10 Best Monopoly Stocks to Buy

6. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 91

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) offers technology and data to financial institutions, corporations, and government entities. The company’s significant market power and dominance in areas of the financial and commodity markets continue to bolster its market standing. Its dominance stems from the acquisitions of other exchanges and its operation of critical exchanges and clearing houses.  Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) announced that it has acquired American Financial Exchange (AFX), which is an electronic exchange for direct lending and borrowing for American banks and financial institutions. It has acquired 100% of AFX from 7RIDGE.

Morgan Stanley analyst Michael Cyprys upped Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE)’s price objective to $181 from $178, keeping an “Equal Weight” rating. In a difficult macro backdrop with a greater need to hedge risks, the firm expects upside to exchanges’ volumes, primarily rates, credit, and index options. Furthermore, the exchanges act as a defensive safe haven during uncertainties due to the greater need by market participants to manage and hedge risks, opines Cyprys. For FY 2025, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) expects mid-single digits fixed income & data services recurring growth.

Aristotle Atlantic Partners, LLC, an investment advisor, released its Q1 2025 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:

“Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE) was a relative contributor in the first quarter following a solid fourth quarter earnings report highlighted by continued strong trading activity in energy and interest rate products, additional efficiency gains, and positive commentary about the Mortgage Technology business. In addition, optimism improved following the company’s annual ICE Experience conference, which highlighted new AI solutions in its Mortgage Technology product suite. The company’s AI efforts in Mortgage Technology are accelerating progress toward improving and digitizing workflows and positioning it to gain an increasing share of the long-term market opportunity in the mortgage industry.”