Question · Q3 2025
Benjamin Elliot Budish inquired about Nasdaq's 2026 OpEx outlook, noting the implied slower year-over-year growth in Q4 and the 3% gap between solutions and OpEx growth, asking about the pace of spend for initiatives like tokenized equities and 24/5 exchange operations.
Answer
Sarah Youngwood, CFO, stated that the OpEx trajectory is consistent with the medium-term outlook, with strong double-digit solutions revenue growth leading to volume-related expenses. She confirmed that all mentioned initiatives are funded within the current full-year guidance. Adena Friedman, Chair and CEO, added that Nasdaq maintains a consistent approach to platform investments, with robust product roadmaps and 24/5 trading embedded in the 2026 outlook. She emphasized driving efficiency into the core enterprise to fund Horizon 1 and Horizon 2 investments.