CME vs. Mastercard: Which Financial Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

CME Group and Mastercard are compared as investment options for 2026. CME dominates derivatives trading with a 62% net margin, lower valuation (P/E 25.3x), and minimal debt (0.1x debt-to-equity), but faces volatile growth averaging 9.5%. Mastercard powers global payments with consistent 14.3% revenue growth, strong free cash flow of $16.4B, but trades at a higher valuation (P/E 33.8x) with 2.5x debt-to-equity. The article suggests CME may appeal to value-focused investors, while Mastercard attracts growth-oriented ones.

10/27/2026, 10:30 AM • The Motley Fool

Nasdaq: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors

Nasdaq reported Q3 2026 net revenue of $1.5 billion, up 14% year-over-year, driven by cloud migration, anti-financial crime software adoption, and 24/7 trading infrastructure demand. The company is successfully converting capital markets infrastructure into high-margin recurring revenue through cloud-based solutions (85% of fintech bookings) and enterprise wins in fraud prevention, positioning itself as a transformation partner with strong free cash flow of $616 million.

10/22/2026, 10:43 PM • The Motley Fool

Nasdaq's CEO Says Tokenized Money Is the Key to Unlocking Tens of Billions in Trapped Capital. Here's What That Means for Crypto Investors.

Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman believes tokenized money (stablecoins) is essential for enabling 24/7 trading and unlocking tens of billions in trapped bank capital. Starting December 6, Nasdaq will trade U.S. stocks 23 hours a day, five days a week. The strategy involves first tokenizing money, then tokenizing collateral and assets. However, Wall Street is expected to adopt crypto tools selectively rather than wholesale, with the biggest beneficiaries being infrastructure operators like Circle, Visa, and Nasdaq itself rather than crypto tokens.

10/20/2026, 10:49 AM • The Motley Fool

CME vs. Coinbase Global: Which Financial Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

CME Group and Coinbase Global represent two different approaches to financial infrastructure. CME operates a high-margin derivatives marketplace with a 62% net margin and strong cash generation, while Coinbase scales rapidly in crypto trading but faces regulatory uncertainty. The author recommends CME due to its superior profitability, lower valuation multiple, dividend payment, and skepticism about crypto's fundamental value.

10/19/2026, 11:10 AM • The Motley Fool

Meridian International Center Unveils Inaugural New Architects of American Influence Cohort

Meridian International Center announced the inaugural cohort of 25 leaders across business, technology, culture, sports, and state government recognized for shaping U.S. global influence. The group spans sectors including AI, space, medicine, energy, and finance, reflecting how American power is increasingly exercised beyond Washington through private sector innovation, international relationships, and cross-sector partnerships.

10/16/2026, 11:53 AM • GlobeNewswire

Supportive Cancer Care Takes Center Stage as Members of the National Coalition Together for Supportive Cancer Care Ring the Nasdaq Closing Bell

Members of Together for Supportive Cancer Care, a national coalition of over 40 organizations, rang the Nasdaq closing bell on July 16, 2026, to promote Supportive Cancer Care as the national standard of care in the United States. The coalition advocates for comprehensive cancer care that addresses emotional, practical, and financial support alongside clinical treatment, with research showing it improves quality of life, outcomes, and reduces costs.

07/22/2026, 6:00 AM • GlobeNewswire

NPM Announces Acquisition of Nasdaq Fund Secondaries (NFS)

Nasdaq Private Market (NPM), an independent spinoff from Nasdaq Inc., has announced the acquisition of Nasdaq's fund secondaries business. The deal, expected to close in Q3 2026, expands NPM's platform to handle both direct company shares and multi-asset fund stakes, positioning it to serve the full spectrum of private secondary liquidity demand. The private secondaries market reached record scale with $233 billion in global volume in 2025.

07/21/2026, 8:44 AM • GlobeNewswire

How to Invest in SpaceX Stock After Its Nasdaq-100 Debut

SpaceX's stock has declined 17% since joining the Nasdaq-100 in July and fallen below its $135 IPO price, despite the index inclusion forcing ETF purchases. The stock peaked at $225.64 in mid-June but faces headwinds from high valuation multiples (87x revenue), unprofitability across segments, and upcoming share unlocks. While analysts project 97% revenue CAGR through 2028, investors should consider whether such bullish estimates are realistic before buying.

07/19/2026, 8:30 AM • The Motley Fool

2 Reasons July 7 Is Shaping Up as a Monster Day for SpaceX

SpaceX is poised for significant stock movement on July 7, 2026, due to two converging catalysts: eligibility for inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 index (which will trigger automatic buying from index funds) and the end of the 25-calendar-day quiet period for participating underwriters, allowing them to issue buy recommendations and price targets. However, the article cautions that this potential pop may be temporary, as insider share lockups will expire after the company's first quarterly earnings release in August.

06/29/2026, 5:06 AM • The Motley Fool

The Sneaky Way SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI Can Destroy the Trump Bull Market

Recently amended index inclusion rules allow SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI to gain fast-track entry into major stock indexes. However, historical data shows that hyped tech IPOs experience average year-one drawdowns of 55%, and game-changing technologies typically face optimization challenges that could undermine the current Trump bull market.

06/27/2026, 4:06 AM • The Motley Fool

Record Trading Volume on the Nasdaq Closing Cross During the June 2026 Russell US Indexes Reconstitution

Nasdaq achieved a record trading volume of 4.59 billion shares worth $334.027 billion during the June 2026 Russell US Indexes reconstitution using the Closing Cross mechanism. The execution was completed in 1.630 seconds, surpassing the previous year's volume of 2.51 billion shares. This marks the 23rd year the Closing Cross has been used for Russell Reconstitution, demonstrating the scalability and efficiency of US market infrastructure.

06/26/2026, 4:36 PM • GlobeNewswire

Prediction: The SpaceX Lockup Period Will Be an Absolute Train Wreck for Retail Investors

SpaceX's IPO has artificially boosted its stock price through structural index changes and low float, forcing passive funds to buy shares. However, the company's staggered lockup schedule will allow insiders to gradually sell their shares starting in August, potentially causing significant losses for retail investors. Combined with planned share dilution, unsustainable valuations, and lack of recurring profits, the article warns of a major wealth transfer from retail investors to company insiders.

06/20/2026, 9:06 AM • The Motley Fool

SpaceX Can Be Added to the Russell 1000 and Russell 3000 After Today -- Don't Take the Bait

SpaceX completed a record $75 billion IPO and will be added to the Russell 1000 and Russell 3000 indexes after just 5 trading days due to new expedited inclusion rules. However, the article warns retail investors to avoid the stock, citing concerns about artificially inflated prices from forced index fund purchases, an unorthodox insider lockup schedule that allows insiders to dump shares starting in August, and fundamental valuation concerns.

06/18/2026, 5:06 AM • The Motley Fool

SpaceX Has Successfully Completed Its IPO. Here Are All of the Key Dates Investors Should Be Aware of Over the Next 180 Days.

SpaceX completed its IPO, raising $86 billion and achieving a $2.5 trillion market cap, making it the largest IPO in history. Over the next 180 days, the stock will be added to major indexes (driving demand) while insider lock-up provisions expire in stages (increasing supply). The author suggests investors wait until after 180 days to get a true valuation as these artificial market forces balance out.

06/17/2026, 10:05 PM • The Motley Fool

Nasdaq Just Landed the Largest IPO in History. Here's Why the Exchange Stock Could Keep Winning.

SpaceX's $75 billion IPO on Nasdaq positions the exchange to benefit from increased listing fees, data sales, and licensing revenues. The exchange's technology focus attracted SpaceX and could draw other major tech IPOs like OpenAI and Anthropic. Nasdaq offers conservative investors a profitable alternative to buying volatile IPOs directly.

06/17/2026, 11:15 AM • The Motley Fool