NDAQ
Not your average sleepy exchange
Nasdaq’s first-quarter report had a little more sparkle than your standard market-infrastructure print. The company said it pulled in $1.4 billion in quarterly net revenue, while also posting its strongest first-quarter start for organic growth in net revenue and operating income since 2021.
Why investors should care
That’s the kind of line that makes long-term holders sit up a little straighter. Nasdaq is supposed to be the boring plumbing of Wall Street — the part that works in the background while everyone else plays stock-picker quarterback — but this quarter says the business still has some growth juice left.
The takeaway
When a company like Nasdaq shows both revenue strength and operating leverage, it tells you the model is doing more than just keeping the lights on. If growth is accelerating and profits are following, that’s the combo investors tend to like.
Big picture: for a company built on markets, fees, and financial infrastructure, a strong first quarter is a nice reminder that “boring” can still be very investable.