CME vs EQIX Comparison

Based in Chicago, CME Group operates exchanges giving investors, suppliers, and businesses the ability to trade futures and derivatives based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign currencies, energy, metals, and commodities. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange was founded in 1898 and in 2002 completed its IPO. Since then, CME Group has consolidated parts of the industry by merging with crosstown rival CBOT Holdings in 2007 before acquiring Nymex Holdings in 2008 and NEX in 2018. In addition, the company has a 27% stake in S&P Dow Jones Indexes, making the Chicago Mercantile Exchange the exclusive venue to trade and clear S&P futures contracts. Through CME's acquisition of NEX, it also expanded into cash foreign exchange, fixed-income trading, and collateral optimization.

Equinix is one of the leading providers of cloud- and carrier-neutral data centers, offering colocation and interconnection services to hyperscalers and businesses. Equinix operates 270 properties in 77 metropolitan areas across 36 countries, serving over 10,000 customers. About 70% of Equinix's revenue comes from renting physical space, which allows hyperscalers and other clients to store servers, data storage, and networking equipment. The other 30% of revenue is generated primarily through interconnection services (20%) and other managed services (10%).