First Quarter 2025 Highlights:

  • Gross revenues of $30.4 million for the quarter, up 10% versus the prior year period
  • Operating income of $7.3 million for the quarter, up 9% versus the prior year period
  • Operating profit margin of 24.7%, versus 25.0% for the prior year period
  • Net income of $6.0 million, up 1% versus the prior year period, and quarterly diluted GAAP EPS of $0.50, up 2%
  • Total cash returned to shareholders during the quarter of $5.1 million, comprised of dividends of $2.2 million and repurchases of common stock of $2.9 million
  • Announcing second quarter 2025 dividend of $0.18 per share
  • 548 OTCQX® and 1,051 OTCQB® companies at quarter end
  • 14 graduates to a national securities exchange during the quarter
  • 116 subscribers to OTC Link ECN as of March 31, 2025, up 4 versus March 31, 2024
  • 141 unique OTC Link subscribers as of March 31, 2025, up 6 versus March 31, 2024
  • Approximately 56,000 average daily trades during the quarter versus approximately 34,000 during the prior year period
  • OTC Markets Group announced that in July 2025, it will launch OTCIDTM – a Basic Reporting Market for companies that meet a minimal current information standard and provide a management certification. The Pink Current Market will cease to exist

NEW YORK, May 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities, today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2025.

“During the first quarter of 2025, we remained focused on overnight trading and the launch of the OTCID Basic Market,” said R. Cromwell Coulson, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We continued to certify and connect subscribers to MOON ATSTM and OTC OvernightTM, and open distribution channels for our overnight data feeds. We are in constant communication with issuers, advisors, investors and our broker-dealer community as we move towards the July 1st OTCID launch date. We believe these key initiatives will increase the value of our regulated trading platforms for broker-dealers and improve the quality of our markets for investors.”

“Our first quarter results highlighted the value of our diversified revenue streams and synergistic business lines,” said Antonia Georgieva, Chief Financial Officer. “OTC Link revenues increased, supported by higher trading volume, with price increases and subscriber growth driving Market Data Licensing revenue growth. Our Corporate Services business saw sales improve but experienced a small decline in revenues due to a lower number of companies across our markets. We remain focused on our key initiatives and on driving growth in users and usage of our products.”

First Quarter 2025 compared to First Quarter 2024

Financial Highlights

    Three Months Ended March 31,        
(in thousands, except shares and per share data)     2025       2024     % change   $ change
OTC Link   $ 6,563     $ 5,397     22 %   1,166  
Market data licensing     12,783       11,088     15 %   1,695  
Corporate services     11,080       11,172     (1 %)   ( 92 )
Gross Revenues     30,426       27,657     10 %   2,769  
Net revenues     29,432       26,817     10 %   2,615  
Revenues less transaction-based expenses     27,057       25,309     7 %   1,748  
Operating expenses     19,783       18,610     6 %   1,173  
Income from operations     7,274       6,699     9 %   575  
Operating profit margin     24.7 %     25.0 %        
Income before provision for income taxes     7,424       6,874     8 %   550  
Net income   $ 6,040     $ 5,984     1 %   56  
                 
Diluted earnings per share   $ 0.50     $ 0.49     2 %    
Adjusted diluted earnings per share   $ 0.81     $ 0.76     7 %    
Weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted     11,834,071       11,863,089     –      
                 
  • Gross revenues of $30.4 million, up 10% over the prior year quarter. Revenues less transaction-based expenses up 7%.
  • OTC Link revenues up 22%. Transaction-based revenues from OTC Link ECN and OTC Link NQB up 46% due to a higher volume of shares traded on those platforms. Contributing to the overall increase in OTC Link revenues were an increase in certain connectivity revenue due to growth in the number of connection licenses and higher QAP service revenue related to the higher volume of trading activity.
  • Market Data Licensing revenues up 15%. Redistributor-based revenues increased 19%, with professional user revenues increasing 20%, and non-professional user revenues increasing 45% quarter over quarter. Revenues from direct sold licenses increased 22% primarily due to price increases and growth in subscribers as well as certain one-time revenue recognized during the quarter. Revenues from data and compliance solutions declined slightly at 1%, with lower revenue from EDGAR Online partially offset by increases in revenues from data services and our Blue Sky data product.
  • Corporate Services revenues down 1%. Revenues from our OTCQB market declined 2%, reflecting a lower number of companies on the OTCQB market, offsetting price increases effective from the beginning of the year. Revenues from our OTCQX market and our Disclosure & News Service® (“DNS”) product increased 1% and 2%, respectively, in each case due to price increases offsetting a lower number of companies on the OTCQX markets or subscribing to DNS.
  • Operating expenses increased 6%. The increase was primarily driven by a 3% increase in compensation and benefits, 33% increase in professional and consulting fees, and 34% increase in general, administrative and other, primarily due to higher bad debt.
  • Operating income increased 9% and net income increased 1%, to $7.3 million and $6.0 million, respectively.
  • Adjusted EBITDA, which excludes non-cash stock-based compensation expense, increased 7% to $9.8 million, or $0.81 per adjusted diluted share.

Dividend Declaration – Quarterly Cash Dividend

OTC Markets Group announced today that its Board of Directors authorized and approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share of Class A Common Stock. The quarterly cash dividend is payable on June 18, 2025, to stockholders of record on June 4, 2025. The ex-dividend date is June 4, 2025.

Stock Buyback Program

The Company is authorized to purchase shares from time to time on the open market, from employees and consultants, and through block trades, in compliance with applicable law. During the first quarter of 2025, the Company purchased 55,522 shares at an average price of $52.8575 per share.

On March 11, 2025, the Board of Directors refreshed the Company’s stock repurchase program, giving the Company authorization to repurchase up to 300,000 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to disclosing results prepared in accordance with GAAP, the Company also discloses certain non-GAAP results of operations, including adjusted EBITDA and adjusted diluted earnings per share that either exclude or include amounts that are described in the reconciliation table of GAAP to non-GAAP information provided at the end of this release. Non-GAAP financial measures do not replace and are not superior to the presentation of GAAP financial results but are provided to improve overall understanding of the Company’s current financial performance. Management believes that this non-GAAP information is useful to both management and investors regarding certain additional financial and business trends related to the operating results. Management uses this non-GAAP information, along with GAAP information, in evaluating its historical operating performance.

First Quarter 2025 Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, during which management will discuss the financial results in further detail. The call and webcast may be accessed as follows:

Webcast:
The conference webcast and management presentation can be accessed at the following link (replay available until May 7, 2026):

https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/5vwtdq3q

Live Call:
Participants intending to ask a question during the live call and Q&A session should also register in advance at:

https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI6b79867bad5f4586a7cd407f82eecd3b

Upon registration, participants will receive a dial-in number along with a unique PIN number that can be used to access the live call. Live call participants may also select a “Call Me” option.

The Quarterly Report, earnings release, transcript of the earnings call, and management presentation will also be available in the Investor Relations section of the corporate website at

https://www.otcmarkets.com/about/investor-relations.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates regulated markets for trading 12,000 U.S. and international securities. Our data-driven disclosure standards form the foundation of our three public markets: OTCQX® Best Market, OTCQB® Venture Market and Pink® Open Market.

Our OTC Link® Alternative Trading Systems (ATSs) provide critical market infrastructure that broker-dealers rely on to facilitate trading. Our innovative model offers companies more efficient access to the U.S. financial markets.

OTC Link ATS, OTC Link ECN, OTC Link NQB, and MOON ATS are each an SEC regulated ATS, operated by OTC Link LLC, a FINRA and SEC registered broker-dealer, member SIPC.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

Investor Contact:

Antonia Georgieva
Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (212) 220-2215
Email: ir@otcmarkets.com

Media Contact:

OTC Markets Group Inc.
Phone: (212) 896-4428
Email: media@otcmarkets.com

       
OTC MARKETS GROUP INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except share and per share information)
       
  Three Months Ended March 31,
    2025       2024  
OTC Link $ 6,563     $ 5,397  
Market data licensing   12,783       11,088  
Corporate services   11,080       11,172  
Gross revenues   30,426       27,657  
Redistribution fees and rebates   (994 )     (840 )
Net revenues   29,432       26,817  
Transaction-based expenses   (2,375 )     (1,508 )
Revenues less transaction-based expenses   27,057       25,309  
Operating expenses      
Compensation and benefits   12,906       12,522  
IT Infrastructure and information services   2,715       2,699  
Professional and consulting fees   1,956       1,466  
Marketing and advertising   343       263  
Occupancy costs   638       585  
Depreciation and amortization   660       653  
General, administrative and other   565       422  
Total operating expenses   19,783       18,610  
Income from operations   7,274       6,699  
Other income      
Other income   150       175  
Income before provision for income taxes   7,424       6,874  
Provision for income taxes   1,384       890  
Net Income $ 6,040     $ 5,984  
       
Earnings per share      
Basic $ 0.50     $ 0.50  
Diluted $ 0.50     $ 0.49  
       
Basic weighted average shares outstanding   11,756,815       11,705,383  
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding   11,834,071       11,863,089  
       
       
Non-GAAP Reconciliation      
  Three Months Ended March 31,
    2025       2024  
Net Income $ 6,040     $ 5,984  
Excluding:      
Interest expense (income)   (149 )     (175 )
Provision for income taxes   1,384       890  
Depreciation and amortization   660       653  
Stock-based compensation expense   1,881       1,826  
Adjusted EBITDA $ 9,816     $ 9,178  
       
Adjusted diluted earnings per share $ 0.81     $ 0.76  
       
Note: We use non-GAAP financial measures of operating performance. Non-GAAP measures do not replace and are not superior to the presentation of our GAAP financial results, but are provided to improve overall understanding of the Company’s current financial performance.

       
OTC MARKETS GROUP INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share information)
       
  March 31,   December 31,
    2025       2024  
Assets      
Current assets      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 29,016     $ 34,522  
Short-term investments   3,871       4,513  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $462 and $326   9,268       8,097  
Prepaid income taxes   430       244  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   2,771       2,237  
Total current assets   45,356       49,613  
Property and equipment, net   6,697       7,096  
Operating lease right-of-use assets   10,597       10,951  
Deferred tax assets, net   10,573       10,120  
Goodwill   3,984       3,984  
Intangible assets, net   6,684       6,829  
Long-term restricted cash   1,606       1,606  
Other assets   553       543  
Total Assets $ 86,050     $ 90,742  
       
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity      
Current liabilities      
Accounts payable $ 854     $ 1,175  
Income taxes payable   1,457       54  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   7,388       13,425  
Deferred revenue   27,001       29,084  
Total current liabilities   36,700       43,738  
Income tax reserve   962       927  
Operating lease liabilities   9,964       10,360  
Total Liabilities   47,626       55,025  
Commitments and contingencies      
Stockholders’ equity      
Common stock – par value $0.01 per share      
Class A – 17,000,000 authorized, 12,904,727 issued, 12,013,295 outstanding at      
March 31, 2025; 12,815,075 issued, 11,979,165 outstanding at December 31, 2024   129       128  
Additional paid-in capital   36,889       35,127  
Retained earnings   27,078       23,200  
Treasury stock – 891,432 shares at March 31, 2025 and 835,910 shares at December 31, 2024   (25,672 )     (22,738 )
Total Stockholders’ Equity   38,424       35,717  
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 86,050     $ 90,742