Pershing Square Holdings has taken a new position in Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), a financial services and market infrastructure provider. The hedge fund has followed the company for nearly a decade before investing. ICE's exchanges segment generates nearly 70% of earnings, anchored by its energy franchise with revenues two-and-a-half times larger than its nearest competitor. The company holds approximately 90% market share in Brent crude futures. Over the past five years, the exchanges segment grew revenue 8% annually and profits 10%, with margins expanding to 75%. The firm also operates Fixed Income & Data Services and Mortgage Technology segments, generating just under 20% of earnings with 45% and 41% profit margins respectively. On 18 August 2026, ICE traded at $156.18 per share with a market capitalisation of $87.68 billion.

Jeffrey Sprecher, founder and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange, purchased a failing company from Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy for $1,000 in 1997, despite Buffett having invested $35 million in it. Sprecher, who had no Wall Street experience, used it to build what would become Intercontinental Exchange. Starting in 2000 with nine employees in Atlanta, Sprecher lived in a 500-square-foot studio flat and drove a used car whilst building the business. He handled menial tasks like taking out rubbish and answering phones. Today, Intercontinental Exchange has a market capitalisation of $85 billion and employs over 12,000 people. The company has owned the New York Stock Exchange for more than a decade. Sprecher's net worth now stands at $1.2 billion.

The reports come after the company told CNBC in June that its annualized revenue was well above $1 billion.