Interactive Brokers Q3 2026: Accounts Up 35%, Dividend Hiked

Interactive Brokers just turned in another quarter of strong growth, and shareholders are getting a much bigger dividend. The brokerage reported third-quarter 2026 results on October 15. Net revenue rose 16% to $1.91 billion, customer accounts climbed 35% to 5.58 million, and the board raised the quarterly dividend by about 71%, from $0.0875 to $0.15 a share.

• Earnings: GAAP diluted EPS of $0.69 vs $0.59 a year ago; adjusted EPS of $0.67 vs $0.57
• Revenue: net revenues of $1.91B, up 16%, with commissions of $602M (+12%) and net interest income of $1.15B (+19%)
• Growth: 5.58M customer accounts (+35%) and $964.7B in customer equity (+27%)
• Dividend: raised to $0.15 per share, payable December 14 to holders of record on December 1

How Did Interactive Brokers Do in Q3 2026?

By almost every customer measure, the business got bigger. According to the company's earnings release filed with the SEC:

• Daily average revenue trades (DARTs): 4.27 million, up 18% year over year
• Customer margin loans: $105.2 billion, up 36%
• Customer credits (cash balances): $186.2 billion, up 20%
• Pretax margin: 78%, close to last year's 79%

That pretax margin stands out. Interactive Brokers has long been known for heavy automation, and keeping nearly 78 cents of every revenue dollar before tax while adding millions of accounts shows how well that model scales.

Where Did the Revenue Growth Come From?

Two engines drove the quarter. Commissions grew 12% to $602 million, boosted by higher trading volume across a much larger customer base. Net interest income grew faster, up 19% to $1.15 billion, as margin borrowing and customer cash both rose sharply.

For balance, Finance Magnates notes that trading activity cooled a little from the second quarter. DARTs fell about 11% sequentially, and the net interest margin eased to 1.99% from 2.16%. That reflects seasonal and rate patterns more than any change in direction: the year-over-year account, equity and lending figures all point firmly upward.

Why the Dividend Hike Matters

A 71% dividend increase is a confident signal. Companies usually raise payouts that sharply only when they expect strong earnings to last. At $0.15 a quarter, the payout is still modest relative to earnings, leaving plenty of room to keep investing in the platform. If you are new to reading results like these, our guide on how to read an earnings report explains EPS, margins and guidance in plain English.

What It Says About Retail Investing

Interactive Brokers' 35% jump in accounts is part of a broader trend: more people around the world are opening brokerage accounts and putting more money to work. It matches what Charles Schwab reported in its record Q3 earlier this week. Earnings season continues next week; follow along in our stock trading section.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice.

Sources: Interactive Brokers Group — 3Q2026 results (SEC Form 8-K, Exhibit 99.1) — October 15, 2026; Finance Magnates — Interactive Brokers raises dividend 71% — October 15, 2026.