Interactive Brokers Drops 5.15% Despite Strong March Metrics
1min read On April 3, 2025, interactive brokers group experienced a 5.15% drop in pre-market trading, reflecting investor sentiment amidst a backdrop of strong trading metrics reported for March.
Interactive Brokers reported a substantial 32% year-over-year increase in client accounts, totaling 3.62 million at the end of March. This growth indicates a robust expansion in the company's user base, which could be a positive indicator for future revenue streams.
March marked another strong month for Interactive Brokers as daily trading activity surged and client accounts continued to grow. The electronic brokerage firm reported a 44% year-over-year increase in Daily Average Revenue Trades (DARTs). Despite a slight month-over-month dip, the firm’s overall client equity and margin loan balances remained at elevated levels, reflecting strong market engagement.
Interactive Brokers processed 3.471 million DARTs, up significantly from the previous year but 4% lower than in February. The firm ended the month with 3.62 million client accounts, a 32% annual increase, with net account additions of 87,700. However, 13,300 accounts were escheated to governmental authorities as required by law, reducing the calculated growth to 74,400 accounts.
Total client equity reached $573.5 billion, up 23% from the previous year but slightly lower than the previous month’s figures. Margin loan balances stood at $63.7 billion, reflecting a 24% increase year over year and little change from February. Credit balances, including insured bank deposit sweeps, rose to $125.2 billion, marking a 19% annual gain and a slight increase from the prior month.
Interactive Brokers’ average commission per cleared commissionable order stood at $2.85, factoring in exchange, clearing, and regulatory fees. The cost per trade varied by product type, with stocks averaging $2.17 per order, equity options at $3.89, and futures at $3.9. The firm noted that exchange, clearing, and regulatory fees made up 57% of futures trading costs. Interactive Brokers disclosed that its IBKR PRO clients faced an all-in execution cost of approximately 3.3 basis points for U.S. Reg-NMS stock trades in March.
Meanwhile, Interactive Brokers added four new cryptocurrencies to its trading platform last month, including Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Ripple (XRP), and Dogecoin (DOGE). This expansion into the cryptocurrency market could attract a new segment of traders and investors, potentially driving further growth in client accounts and trading volumes.
