CME Group dividend: cash coverage and history
MyStockButler's October 2026 analysis: CME Group's latest regular dividend is $5.20 per share, and its latest variable dividend was $6.15 per share. CME Group paid $3,933.0 million in dividends and $266.1 million in buybacks in 2025; total shareholder payments were 100.1% of free cash flow.
How much does CME Group pay in dividends?
Base dividends rise from $11.30 per share to $12.00. The bear case falls from $8.00 to $7.00 as the variable payment contracts; the bull case reaches $16.00. The regular dividend begins at $5.20, based on the latest $1.30 quarterly declaration, while the latest variable dividend was $6.15. Management's regular payout target is 50%–60% of prior-year cash earnings, and regular dividends rose from $3.60 in 2021 to $5.00 in 2025.
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPS, diluted | 11.16 | 9.67 | 8.86 | 7.40 | 7.29 |
| − Dividends paid, per share | 10.92 | 9.96 | 9.00 | 7.33 | 6.10 |
| − Share buybacks, per share | 0.74 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
What this means. The 2025 dividend figure leaves out the $6.15 variable dividend declared in February 2026, so it is not the full dividend tied to 2025 results.
Does CME Group's cash cover its dividend?
Dividends dominated the distributions. In 2025 CME paid $3,933.0 million in dividends and $266.1 million on buybacks. Total shareholder payments reached $4,199.1 million, or 100.1% of free cash flow. The apparent excess reflected dividend timing and one-time cash from the OSTTRA disposal, not a permanent right to spend more than the business generates.
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free cash flow | 4,193.6 | 3,596.5 | 3,377.4 | 2,966.3 | 2,275.2 |
| − Dividends paid | 3,933.0 | 3,584.2 | 3,235.5 | 2,633.5 | 2,189.3 |
| − Share buybacks | 266.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| = Free cash flow not paid out | 12.3 | 141.9 | 332.8 | 85.9 | |
| = Paid out more than the free cash flow | 5.5 | ||||
| Paid out, % of free cash flow | 100.1% | 99.7% | 95.8% | 88.8% | 96.2% |
What could change CME Group's dividend?
The view would move toward the bear case during 2027–2029 if interest-rate ADV and revenue per contract weaken as markets calm. Slow Securities Clearing adoption, persistent cloud costs or easing data growth would reduce earnings and cash available for buybacks.
The base case would be reinforced if activity normalizes without losing benchmark demand, fee changes hold, market-data subscriptions grow and expenses remain controlled. Gradual cloud and Securities Clearing progress would support dividends and repurchases by 2029.
What is CME Group's dividend yield today?
| Today (Oct 22, 2026) | |
|---|---|
| Share price | 295.79 |
| Free cash flow yield (calculated) | 3.9% |
| Real free cash flow yield (calculated) | 3.9% |
| Dividend yield (calculated) | 1.8% |
What this means. The market value uses an older share count, so it may be slightly too high because the company later bought back shares.