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StoneX Group Inc.
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StoneX Group Inc. (previously INTL FCStone) is an American financial services company. The company operates in six areas: commercial hedging, global payments, securities, physical commodities, foreign exchange and clearing and execution services (CES).
Key Information
As of 2023[update], the company was ranked No. 59 in the Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by revenue.[citation needed] In July 2020, the company rebranded and changed its name to StoneX Group Inc.[3][4]
During 2018 INTL FCStone along with 91 other Fortune 500 companies had "paid an effective federal tax rate of 0% or less" as a result of Donald Trump's Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[5]
In 2023, StoneX was found to have purchased $4.6 million of illegally mined gold from Coluna, a practice that continued into 2024. Coluna collected illegally mined gold from more than 1000 wildcat mining group.[6]
History
[edit]Foundation and early years
[edit]StoneX Group Inc. began as a door-to-door egg wholesaler that eventually grew into a butter and egg broker known as Saul Stone and Company. Saul Stone fled persecution in his homeland, Russia, and settled in Chicago in 1921. In 1924, Stone started selling farm wares. Eventually, he moved into hedging futures contracts and dealing in a variety of commodity contracts. In 1938, his firm became a member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. In 1946 it was incorporated as Saul Stone & Co.[7] Decades later, Saul Stone & Co. merged with Farmer's Commodity Corporation.[8] After the merger, the new company called itself FCStone Group, Inc.[9]
IPO in 2007
[edit]In 2007, StoneX went public.[10] The company acquired Chicago-based Downes-O’Neil LLC that same year.[11] In 2008, StoneX acquired Globecot, Inc. and The Jernigan Group, LLC, a brokerage group that worked with global fiber and textile industries.[12][13] In 2009, International Assets Holding Corporation (IAHC) and FCStone Group merged to become INTL FCStone (now StoneX Group Inc.).[14] Diego Veitia, who also helped found the Costa Rica Stock Exchange, founded IAHC. Veitia served as a chairman with StoneX.[15]
The new company acquired Hanley Group Ltd in 2010, a provider of over-the-counter (OTC) products.[16] It was combined with StoneX's existing OTC trade business. Further expansion happened with a transaction to purchase the futures operation of Miami-based Hencorp Group, Hencorp Futures. Hencorp Futures changed its name to INTL Hencorp Futures and expanded StoneX's trading commodities to include coffee, sugar, and cocoa.[17]
Acquisitions 2010 - 2025
[edit]In 2010, the company partnered with Decisive Farming. INTL provided the organization with Know-Risk, a marketing tool that helps farmers customize crop marketing plans based on price triggers and time triggers.[18][19]
The company reached an agreement with Hudson Capital Energy LLC (HCEnergy), a New York-based energy risk-management firm, in 2011. INTL's subsidiary, StoneX Group Inc. (previously FCStone LLC), took over HCEnergy's business and customers. This included HCEnergy's Swiss subsidiary, HCEnergy Europe GmbH. The transaction expanded StoneX Group Inc.’s energy risk portfolio to include greater capability in crude oil and refined products.[20] In 2011, StoneX Group Inc. also saw the beginning of INTL’s CommodityNetwork. That year, INTL purchased online industry newsletter CoffeeNetwork from Hencorp Group. A year later, the company announced plans to expand network coverage into the four major commodities: metals, agriculture, energy and softs.[21] It already had cotton and dairy news sites, Globecot News Network and eDairy. The company won the Forex Magnates’s industry award for best liquidity provider.[22]
In 2014, INTL’s subsidiary StoneX (previously INTL FCStone) acquired Sinclair and Company. Sinclair, an introducing broker, focused on dairy, grains and livestock markets. In 2015, INTL finalized a transaction to acquire G.X. Clarke & Co for about $27 million.[23] G.X. was founded in 1979. It was registered with the SEC as an institutional dealer in fixed-income securities.
In 2016, the company acquired Sterne Agee. The sale included Sterne Agee’s clearing business and RIA businesses. INTL purchased the company from Stifel, just over a year after Stifel bought Sterne Agee as part of a $150 million acquisition.[24]
In late January 2018, an agreement between INTL FCStone Financial, a subsidiary of StoneX Group Inc. (INTL FCStone at the time), and European platform Allfunds Bank went live. The agreement gave advisors using FCStone Financial access to thousands of UCITS funds without having to sign individual contracts with each strategies’ manager or distributor. FCStone Financial was the first US-based clearing firm with access to the Allfunds platform. Allfunds is the largest fund platform in Europe and offers access to more than 57,000 funds from over 1,200 fund managers.[25]
Throughout 2018 INTL FCStone along with 91 other Fortune 500 companies had "paid an effective federal tax rate of 0% or less" as a result of Donald Trump´s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[5]
In 2025, StoneX acquired R.J. O'Brien & Associates (RJO), the oldest futures brokerage and clearing firm in the United States, for $900 million, with a plan to absorb all of RJO's global businesses.[26]
Metals and futures outside the US, 2011-2020
[edit]StoneX first started working with London Metal Exchange (LME) in 2011, when it purchased MF Global Holding's metals unit.[27] In August 2018, StoneX started developing an electronic trading platform for its LME clients,[28] which would be similar to one created for INTL's precious metals clients called PMXecute.[29] There is also PMXecute+, which connects consumers and suppliers of physical gold.[30] In December 2018, StoneX announced that it would be acquiring GMP's US-based fixed-income trading business, formerly known as Miller Tabak Roberts Securities, LLC.[31][32][33]
In 2019 StoneX Group Inc. acquired the futures and options brokerage and clearing business of UOB Bullion and Futures Limited in Singapore.[34] In April 2019, StoneX launched a prime brokerage division.[35] The new division offers clearing services for hedge funds, mutual funds, and family offices.[35] In February 2020, StoneX announced the acquisition of U.S.-based brokerage GAIN Capital Holdings Inc., primarily known as the operator of retail brands Forex.com globally and City Index in the UK. The all-cash deal, approved by the boards of both companies, was worth about $236 million in equity value.[36][37]
Farmers Commodities Corporation, 1978-2009
[edit]Founded in 1978, the firm was known as the Farmers Commodities Corporation until 2002. StoneX Group Inc. (previously FCStone Group) provided integrated risk management services such as market intelligence and analysis to help commodity traders in industries like agriculture, renewable fuels, energy, food service, carbon credits, and forest products. In 2007, the company went public raising $95 million. StoneX executed more than 100 million derivative contracts in 2008 and was a clearing member on all major US future exchanges. The Group served commercial commodity intermediaries, end-users, and producers around the world. As of Sept. 30th, 2009, StoneX Group Inc. operates as a subsidiary of International Assets Holding Corp.[38][39][40]
International Assets Holding Corporation, 1981-2010
[edit]IAHC began as the International Assets Advisory Corporation in 1981. The company started in Winter Park, Florida in 1981 and was headed by Diego J. Veitia, a graduate of the Thunderbird School of Global Management. The firm's initial focus was the private placements of stocks and bonds of foreign companies. IAAC then turned its attention to high-net-worth clients, including individuals and financial institutions, and diversifying their investment portfolios through the sales of equity securities and global debt. In 1987, Veitia created a holding company called International Assets Holding Corporation which went public in 1994. IAHC transitioned into becoming a market maker of international equity securities in the early 2000s and as of 2010 was a global financial services provider operating through wholly owned subsidiaries in the US, Dubai, Singapore, Argentina, the UK, Brazil, and Uruguay.[41]
Merger in 2009
[edit]In 2009, StoneX Group Inc. (previously INTL FCStone) and the International Assets Holding Corporation merged, with Sean O'Connor becoming CEO and Diego Veitia Chairman. StoneX operates as an independent business unit of IAHC, ceased trading stock on Sept. 30th, and brings over $229.3 million in operation revenues. IAAC officially became INTL FCStone in Feb. 2011 (now StoneX Group Inc.).[41] StoneX Group Inc. serves more than 32,000 accounts, and more than 330,000 active retail accounts, in more than 180 countries through a network of 70 offices around the world.[42] Within a month of the merger, IAHC expanded operations to the Pacific Rim with a new office in Sydney, Australia.[41]
Company name change 2020
[edit]In July 2020, the company rebranded and changed its name to StoneX Group Inc.[3][4] In October 2020, StoneX finalized its acquisition of Frankfurt-based Giroxx which now operates as StoneX Financial GmbH from within the Global Payments division.[43]
Subsidiaries
[edit]- StoneX Ltd: formerly known as INTL FCStone (Europe) Limited, its name was changed in March 2013. It is based in the United Kingdom.[44]
- StoneX Financial Inc.: formed in 2015 after the merger of three subsidiaries into INTL FCStone Securities Inc. The three subsidiaries were FCStone, LLC, INTL FCStone Partners LP, and FCC Investments, Inc.[45]
- StoneX Markets, LLC[46]
References
[edit]- ^ "StoneX Group Inc. Reports Fiscal 2022 Fourth Quarter Financial Results". StoneX. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "StoneX Group Inc. 2022 Annual Report". StoneX. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ a b "INTL FCStone to rebrand as StoneX Group - The TRADE". www.thetradenews.com. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ a b "US Market Maker INTL FCStone to Rebrand as StoneX Group". Finance Magnates | Financial and business news. 2020-05-14. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- ^ a b Pound, Jesse (December 16, 2019). "These 91 companies paid no federal taxes in 2018". CNBC. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
- ^ "StoneX bought illicit gold from Brazil's Amazon". TBIJ. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- ^ "Merc Broker, Israel Backer Saul Stone". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
- ^ "INTL FCStone's future is fueled by its innovative roots - Decisive Farming". decisivefarming.com. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 2018-08-29.
- ^ "FCStone Group, Inc. - Conversion Overview" (PDF).
- ^ "FCStone IPO raises $122 million, top of range". Reuters. 2007-03-15. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
- ^ "Executive Profile | INTL FCStone Inc. | Michael Antman". www.boardroominsiders.com. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
- ^ "INTL FCStone grows from commodity broking to breaking news". Reuters. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
- ^ "FCStone's Globecot, Inc. Changes Name to FCStone Fibers and Textiles". Cotton Grower. 2009-04-28. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
- ^ Polansek, Tom. "FCStone brokerage boss quits amid stress from regulations -CEO". U.S. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
- ^ "INTL FCStone Inc. - MarketsWiki, A Commonwealth of Market Knowledge". www.marketswiki.com. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
- ^ "INTL FCStone adds Thomas, Garland to precious metals team". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
- ^ "International Assets Holding Buys Futures Division Of Hencorp - Quick Facts". RTTNews. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
- ^ "How Decisive Farming Hopes to Differentiate Itself in Frothy Digital Ag Space - AgFunderNews". AgFunderNews. 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
- ^ "Renterra's Partnership with Decisive farming - Renterra". www.renterra.ca. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
- ^ "INTL FCStone Inc. and Hudson Capital Energy Reach Agreement". msnbc.com. 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
- ^ "INTL FCStone grows from commodity broking to breaking news". Reuters. Retrieved 2018-09-12.
- ^ "FCA Approves INTL FCStone's Consolidation of its Foreign Exchange and Execution Business | Finance Magnates". Finance Magnates | Financial and business news. 2014-03-25. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
- ^ "INTL FCStone Inc Acquires Fixed Income Dealer G.X. Clarke & Co". Finance Magnates | Financial and business news. 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
- ^ Kelly, Bruce (13 September 2016). "Stifel selling off Sterne Agee independent broker-dealer business it acquired last year". www.investmentnews.com. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
- ^ "Allfunds enters US offshore market with INTL FCStone deal". Citywire. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
- ^ Basar, Shanny (2025-04-14). "StoneX Group Acquires R.J. O'Brien for $900m". Markets Media. Retrieved 2025-04-15.
- ^ Thomas, Susan. "INTL FCStone to acquire MF Global's UK metals arm". U.S. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
- ^ "INTL FCStone developing LME technology platform, adding staff". Fast Markets. 2 August 2018.
- ^ "PMXecute". www.stonex.com. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
- ^ "Is Gold Overpriced? This Bullish Firm Thinks So". Kitco News. 2017-09-12. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
- ^ "INTL FCStone Secures Acquires GMP Securities| Finance Magnates". Finance Magnates | Financial and business news. 2019-01-15. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- ^ "INTL FCStone Fixed Income Group Expands Offerings". Citybizlist. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- ^ "INTL FCStone Inc. Agrees to Acquire GMP's US-based Fixed Income Trading Business, formerly known as Miller Tabak Roberts Securities, LLC". EuroInvestor. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
- ^ Gek, Tay Peck (2019-03-19). "UOB Bullion and Futures to sell brokerage and clearing business for US$5m". The Business Times. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
- ^ a b "INTL FCStone launches prime brokerage division". www.securitieslendingtimes.com. Retrieved 2019-07-29.
- ^ "INTL FCStone to Acquire GAIN Capital in All-Cash Deal". 27 February 2020.
- ^ "INTL FCStone Inc. Agrees to an All-cash Acquisition of GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc. at $6.00 Per Share". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
- ^ "INTL FCStone Inc". Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "Company Overview of FCStone Group, Inc". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "FCStone Group Inc". Bloomberg. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ a b c Ed Dinger (2010). "International Assets Holding Corporation". International Directory of Company Histories. 111: 244–247.
- ^ "Vets Start StoneX Office". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
- ^ Boggdanova, Steffy (6 October 2020). "StoneX completes acquisition of GIROXX GmbH in Germany". LeapRate.
- ^ "Terms of Service Violation". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
- ^ "INTL FCStone to Consolidate U.S. Subsidiaries". MarketWatch. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
- ^ "CFTC Orders Swap Dealer INTL FCStone Markets, LLC to Pay a $200,000 Civil Monetary Penalty for Failure to Supervise Swaps Trading in Violation of CFTC Regulation 23.602 | U.S. COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION". www.cftc.gov. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
StoneX Group Inc.
View on GrokipediaHistory
Founding and Early Operations (1924–1980s)
Saul Stone, a Russian immigrant who arrived in Chicago in 1921 to escape persecution, began his entrepreneurial venture in 1924 by operating a door-to-door egg wholesaling business, initially pushing a cart through the city's streets to sell farm products such as eggs and butter.[4][9] This modest operation evolved into Saul Stone & Company, a formal commodities brokerage firm focused on physical agricultural products and wholesale trading.[3] By the late 1930s, the company had expanded into futures hedging and brokerage services, becoming one of the inaugural clearing members of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in 1938, which enabled it to handle trade execution and settlement for clients in volatile commodity markets.[4][9] Throughout the mid-20th century, Saul Stone & Company specialized in brokerage for agricultural commodities, including grains, livestock, and dairy, providing execution, clearing, and risk management services to farmers, producers, and traders amid fluctuating market conditions driven by supply disruptions and economic cycles.[3] The firm's early operations emphasized direct market access and personalized brokerage, building a reputation for reliability in physical delivery and futures contracts without the extensive regulatory frameworks that later emerged.[10] This period laid the groundwork for expertise in commodities trading, as the company navigated challenges like post-World War II agricultural booms and the establishment of formalized futures exchanges.[11] In 1978, to address growing demand for specialized hedging in grain markets, Saul Stone & Company established Farmers Commodities Corporation as a dedicated subsidiary, focusing on brokerage services for agricultural risk management and expanding clearing capabilities across major exchanges.[3][10] This entity targeted farmers and agribusinesses seeking to mitigate price volatility through futures and options, marking an early shift toward structured risk tools while maintaining the core emphasis on execution efficiency in physical and derivative markets.[11] By the 1980s, these operations solidified the firm's position in U.S. agricultural commodities, serving as a foundational element for subsequent growth in brokerage and clearing services.[12]Key Pre-Merger Entities and Growth (1970s–2000s)
International Assets Holding Corporation (IAHC) was established in 1981 as an internationally oriented boutique brokerage firm, initially operating as International Assets Advisory Corporation and concentrating on advisory services, trade execution, and access to foreign exchange and global securities for institutional investors.[13] The firm capitalized on increasing globalization of financial markets during the 1980s, expanding its client base among hedge funds, asset managers, and corporations requiring cross-border execution capabilities outside traditional U.S. exchanges.[14] In parallel, FCStone Group, Inc., whose predecessor Saul Stone & Company traced origins to a 1924 commodities trading operation in Chicago, experienced robust organic growth in U.S. futures and commodities brokerage from the 1970s onward.[3] Reorganized in 1978 as Farmers Commodities Services, Inc. (later FCStone), it innovated in the early 1970s by developing financial futures products on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange's International Monetary Market, amid deregulation spurred by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Act of 1974 that broadened contract offerings and participant access.[15][16] By the 1980s, FCStone had extended into clearing membership on exchanges like the Kansas City Board of Trade (1983) and acquired trading seats to handle increased volumes in agricultural and financial derivatives.[14] Both entities pursued niche expansions in metals and non-U.S. futures trading during the 1980s–2000s, benefiting from global deregulation trends such as the liberalization of derivatives markets in Europe and Asia, which facilitated offshore clearing and execution for commodities like precious metals and energy products. FCStone, for instance, grew its metals trading footprint through specialized risk management for commercial hedgers, while IAHC extended advisory services to international metals exchanges, driven by rising demand for efficient clearing amid volatile commodity prices.[17] Prior to their 2009 combination, these firms exhibited informal operational overlaps in commodities processing—such as shared clearing efficiencies for institutional flows—without structural integration, reflecting market pressures for specialized, low-cost intermediation in fragmented global futures ecosystems.[18]Merger, IPO, and Initial Expansion (2009–2010)
On September 30, 2009, International Assets Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: IAAC), a provider of foreign exchange and securities execution services, completed its merger with FCStone Group, Inc., a commodities risk management and advisory firm. Under the terms, FCStone shareholders received 0.295 shares of International Assets common stock for each FCStone share held, valuing the transaction at approximately $130 million and resulting in International Assets shareholders owning about 52.5% of the combined entity.[19][20] The merger, approved by both companies' shareholders on September 25, 2009, formed a diversified platform with a market capitalization of $285 million, $1.8 billion in assets, over 10,000 customers, and 614 employees, combining expertise in agricultural commodities hedging, global payments, and institutional trading.[20][21] The combined public company, retaining the International Assets Holding Corporation name initially, prioritized operational integration to capitalize on synergies in customer bases and product offerings, while navigating the post-2008 financial crisis environment of heightened volatility in derivatives markets. This consolidation provided enhanced scale and access to public capital markets, enabling the firm to pursue growth in execution and clearing services for commodities, foreign exchange, and securities without requiring a new initial public offering, as both predecessors were already publicly traded.[14][20] By fiscal year-end 2010, the entity reported expanded transaction volumes in physical commodities, totaling $47 billion, reflecting stabilization and recovery in client hedging activities.[22] Initial expansion efforts in 2010 included the July 14 acquisition of Chicago-based Hanley Group Capital, a market maker in exchange-traded agricultural products, precious metals, and base metals, through an all-cash deal that integrated Hanley's operations with FCStone's existing commodities divisions. This move broadened the firm's execution capabilities and market access in metals trading, supporting organic growth and entry into adjacent geographies amid recovering global demand for risk management services.[23][24] The acquisition aligned with post-merger strategies to diversify revenue streams and strengthen competitive positioning in derivatives, contributing to the platform's evolution into a more robust financial services provider.[14]International and Segment Expansion (2011–2019)
In May 2012, INTL FCStone Inc., through its UK subsidiary, completed the acquisition of TRX Futures Limited, a London-based brokerage and clearing firm specializing in commercial clients for coffee, cocoa, and energy products traded on European exchanges such as LIFFE and ICE Europe.[25] This transaction bolstered the company's European soft commodities clearing capabilities, enabling enhanced execution and risk management for international clients amid volatile agricultural and energy markets.[26] The integration of TRX's expertise supported organic growth in futures segments outside the US, aligning with rising global demand for localized clearing services in response to post-financial crisis regulatory changes and commodity price swings. Parallel to soft commodities, INTL FCStone expanded its metals trading operations internationally, beginning with direct access to the London Metal Exchange (LME) floor in December 2011, which facilitated brokerage in base and precious metals for non-US clients.[22] This move capitalized on the LME's growing volume—handling $11.6 trillion in contracts by 2010—driven by industrial demand in emerging markets and commodity supercycle dynamics through the mid-2010s.[22] By August 2018, the firm restructured its global metals division under a unified leadership, consolidating base and precious metals teams and adding personnel to improve client execution and hedging in volatile cycles, reflecting sustained adaptation to international trade disruptions like US-China tariffs.[27] Throughout the period, INTL FCStone built out institutional and commercial hedging services to address escalating global trade risks, including currency fluctuations and commodity exposures for agribusinesses and energy firms operating across borders.[3] These efforts involved targeted enhancements in futures-based risk management tools, serving over 20,000 clients by leveraging post-2011 expansions to mitigate impacts from events such as the European debt crisis and Brazilian economic volatility, where the firm maintained strong Latin American footprints.[26] This segment growth emphasized first-mover advantages in niche markets, prioritizing empirical risk modeling over generalized strategies to support clients navigating causal factors like supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures.Rebranding, Major Acquisitions, and Recent Milestones (2020–2025)
In June 2020, shareholders of INTL FCStone Inc. approved a rebranding to StoneX Group Inc., effective July 6, which reflected the company's evolution into a unified global financial services network encompassing commodities, securities, and payments.[28][29] This change carried forward the foundational legacy of Saul Stone, established in 1924, while signaling post-merger integration and diversification beyond traditional futures and commodities brokerage.[30] The rebranding coincided with strategic acquisitions to expand into retail foreign exchange and payments. On February 27, 2020, INTL FCStone announced an all-cash acquisition of GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc. for $6 per share, totaling approximately $236 million in equity value, which closed on July 31, 2020, enhancing StoneX's retail trading capabilities through platforms like FOREX.com and City Index.[31][32] Earlier, on January 13, 2020, the company agreed to acquire Frankfurt-based GIROXX GmbH, a payments processor, which finalized in May 2020 and rebranded as StoneX Financial GmbH effective October 1, integrating specialized cross-border payment solutions into the global payments division.[33][34] In 2024, StoneX commemorated the centennial of Saul Stone & Company, honoring the 1924 origins in Chicago commodities trading that underpin its derivatives expertise spanning over 100 years.[4][35] This milestone underscored the firm's historical continuity amid modern expansions. Building on diversification momentum, StoneX announced on April 14, 2025, its $900 million acquisition of R.J. O'Brien & Associates, a prominent futures commission merchant, which closed on July 31, 2025, positioning StoneX as the largest non-bank futures commission merchant in the United States by combining complementary client bases and clearing operations.[36]Business Operations
Commercial Division
The Commercial Division of StoneX Group Inc. serves as the company's primary platform for delivering risk management, hedging, and execution services to commercial clients engaged in physical commodities, including producers, processors, merchandisers, wholesalers, and end-users across agriculture, energy, and metals sectors. These services emphasize stabilizing price exposures through structured hedging strategies rather than speculative positions, enabling clients to mitigate business risks associated with volatile commodity markets.[37][38] Key offerings include end-to-end execution and clearing on over 30 global exchanges, alongside over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives customized for commodities such as grains (e.g., wheat, corn, soybeans), energy products, base and precious metals, dairy, livestock, softs, lumber, and pulp. The division facilitates physical commodities trading and logistics, providing working capital financing for inventory and supply chain management to reduce operational disruptions without requiring clients to handle internal hedging resources. OTC solutions feature flexible terms with up to 20% lower margin requirements compared to exchange-traded equivalents, enhancing cost efficiency and liquidity for hedgers.[37][38][39] Proprietary platforms support data-driven decision-making and operational integration, including the StoneX® Hedge Merchandising System, which automates grain hedging processes, controls execution slippage, and integrates with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for multi-location merchandising. Complementary tools like Know-Risk™ analytics aggregate market data for exposure assessment and scenario modeling, while the My.StoneX portal offers a unified interface for account oversight, margin tracking, and real-time market intelligence. These resources prioritize empirical risk analytics to align hedging with clients' budgetary and profitability goals, serving markets in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.[40][38]Institutional Services
StoneX's Institutional Services segment delivers execution, clearing, and prime brokerage solutions tailored to professional traders and institutions such as hedge funds, asset managers, broker-dealers, and pension funds, prioritizing best execution and operational efficiency in a low-margin, competitive landscape.[41] The offerings emphasize non-advisory execution to minimize conflicts, focusing instead on high-volume, low-latency access to diverse asset classes including futures, options, foreign exchange (FX), equities, fixed income, interest rates, and digital assets.[41][42] Global market connectivity spans over 40 derivatives exchanges for futures and options trading, more than 180 FX markets, and nearly every major securities venue, enabling institutional clients to source liquidity across commodities, OTC products, and securities.[41][42] Advanced digital platforms, including the StoneX One trading system and proprietary Market Intelligence tools, support rapid order routing and data-driven decision-making for high-frequency and algorithmic strategies.[41] Clearing services operate as a leading non-bank Futures Commission Merchant (FCM), providing end-to-end post-trade processing for futures exchanges, equities, and fixed income with a high support-to-correspondent ratio for reliability.[41][43] The segment's scale expanded significantly following the July 31, 2025, completion of the R.J. O'Brien acquisition for approximately $900 million, establishing StoneX as the largest non-bank FCM in the United States and enhancing multi-asset clearing capabilities for global derivatives.[44][36] Prime brokerage encompasses self-clearing and introduced models, offering securities lending, margin financing for collateral optimization, integrated custody with major banks compliant under 40 Act requirements, and outsourced trading to streamline operations for clients like family offices and proprietary traders.[42][41] These modular, high-touch services facilitate liquidity provision and risk-neutral execution, leveraging StoneX's publicly traded structure for transparency amid regulatory scrutiny.[42]Retail and Global Payments Division
The Retail and Global Payments Division serves individual investors through self-directed trading platforms specializing in foreign exchange (FX), contracts for difference (CFDs), futures, stocks, and options.[45] Key brands include FOREX.com, which provides access to over 185 FX markets and 40+ derivative exchanges via platforms such as Web Trader, MetaTrader 4, and mobile applications, enabling execution of trades in major and emerging currency pairs.[46][47] City Index complements this with offerings in spread betting, CFDs, and FX across 13,500+ global markets, including indices, shares, and commodities, supported by tools like TradingView and Advantage Web Trader.[48][49] These platforms prioritize user control with features for performance analytics and real-time data, catering to retail traders seeking direct market access without intermediary advice.[50] StoneX Payments, the division's cross-border arm, enables efficient FX conversions and remittances by leveraging a network of 385 correspondent banks to process transactions in 140+ currencies across 180+ countries.[51][52] It focuses on transparent pricing, competitive rates, and guaranteed FX execution, particularly for transfers to developing markets, reducing costs compared to traditional banking channels through API-driven processing and partnerships with institutions like Hana Bank and Bank Mendes Gans.[53][54][55] This service supports NGOs, corporations, and individuals by minimizing settlement times and handling thinly traded currencies, with recent expansions into digital payments enhancing accessibility via integrations with fintech partners.[56][57] Operations adhere to stringent regulatory frameworks, with StoneX Europe Ltd. authorized by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under license HE409708 and StoneX Financial Ltd. regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as company No. 5616586.[58] This compliance ensures retail clients' funds are segregated and protected, aligning with requirements in jurisdictions like the EU and UK, while the parent company's public listing (NASDAQ: SNEX) mandates ongoing disclosure and risk management standards.[5][59] Such oversight facilitates verifiable trade execution and payment reliability, distinguishing the division's utility for self-directed users amid varying global retail trading demands.[60]Leadership and Governance
Executive Management
Philip A. Smith serves as Chief Executive Officer of StoneX Group Inc., having been appointed on December 9, 2024, following the transition of Sean O'Connor to Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board.[61] In this capacity, Smith directs the company's overall operations and strategic execution across its global segments, leveraging his prior leadership of the Commercial and Payments divisions to drive revenue growth and operational efficiency.[62] His appointment emphasizes continuity in StoneX's focus on market connectivity and client services amid expanding international activities.[63] Charles Lyon holds the position of Group President, elevated in the December 2024 management restructuring, where he now spearheads cross-segment integration efforts and pursues organic and inorganic growth opportunities.[61] Previously responsible for the Institutional business segment, Lyon's role involves coordinating synergies from recent acquisitions and enhancing technological infrastructure to support diversified revenue streams in trading, payments, and clearing services.[64] Greg Kallinikos functions as Chief Executive Officer for StoneX's Asia Pacific operations, overseeing regional activities in hubs such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and China since assuming the role.[64] He contributes to the firm's merger and acquisition strategy by identifying expansion targets in high-growth markets and bolstering segment-specific capabilities, including commodities clearing and retail trading platforms tailored to APAC demands.[65]Board of Directors and Strategy
The Board of Directors of StoneX Group Inc. comprises eight members as of December 2024, including Executive Vice-Chairman Sean O'Connor, independent Chairman John Radziwill, and independent directors Annabelle Bexiga, Diane L. Cooper, John M. Fowler, Steve Kass, Eric Parthemore, and Dr. Dhamu Thamodaran.[64] The board maintains a majority of independent directors, with specialized committees overseeing audit, compensation, risk, nominating and governance, and technology and operations to ensure robust governance aligned with shareholder interests.[66] Following his transition from Chief Executive Officer on December 9, 2024, after 22 years in the role, founder Sean O'Connor assumed the position of Executive Vice-Chairman, retaining an active role on the executive committee with primary responsibilities for long-term strategy, capital allocation, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A).[61] This structure positions O'Connor to guide high-level directives while the new CEO, Philip Smith, handles operational execution, enabling the board to prioritize value-accretive decisions such as selective M&A that have historically supported organic growth and market expansion.[63] The board's oversight emphasizes disciplined capital allocation, directing resources toward acquisitions and investments that enhance core competencies in commodities trading, payments, and institutional services, while maintaining low leverage to preserve financial flexibility amid market volatility.[61] Risk management forms a cornerstone of this approach, with the Risk Committee, chaired by Diane L. Cooper, monitoring enterprise-wide exposures including regulatory compliance and counterparty risks, contributing to the firm's ability to navigate cyclical commodity markets and sustain profitability through diversified revenue streams.[66] Board decisions on M&A, such as the 2025 acquisitions of Right Corp. for wholesale meat capabilities and The Benchmark Company for investment banking, exemplify a strategy of targeted expansion into adjacent high-margin areas, fostering resilience by reducing reliance on any single segment.[67][68]Financial Performance
Revenue Segments and Key Metrics
StoneX Group Inc. reported net operating revenues of $488.3 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), a 4% increase from $468.5 million in the prior-year quarter. Net income for the period was $63.4 million, up 2% year-over-year, with a return on equity (ROE) of 13.1%.[69] These figures reflect the company's diversified operations across commercial hedging, institutional execution services, and retail trading with global payments, which help mitigate exposure to fluctuations in commodity market volatility.[69] Revenue is segmented into Commercial, Institutional, and Retail and Global Payments divisions, with the Commercial segment historically contributing approximately 40% of total net operating revenues in recent periods, though it declined to about 34% in Q3 FY2025 amid reduced volatility in physical commodities trading. The Institutional segment led growth, driven by increased trading volumes in equities and fixed income. Average client equity in listed derivatives reached $6.6 billion, up 10% year-over-year, supporting expanded clearing and execution activities.[69]| Segment | Net Operating Revenues ($M) | YoY Change | Segment Income ($M) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | 168.3 | -24% | 80.2 | -36% |
| Institutional | 200.1 | +27% | 87.4 | +41% |
| Retail (Self-Directed) | Not separately reported | N/A | 41.2 | +49% |
| Global Payments | 49.1 | +3% | 28.1 | 0% |