Nasdaq Inc. stock faces a Zacks downgrade near its yearly high

Published on 09/23/2026 at 14:34 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Nasdaq Inc. stock opened at USD 94.50 on September 23, 2026, while Zacks moved from Strong Buy to Hold. Second-quarter EPS reached USD 1.07.

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Nasdaq Inc. (ISIN US6311031081) opened at USD 94.50 on September 23, 2026, below its 52-week high of USD 101.79 and above its 52-week low of USD 76.55. The main company-specific development is a downgrade from Strong Buy to Hold by Zacks Research, reported by MarketBeat on September 23, 2026.

Analyst targets remain above the quote

The downgrade contrasts with several higher published targets. According to MarketBeat on September 23, 2026, TD Cowen raised its target from USD 101.00 to USD 105.00 on July 20, while Raymond James raised its target from USD 111.00 to USD 113.00 on July 9. The same report lists Morgan Stanley with an Overweight rating and a USD 120.00 target dated July 24, 2026.

The numerical gap matters more than the label alone: the reported average target of USD 110.30 stood USD 15.80 above the USD 94.50 opening quote. That difference is a quantified market expectation, not a forecast made here, and it sits beside the Hold downgrade from Zacks.

Second-quarter earnings beat estimates

Nasdaq's latest reported quarter supplied a stronger operating comparison. In figures published by MarketBeat on September 23, 2026, second-quarter 2026 earnings per share were USD 1.07, versus a consensus estimate of USD 0.98 and USD 0.85 in the year-earlier quarter. The USD 0.09 beat and USD 0.22 year-over-year increase give the rating change a mixed numerical backdrop.

Revenue reached USD 2.53 billion in the second quarter of 2026, up 14.9 percent year over year, while net margin was 22.60 percent. The revenue figure was also above the reported USD 1.46 billion consensus estimate, although the difference may reflect the measurement basis used for the company and analyst figures.

Stock data sets the valuation frame

MarketBeat reported a market capitalization of USD 52.82 billion and a price-earnings ratio of 27.55 on September 23, 2026. Nasdaq's 50-day moving average was USD 94.83 and its 200-day moving average was USD 89.74, putting the opening quote below the shorter average but above the longer one.

The next scheduled reporting date shown by The Wall Street Journal is October 21, 2026, for third-quarter earnings. Its data also show second-quarter 2026 revenue of USD 2.53 billion and a third-quarter EPS estimate of USD 1.02.

Nasdaq Inc. stock stays below the high

Nasdaq Inc. stock opened at USD 94.50 on Nasdaq on September 23, 2026. The quote was USD 7.29 below the reported 52-week high of USD 101.79, while the USD 52.82 billion market capitalization and the USD 1.07 second-quarter EPS frame the valuation debate.