Overview
Jeffrey Sprecher, chief executive officer of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICE), completed a series of transactions in mid-February 2026 that included the sale of company stock and the exercise of stock options. The sales and option exercises were disclosed on Form 4 filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and were carried out under a pre-established trading plan.
Details of the transactions
On February 18, 2026, Sprecher sold a total of 279,937 shares of Intercontinental Exchange common stock for an aggregate amount of approximately $43.4 million. The sales were executed at a price of $154.9968 per share and occurred in two tranches - an initial disposition of 129,937 shares followed by a second block of 150,000 shares.
Also on February 18, Sprecher exercised options to acquire 52,079 shares of ICE common stock. Those option exercises used strikes of $67.0 and $76.16 and had an aggregate cost of about $3.5 million.
A day earlier, on February 17, Sprecher sold an additional 6,459 shares for $983,576, at a price of $152.28 per share.
Post-transaction ownership
Following these moves, Sprecher directly holds 1,094,923 shares of Intercontinental Exchange. He also indirectly holds 1,651,705 shares through CPEX and has 81,570 shares beneficially owned by his spouse.
Mechanics of the sale
The February 18 sales were carried out pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan that was approved and became effective on May 30, 2025. The use of a 10b5-1 plan indicates the trades were executed according to a prearranged schedule and parameters set under that plan.
Company financials and operational highlights
Intercontinental Exchange reported strong fourth-quarter results for 2025. The company posted earnings per share of $1.71, surpassing the consensus projection of $1.68. Revenue for the quarter reached $3.14 billion, notably above the $2.48 billion analysts had expected.
ICE’s derivatives platforms also registered record activity. Interest rate derivatives markets recorded open interest of 42.3 million contracts, representing a 45% year-over-year increase. Total open interest across the company’s futures and options markets reached a record 116.5 million contracts.
Product launches and platform upgrades
The company introduced seven new cryptocurrency futures contracts that are based on CoinDesk Indices, with the suite including indices tracking Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, XRP, and BNB. ICE additionally rolled out an enhanced user experience for its MSP mortgage servicing system, which the company described as the completion of the first phase of its modernization initiative.
In parallel developments within the industry, CME Group is working on a futures contract for rare earths focusing on neodymium and praseodymium. ICE is also exploring opportunities in this area, though the company’s plans are described as less advanced.
Valuation, dividends and analyst activity
At the time of Sprecher’s sale, ICE’s stock was trading close to an InvestingPro Fair Value estimate of $155.95, a fact noted alongside the stock’s recent price weakness. The company is valued at approximately $87.5 billion and has raised its dividend for 14 consecutive years. Additionally, 10 analysts had revised earnings estimates upward, a point referenced as part of ICE’s Pro Research Report on InvestingPro.
Context and implications
The disclosures provide a clear accounting of Sprecher’s transactions and current shareholdings. The sales were effected under a 10b5-1 plan approved in May 2025, while option exercises increased his immediate ownership on an absolute basis. Concurrently, ICE reported notable top-line and derivatives-market strength in Q4 2025 and has continued to expand its product set and platform capabilities.
Note: The facts presented here are drawn from the SEC Form 4 disclosures and company-reported results as detailed in the filings and corporate announcements referenced in those disclosures.