Webull Shares Slip Following Q2 Rally as Markets Remain Shut and Nasdaq Premarket Stays Active

Webull Shares Slip Following Q2 Rally as Markets Remain Shut and Nasdaq Premarket Stays Active

NEW YORK, August 21, 2026, 05:16 EDT — U.S. cash markets were closed, while trading continued on the Nasdaq during premarket hours.

  • Webull generated about 58 cents in adjusted operating profit for every additional dollar of revenue.
  • Revenue increased by 51%, as adjusted operating profit surged 169%.
  • The shares gave up most of their initial gains and finished just 2.43% higher.

Webull Corporation reported an incremental adjusted operating margin of 58% for its second quarter. The company saw revenue climb by $67.3 million year-on-year, while adjusted operating profit advanced by $39.3 million.

Stock chart for NASDAQ:BULL

The conversion rate provides the strongest indication so far of platform leverage. Revenue increased by 51%, compared to a 26% rise in adjusted costs. This moved Webull from a focus on trading volume to one on testing profit growth.

Investors stayed wary. Shares of Webull gained as much as 14% early on Thursday but ended the session at $8.85, advancing 2.43%. Trading volume hit 50 million shares, quadruple its three-month average.

Operating-leverage measureQ2 2026Q2 2025Change
Total revenue$198.8m$131.5mup 51%
Adjusted operating expenses$136.2m$108.1mup 26%
Adjusted operating profit$62.6m$23.3mup 169%
Adjusted operating margin31.5%17.7%increase of 13.8 points
Incremental profit conversion58%Calculated
Incremental conversion equals the increase in adjusted operating profit divided by the increase in revenue. Figures are rounded.

Webull posted record revenue of $198.8 million. Revenue from trading increased 66% to $147.7 million. Adjusted net income climbed to $43.2 million from $15.4 million.

Scale indicatorQ2 2026Year-on-yearInvestor reading
Daily average revenue trades1.64m+62%Most active quarter
Equity notional volume$279bn+73%Turnover reached all-time high
Options contracts213m+68%More profitable mix
Customer assets$28.5bn+79%Deposits and market appreciation
Funded accounts5.13m+8%Participation grew faster than account numbers
Company data for the quarter ended June 30, 2026.

Most of the improvement came from engagement. Daily revenue trades increased at a pace almost eight times that of funded accounts. The average assets held per funded account climbed to approximately $5,560, representing an estimated rise of about 66%.

The $25,000 pattern-day-trader limit was replaced on June 4, which contributed to increased trading activity. FINRA adopted risk-based intraday margin standards, allowing a transition period for brokerage firms. Webull was quick to apply the new rule.

Group President Anthony Denier described the rule change as the quarter’s “defining event.” Denier said that Webull’s technology enabled eligible clients to access the new setting immediately. Options trading volumes in July remained stable, with August volumes aligning more closely with those in June. Webull earnings-call highlights

Market comparisonAug. 20 closeDaily moveContext
Webull $8.85+2.43%50.0m shares exchanged
Robinhood Markets $95.10-0.70%Online brokerage competitor
Interactive Brokers $89.85-0.76%Peer for active traders
S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX)7,641.16-0.87%Market-wide selloff
Closing data at 16:00 EDT on August 20, 2026.

The decline carries more weight than finishing in positive territory. Webull outperformed its listed competitors and the wider market. However, despite exceeding revenue estimates by about 20% and surpassing earnings-per-share forecasts by 25%, sellers pushed back against the initial move.

Webull’s provisional market capitalization stood at roughly $4.8 billion at the close on Thursday. This is equivalent to 6.0 times its annualized revenue for the quarter, and 27.8 times its annualized adjusted net income. The ratios are for illustration only and do not represent official company forecasts.

AnalystFirmRatingTargetUpside from $8.85
Chris BrendlerRosenblattBuy$1569.5%
Michael GrondahlNorthland SecuritiesBuy$1458.2%
Ed EngelCompass PointBuy$1013.0%
S&P Global consensusThree analystsStrong Buy$12.3339.3%
Rosenblatt updated its target after Q2; other published targets predate the report.

Rosenblatt increased its price target to $15 from $13 following the earnings. Analyst Chris Brendler referenced stronger revenue capture and movement toward higher-margin trades.

Risks: Trading revenue is exposed to shifts in volatility and changes in retail trading volumes. If market activity slows, the resulting loss of operating leverage is a concern. Additional risks stem from margin lending, options trading, regulatory developments, and Webull’s dual-class governance structure.

The coming week will challenge whether earnings improvements are maintained. Investors are advised to monitor August’s trading patterns, per-trade revenue generation, and the stability of the 31.5% margin as Webull pursues growth in AI, international, and institutional offerings.

Investor dashboard

Webull Corporation

NASDAQ:BULL · Q2 2026 operating leverage
20 Aug 2026 · 16:00 EDT close$8.85▲ 2.43%
Q2 revenue$198.8m+51% year on year
Adjusted operating profit$62.6m+169% year on year
Adjusted operating margin31.5%+13.8 percentage points
Customer assets$28.5bn+79% year on year

THE CORE SIGNAL: INCREMENTAL PROFIT CONVERSION

58%of each additional revenue dollar flowed into adjusted operating profit
Revenue increase+$67.3m
Adjusted operating-profit increase+$39.3m

EARNINGS-DAY FADE

about +14%close +2.43%
Volume was 50.0m shares, about 4× the three-month average. Buyers defended a gain, but not the first rerating.

WHAT DROVE THE QUARTER

Customer assets
+79%
Equity volume
+73%
Options volume
+68%
DARTs
+62%
Funded accounts
+8%

Engagement grew much faster than account count. The new intraday-margin regime amplified active-trader usage.

VALUATION AND ANALYST TARGETS

Close $8.85 Compass$10Consensus$12.33Northland$14Rosenblatt$15
~$4.8bnPreliminary market value
6.0×Annualized Q2 revenue
27.8×Annualized adjusted net income

Annualized ratios are illustrative, not company guidance. Rosenblatt’s $15 target was raised after the report.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT

  • August trades versus June levels
  • Revenue captured per trade
  • Durability of the 31.5% margin
  • AI, international and institutional costs
Leokadia Głogulska

Leokadia Głogulska is a financial and technology journalist at TS2.tech. Her coverage ranges from stocks and artificial intelligence to space technology and developments across global markets. She graduated from Wrocław University of Economics and Business and worked in financial analysis before becoming a business journalist.

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