Virtu Financial, Inc. (VIRT) is a leading financial services firm that leverages advanced technology to provide liquidity to global markets and deliver transparent trading solutions to its clients. The company operates globally, offering market making and execution services across multiple asset classes, including equities, fixed income, currencies, cryptocurrencies, and commodities. Virtu also provides proprietary trading infrastructure, risk management tools, and analytics to enhance trading efficiency and transparency.
- Market Making - Provides liquidity in cash, futures, and options markets across global equities, fixed income, currencies, cryptocurrencies, and commodities by committing capital on a principal basis to buy or sell securities.
- Execution Services - Offers client-based trading and trading venues, including algorithmic trading, institutional sales trading, portfolio trading, and trading analytics. Also provides proprietary risk management and trading infrastructure technology, workflow technology, and capital markets services.
- Corporate - Includes strategic investments in trading-related opportunities and corporate overhead expenses. This is a non-operating segment with minimal impact on revenue.
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- With potential changes to the order protection rule, can management detail how reduced connectivity to fragmented venues will affect both cost efficiencies and best execution standards in a more competitive market?
- Given the discussions on exploring a hedge fund strategy alongside market making and execution services, what specific cultural and operational shifts would be necessary to integrate this approach while maintaining focus on core capital-light strategies?
- Since current overnight trading is reported to be about 99% retail, what plans are in place to boost institutional participation, and how does management expect this shift to impact revenue and liquidity provision over the next year?
- In light of tokenized US equity trading for overseas clients, how will the firm address potential liquidity fragmentation and lack of unified market data to ensure consistent best execution for non-US participants?
- Considering the firm's strong balance sheet and proven M&A track record, what specific criteria and timeline are used to evaluate future acquisition opportunities versus share buybacks, particularly in emerging areas such as digital assets and tokenization?
Research analysts who have asked questions during Virtu Financial earnings calls.
Christopher Allen
Citigroup
4 questions for VIRT
Craig Siegenthaler
Bank of America
4 questions for VIRT
Kenneth Worthington
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
4 questions for VIRT
Daniel Fannon
Jefferies Financial Group Inc.
3 questions for VIRT
Patrick Moley
Piper Sandler & Co.
3 questions for VIRT
Michael Cyprys
Morgan Stanley
2 questions for VIRT
Alexander Blostein
Goldman Sachs
1 question for VIRT
Alex Blostein
Goldman Sachs
1 question for VIRT
Dan Fannon
Jefferies & Company Inc.
1 question for VIRT
Competitors mentioned in the company's latest 10K filing.
| Company | Description |
|---|---|
Citadel Securities | Competes in the market making segment, offering liquidity across various asset classes and geographies. It is one of the larger and more sophisticated competitors in the industry. |
Susquehanna International Group LLP | A competitor in the market making segment, known for its significant resources and capabilities in trading and liquidity provision. |
Two Sigma | Operates in the market making segment, leveraging advanced technology and analytics to compete for market share. |
Jane Street | A competitor in the market making segment, recognized for its expertise in trading and liquidity provision across multiple asset classes. |
DRW Holdings | Competes in the market making segment, focusing on trading and liquidity provision with a strong emphasis on technology. |
IMC | A competitor in the market making segment, known for its global presence and advanced trading technologies. |
Optiver | Operates in the market making segment, competing with advanced trading strategies and a focus on liquidity provision. |
Notable M&A activity and strategic investments in the past 3 years.
| Company | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
Investment Technology Group, Inc. | 2019 | Virtu Financial completed an all‑cash acquisition of ITG for approximately $1.0 billion at $30.30 per share, financed through a senior secured first lien term loan of $1.5 billion (with a portion used to refinance existing facilities) and a revolving facility, to integrate ITG’s agency solutions with its own execution services and enhance stability of earnings. |
KCG Holdings, Inc. | 2017 | Virtu Financial acquired KCG in an all‑cash transaction valued at approximately $1.4 billion at $20.00 per share, with financing provided by a mix of debt (including senior secured second lien notes, a first lien term loan, and an additional term loan) and equity issuances, aimed at leveraging scale and achieving over 25% EPS accretion alongside significant cost and capital synergies. |
Recent press releases and 8-K filings for VIRT.
- Virtu Financial, Inc. announced on July 30, 2025, that Aaron Simons has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board.
- Mr. Simons previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Virtu.
- Douglas Cifu will retire as CEO but will remain an advisor to Virtu.
- A federal securities fraud class action alleging that Virtu Financial Inc. and certain of its officers failed to make proper disclosures to investors has survived a motion to dismiss.
- The complaint alleges that Virtu maintained deficient policies and procedures regarding its information access barriers, which led to an overstatement of the company's operational and technological efficacy.
- On July 1, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Virtu Financial Inc. reached a tentative settlement to resolve a lawsuit accusing the company of failing to adequately protect customer data.
- A federal securities fraud class action complaint against Virtu Financial Inc. (NASDAQ: VIRT) and certain officers, alleging failure to disclose improper safeguards for sensitive trader information, has survived a motion to dismiss.
- The complaint alleges Virtu maintained deficient policies and procedures regarding information access barriers, allowing virtually anyone, including proprietary traders, to access material non-public information from January 2018 through April 2019 using a widely known and shared username and password.
- On March 17, 2025, a federal Court determined that key allegations were sufficiently pled to proceed.
- Current Virtu shareholders who have held stock continuously since prior to November 7, 2018, can seek corporate reforms and the return of funds.