•Some of our non-U.S. subsidiaries support customer transactions in financial instruments, carry bank balances, and borrow and lend securities in various currencies in their regular course of business. At the end of each accounting period, these non-U.S. subsidiaries’ assets and liabilities are revalued into their respective functional currencies for presentation in their financial statements. The resulting foreign currency gains or losses are reported in their income statements and, as translated into U.S. dollars for U.S. GAAP purposes, in our condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income, as a component of “Other income.”
•These non-U.S. subsidiaries’ financial statements are presented in their respective functional currencies, as noted above. For U.S. GAAP purposes, at the end of each accounting period, each non-U.S. subsidiary’s equity is translated at the then prevailing exchange rate into U.S. dollars and the resulting translation gain or loss is reported as OCI in our condensed consolidated statements of financial condition and condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
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By periodically converting currency balances into functional currency, we substantially reduce the foreign currency exposures for each of these non-U.S. subsidiaries, which minimizes the impact of exchange rate changes to its income statement. However, historically, we have taken the approach of not hedging our consolidated foreign currency exposures to the U.S. dollar, based on the notion that the cost of constantly hedging over the years would amount to more than the random impact of rate changes on our non‑U.S. dollar balances.
Instead, because we conduct business in many countries and territories, in many currencies, and because we consider ourselves a global enterprise based in a diversified basket of currencies rather than a U.S. dollar-based company, we actively manage our global currency exposure by maintaining our equity in GLOBALs, a basket of currencies. Our risk management systems incorporate cash forex to hedge our currency exposure at little or no cost. Currency spot positions entered into as part of our currency diversification strategy are held by the parent holding company, IBG LLC.
The U.S. dollar value of the GLOBAL decreased 0.83% as of June 30, 2026 compared to June 30, 2025. As of June 30, 2026, approximately 25% of our equity was denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.
The effects of our currency diversification strategy appear in two places in the condensed consolidated financial statements: (1) as a component of “Other income” in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income and (2) as OCI in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition and the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The full effect of the GLOBAL is captured in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
The table below presents a comparison of the U.S. dollar equivalent of the GLOBAL for the periods indicated.
As of 6/30/2025 As of 6/30/2026
GLOBAL in % of Net Equity GLOBAL in % of Net Equity CHANGE in
Currency Composition FX Rate USD Equiv. Comp. (in USD millions) FX Rate USD Equiv. Comp. (in USD millions) % of Comp.
USD 0.72 1.0000 0.720 74.8% $ 13,856 1.0000 0.720 75.4% $ 16,788 0.6%
EUR 0.09 1.1788 0.106 11.0% 2,042 1.1422 0.103 10.8% 2,397 -0.3%
JPY 3.91 0.0069 0.027 2.8% 522 0.0062 0.024 2.5% 561 -0.3%
GBP 0.02 1.3734 0.027 2.9% 529 1.3261 0.027 2.8% 618 -0.1%
CHF 0.02 1.2609 0.025 2.6% 485 1.2370 0.025 2.6% 577 0.0%
CNH 0.13 0.1397 0.018 1.9% 349 0.1472 0.019 2.0% 446 0.1%
INR 1.10 0.0117 0.013 1.3% 247 0.0106 0.012 1.2% 271 -0.1%
CAD 0.02 0.7349 0.011 1.1% 212 0.7044 0.011 1.1% 246 0.0%
AUD 0.02 0.6581 0.010 1.0% 190 0.6920 0.010 1.1% 242 0.1%
HKD 0.04 0.1274 0.004 0.5% 86 0.1275 0.004 0.5% 104 0.0%
0.962 100.0% $ 18,518 0.954 100.0% $ 22,250 0.0%
Interest Rate Risk
We had no variable-rate debt outstanding as of June 30, 2026.
We pay our customers interest based on benchmark overnight interest rates in various currencies, when interest rates are above a benchmark rate plus a small spread, on cash balances above $10 thousand (or equivalent) in securities accounts holding more than $100 thousand and at lower, tiered rates for accounts holding less than $100 thousand (or equivalent) net asset value. In currencies, if any, with negative rates, we pass through the cost of holding certain cash balances to our customers; therefore, we charge our customers interest on these cash balances. In a normal rate environment, we typically invest a portion of these funds in U.S. government securities with maturities of up to two years, although given the current interest rate environment, at this time all such investments mature within three months. If interest rates were to increase rapidly and substantially, our net interest income would not increase proportionally with the interest rates for the portion of the funds invested at fixed yields. In addition, the mark-to-market changes in the value of these fixed rate securities will be reflected in other income, instead of net interest income. Our margin balances are priced to a benchmark rate plus a spread, with a minimum charge of 0.75% in U.S. dollars and most foreign currencies.
Based on customer balances and investments outstanding as of June 30, 2026, and assuming reinvestment of maturing instruments in instruments of short-term duration, an increase of 0.25% over current U.S. dollar interest rate levels would increase our net interest income by $81 million on an annualized basis, assuming the full effect of reinvestment at higher rates. A 0.25% increase in all the relevant non-U.S. dollar benchmark rates would increase our net interest income by $38 million on an annualized basis. Our interest rate sensitivity estimate contains separate assumptions for U.S. dollar rates from other currencies’ rates and it isolates the effects of a rate increase on reinvestments. We do not approximate mark-to-market impact from interest rate changes; if U.S. government securities whose prices were to fall under these scenarios were held to maturity, as intended, then the reduction in other income would be temporary, as the securities would mature at par value. If such securities were sold prior to maturity, the loss would be realized and the proceeds reinvested at prevailing higher interest rates.
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We also face the potential for reduced net interest income from customer deposits and margin loans if benchmark rates were to fall. Based on customer balances and investments outstanding as of June 30, 2026, and assuming reinvestment of maturing instruments in instruments of short-term duration, a decrease in U.S. dollar interest rates of 0.25% would decrease our net interest income by $81 million on an annualized basis, assuming the full effect of reinvestment at lower rates. A 0.25% decrease in all the relevant non-U.S. dollar benchmark rates would decrease our net interest income by $38 million on an annualized basis.
We also face interest rate risk due to positions carried for our remaining market making activities to the extent that long or short stock positions may have been established for future or forward dates on options or futures contracts and the value of such positions is impacted by interest rates. The amount of such risk cannot be quantified, however, the current low level of market making positions does not indicate a material potential exposure.
Dividend Risk
We face dividend risk in our remaining market making activities as we derive revenues and incur expenses in the form of dividend income and expense, respectively, from our inventory of equity securities, and must make payments in lieu of dividends on short positions in equity securities within our portfolio. Projected future dividends are an important component of pricing equity options and other derivatives, and incorrect projections may lead to trading losses. The amount of such risk cannot be quantified, however, the current low level of market making positions does not indicate a material potential exposure.
Margin Loans
We extend margin loans to our customers, which are subject to various regulatory requirements. Margin loans are collateralized by cash and securities in the customers’ accounts. The risks associated with margin credit increase during periods of fast market movements or in cases where collateral is concentrated and market movements occur. During such times, customers who utilize margin loans and who have collateralized their obligations with securities may find that the securities have a rapidly depreciating value and may not be sufficient to cover their obligations in the event of a liquidation. We are also exposed to credit risk when our customers execute transactions, such as short sales of options and equities that can expose them to risk beyond their invested capital.
We expect this kind of exposure to increase with the growth of our overall business. Because we indemnify and hold harmless our clearing houses and counterparties from certain liabilities or claims, the use of margin loans and short sales may expose us to significant off‑balance‑sheet risk if collateral requirements are not sufficient to fully cover losses that customers may incur and those customers fail to satisfy their obligations. As of June 30, 2026, we had $108.9 billion in margin loans extended to our customers. The amount of risk to which we are exposed from the margin loans we extend to our customers and from short sale transactions by our customers is unlimited and not quantifiable as the risk is dependent upon analysis of a potentially significant and undeterminable rise or fall in stock prices. Our account level margin requirements meet or exceed those required by Regulation T of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and FINRA portfolio margin rules, as applicable. As a matter of practice, we enforce real‑time margin compliance monitoring and liquidate customers’ positions if their equity falls below required margin requirements.
We have a comprehensive policy implemented in accordance with regulatory standards to assess and monitor the suitability of investors to engage in various trading activities. To mitigate our risk, we also continuously monitor customer accounts to detect excessive concentration, large orders or positions, patterns of day trading and other activities that indicate increased risk to us.
Our credit exposure is to a great extent mitigated by our real-time margining system, which automatically evaluates each account throughout the trading day and closes out positions automatically for accounts that are found to be under‑margined. While this methodology is effective in most situations, it may not be effective in situations where no liquid market exists for the relevant securities or commodities or where, for any reason, automatic liquidation for certain accounts has been disabled. Our Market Risk Committee continually monitors and evaluates our risk management policies, including the implementation of policies and procedures to enhance the detection and prevention of potential events to mitigate margin loan losses.
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Value‑at‑Risk
We estimate VaR using a historical approach, which uses the historical daily price returns of underlying assets as well as estimates of the end of day implied volatility for options. Our one‑day VaR is defined as the unrealized loss in portfolio value that, based on historically observed market risk factors, would have been exceeded with a frequency of one percent, based on a calculation with a confidence interval of 99%.
Our VaR model generally takes into account exposures to equity and commodity price risk and foreign exchange rates.
We use VaR as one of a range of risk management tools. Among their benefits, VaR models permit the estimation of a portfolio’s aggregate market risk exposure, incorporating a range of varied market risks and portfolio assets. One key element of the VaR model is that it reflects risk reduction due to portfolio diversification or hedging activities. However, VaR has various strengths and limitations, which include, but are not limited to: use of historical changes in market risk factors, which may not be accurate predictors of future market conditions, and may not fully incorporate the risk of extreme market events that are outsized relative to observed historical market behavior or reflect the historical distribution of results beyond the confidence interval; and reporting of losses in a single day, which does not reflect the risk of positions that cannot be liquidated or hedged in one day. A small proportion of market risk generated by trading positions is not included in VaR. The modeling of the risk characteristics of some positions relies on approximations that, under certain circumstances, could produce significantly different results from those produced using more precise measures. VaR is most appropriate as a risk measure for trading positions in liquid financial markets and will understate the risk associated with severe events, such as periods of extreme illiquidity.
The VaR calculation simulates the performance of the portfolio based on several years of daily price changes of the underlying assets and determines the VaR as the calculated loss that occurs at the 99th percentile.
Since the reported VaR statistics are estimates based on historical data, VaR should not be viewed as predictive of our future revenues or financial performance or of our ability to monitor and manage risk. There can be no assurance that our actual losses on a particular day will not exceed the indicated VaR or that such losses will not occur more than one time in 100 trading days. VaR does not predict the magnitude of losses which, should they occur, may be significantly greater than the VaR amount.
Stress Test
We estimate the market risk of our fixed income portfolio using a risk analysis model provided by a leading external vendor. For corporate bonds, this stress test is configured to calculate the change in value of each fixed income security in the portfolio over one day in five scenarios each of which represents a parallel shift of the U.S. Treasury yield curve. The scenarios are shifts of +/−100 and +/−200 basis points. For U.S. government securities, the stress test is configured to calculate the change in value of each fixed income security in the portfolio over one day in three scenarios each of which represents a parallel shift of the U.S. Treasury yield curve. The scenarios are shifts of +/−50 basis points.
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