Quarterlytics / Financial Services / Financial - Capital Markets / Virtu Financial

Virtu Financial

virt · NASDAQ Financial Services
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Ticker virt
Exchange NASDAQ
Sector Financial Services
Industry Financial - Capital Markets
Employees 201-500
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FY2021 Annual Report · Virtu Financial
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Annual 
Report
2021

Actions for growth

1
2
3
4
5

A message from our CEO

How we earn every trade

Our numbers

Our people-first culture

Corporate information

6

8

12

14

22

Virtu Financial  2021 Annual Report

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Virtu Financial  2021 Annual Report

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Douglas A. Cifu 
Co-founder & CEO

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

We are now over two years into a global 
set of challenges that have tested 
our company, our industry and our 
employees at every turn. 

The pandemic and, more recently, the reality of 
global conflict have confirmed the resiliency of our 
company, employees, systems and technology. 
Looking back, I remain extraordinarily proud 
of what we achieved during these volatile and 
uncertain times. We continue to serve clients, 
delivering exceptional pricing, execution, risk 
intermediation and financial products and services 
to a customer base that spans the largest buy-side, 
sell-side and retail-oriented firms in the Americas, 
Europe and Asia.

It is important to highlight that while Virtu, as a 
global provider of market making and execution 
services, counts some of the world’s largest global 
buy and sell-side institutions as our clients, the 
ultimate beneficiaries of our services are small 
business owners, pensioners and retail investors. 
In our retail market-making business alone, we 
estimate that in 2021, Virtu delivered a total of $3.5 
billion1 in real price improvement to retail investors. 
These amounts represent actual dollars saved by 
retail investors buying and selling through their 
brokers. In the past twenty-five years, technology 
advancements have been a driving force in the 
ongoing democratization of the capital markets, 
enabling individuals to invest alongside large 
institutions with equal footing. The United States 
economy, which supports the largest, most 
accessible and fairest equity capital markets in the 
world—where entrepreneurs and companies large 
and small come to access capital for growth—today 
are available to anyone with a brokerage account. 
Additionally, innovations like commission-free 
trading, the growth and expansion of our ETF 
offerings and fractional share ownership help 
families invest and plan their futures. We believe in 
and are committed to the role that firms like ours 
play in supporting this great ecosystem.  

The domestic regulatory and political environment 
continues to evolve, with substantial attention 
and focus paid to core market structure topics. 
We continue to lead with fact-based discussion 
anchored in impactful data which demonstrates the 
compelling benefits offered by the current market 
structure. We consistently support and advocate 
for reforms aimed at promoting transparency 
and fairness but insist that the consequences of 
potential reforms be studied carefully for their 
potential to disrupt and degrade the current 
ecosystem which has provided such important 
measurable benefits to investors.

In 2021 Virtu generated adjusted net trading income 
of $1.9 billion2, achieved adjusted EBITDA of $1.3 
billion3, and delivered net income of nearly $830 
million. Each of these results is second in our history 
only to 2020 and reflects our firm’s exceptional 
capability to deliver strong results across a range 
of environments. Consistent with our longstanding 
pledge, we used excess cash to deliver substantial 
value to our shareholders, repurchasing over 14.7 
million4 shares during the calendar year while 
maintaining our $0.96 annual dividend. 

We also continue to invest in both the growth of 
our core businesses and in our strategic growth 
initiatives. These investments are bearing fruit, as 
witnessed by continued improvements to our core 
trading and market making capabilities, consistent 
industry recognition for our execution services5 
and broker-neutral products, and the positive 
momentum of our initiatives across options, block 
ETFs and cryptocurrencies trading as well as our 
capital markets offerings to corporate issuers. 

As of this writing, Virtu employs about 10006 people 
globally. We pride ourselves on being a rewarding, 
fair and inclusive place to work. We also continued 

our important work to promote and enhance 
diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of our 
firm through engagement, recruiting, development 
and leadership-focused programs, led by our DE&I 
committee and our recently appointed Co-Chief 
People Officers. 

Each year, I reflect on how grateful I am to be 
surrounded by such dedicated and talented 
professionals around the globe whose adaptability 
and perseverance allow us to continue to deliver 
excellence to clients and the markets—2021 was no 
exception. Our focused investment in technology, 
products, and talent over the years allows our clients 
today to trade on hundreds of venues across over 
50 countries and in multiple asset classes, including 
global equities, ETFs, foreign exchange, futures, 
fixed income, cryptocurrencies, and myriad other 
commodities. 

As we optimistically look beyond the worst, while 
recognizing the continuing challenges of new 
variants and global conflict, we remain focused on 
empowering and promoting the well-being of our 
employees, delivering exceptional performance to our 
customers and creating value for our shareholders. 
I remain humbled by the opportunity to lead Virtu 
Financial alongside my incredible colleagues and look 
forward to all that we will achieve together in 2022 
and beyond. 

Virtu Financial  2021 Annual Report

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Virtu Financial  2021 Annual Report

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HOW WE E ARN 
E VERY TR ADE

Where transparent trading solutions 
meet advanced technology.

Global Client Network.
Trusted relationships developed over 30+ years

Virtu is a leading provider of financial services and products that 
leverage cutting-edge technology to deliver liquidity to the global 
markets and innovative, transparent trading solutions to our clients.

Client Solutions

Global Market Structure Expertise

Highly Scalable Technology Platform

Unique Liquidity

Global Multi-Asset

See endnotes at the end of this report.

Reach 

Diverse Client Base 

• 
• 
• 

2,000+ clients
50+ countries
235+ venues

Institutional

• 
•  Retail 
•  RIAs
•  Asset Managers
•  ETF Issuers

Global Presence, 
Local Market Expertise 

Client-Focused 
Solutions 

•  Americas
•  EMEA 
•  APAC

•  Execution Services
•  Workflow Technology
Liquidity Sourcing
• 
Trade Analytics, Reporting and Data 
• 

Liquidity Pools and Execution Tools.
Efficient and transparent trading

Multiple Asset Classes

Liquidity Pools 

•  Global Equities
•  ETFs
•  FICC
•  Options

•  Principal
•  Retail
• 

Institutional

>30% 

market share in US retail order flow7

Market Leader Across Products 

vEQ Link Liquidity

• 
•  OTC Securities
•  ATS/MTF/RFQ Platforms
•  Block Trading
•  ETFs
•  FX And Metals

25K+ 

securities

Virtu Financial  2021 Annual Report

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Our powerful end-to-end trading 
technology and personal client service.

Virtu provides market making, execution services and analytics to a 
diverse client base of retail and institutional capital market participants.

2,000+ 

clients

50+ 

countries

235+ 

venues

Virtu Financial  2021 Annual Report

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OUR NUMBERS

Virtu Financial  2021 Annual Report

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$2.8B

revenue

$1.9B

adjusted net trading income2

$138M

adjusted net trading income from our 
organic growth initiatives8

>30%

$1.2B

market share in US retail order flow7

price improvement to retail investors

$3.5B

real price improvement to 
retail investors1

$2.3B

$405M

$0.96

size improvement to retail investors

total notional value of shares repurchased4

yearly dividend returned to shareholders 
for 25 consecutive quarters

See endnotes at the end of this report.

Virtu Financial  2021 Annual Report

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OUR PEOPLE-FIRS T 
CULTURE

Virtu is an international organization 
with a global presence. Diversity is 
the cornerstone of our business and 
promoting an inclusive environment is 
fundamental to our culture.

Virtu Financial is a willing and equal opportunity 
employer. We do not discriminate on the basis 
of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, 
sexual orientation, protected veteran status, 
disability, age, or other legally protected status.

We seek to create an inclusive, equitable, culturally 
competent and supportive environment where our 
management and employees are committed to a 
diverse and inclusive workplace.

Virtu Financial  2021 Annual Report

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#VirtuTogether 
2021 highlights.

PEOPLE

AFFINITY GROUPS

OUTREACH

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Virtu Financial  2021 Annual Report

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OUR PEOPLE-FIRS T 
CULTURE

#VirtuTogether is emblematic of ordinary 
people working together to accomplish 
extraordinary things. 

All our initiatives are employee-led, and we 
aim to promote and create opportunities for 
employees on organizational climate and 
culture, engage with leadership to discuss 
equity in the workplace and provide feedback 
and insight to executive staff on culture, 
climate, equity, inclusion and diversity in 
the workplace.

Appointment of Co-Chief People Officers 
Mary and Raya are responsible for recruiting exceptional 
and diverse talent and enhancing Virtu’s people-first 
culture. They assist Virtu employees in identifying and 
developing their unique skills to maximize their impact 
and ensure Virtu’s continued success.

New York Women in Data Science at Virtu (WiDS) 
In March and June, Virtu hosted two multi-day 
where women were able to share their data science 
experiences and practical skills. Speaker firms 
included: Southwest Airlines, Sephora, SEI, Etsy, 
Wells Fargo and others. Participation was open to 
all interested in data science and attracted a total 
of 850 attendees—primarily within the financial 
services industry.

Industry Client Conference 
At Mindshare: 2021 Hot Topics in the Capital Markets, 
Virtu hosted industry leaders, clients and Virtu 
experts who discussed important market trends 
such as China Stock Connect, global portfolio trading, 
cryptocurrencies, ETFs, and 2021 forecasts for capital 
markets. Over 530 people attended the virtual 
full-day event.

NEW SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

BELONGING

AWARENESS

AWARENESS

Virtu’s Internal Automation Hackathon 
20 internal teams across Virtu, made up of 
developers and non-developers, participated 
in a social coding event to identify and solve 
challenges that could be automated.

Whole Self Belonging Workshops 
Taking inspiration from Google’s #IamRemarkable 
initiative, Virtu hosted two internal workshops (in the 
Americas and EMEA) designed to break modesty norms 
by empowering employees to think openly about their 
accomplishments in the workplace and beyond.

Virtu Talks on Gender Equality 
Featuring Deborah Frances-White, comedian and 
host of The Guilty Feminist podcast.

Virtu Talks on Racial Equality 
Fireside chat with George Van Amson, 
Morgan Stanley and Virtu CEO, Doug Cifu.

Virtu Financial  2021 Annual Report

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OUR PEOPLE-FIRS T 
CULTURE

#VirtuTogether 
2021 highlights.

Virtu Financial  2021 Annual Report

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OUTREACH

GIVE BACK

ENVIRONMENT

BELONGING

Community Mentorship 
Virtu employees hosted a ten-week long 
afterschool Python programming course for 
students of Cathedral High School in Boston.

Virtu Supports Veterans and Their Families 
Virtu’s employees packaged their talents and passions 
into 33 auction items that raised over US$197K for 
education scholarship support for military children 
who lost a parent in the line of duty.

Earth Day Campaign 
In support of environmental protections, employees 
organized an internal campaign called ‘Restore 
our Earth’. To help spread awareness, teammates 
shared pictures of themselves in nature and shared 
resources and daily actions to help save our planet.

Internal DE&I Campaign 
Virtu launched the campaign ‘Room for EVERY kind of 
brilliant’ to promote the value of different perspectives, 
authentic self- acceptance and belonging.

DIVERSITY

AWARENESS

AWARENESS

GIVE BACK

Building our New Talent Pipeline 
Virtu hosted its third annual Winternship, a one- 
week program designed to introduce female 
students to a career path in financial services 
through group projects that challenge and inspire 
while showcasing various roles at Virtu. Our early 
talent identification program helps us build a 
strong and diverse talent pipeline.

Differently-Abled Equality and Give Back 
HeartShare Human Services of New York described how 
they empower differently-abled children and adults 
through education, life skills and vocational training, 
employment, residential services, case management, 
recreational programs, individual and family support, and 
health care services. Employees also participated in the 
ArtShare for HeartShare auction, featuring the program’s 
artists. The auction raised $7,500 in support.

Virtu Diversity Calendar 
Virtu highlights the contributions, influence, history 
and achievements of different faiths, cultures, 
affinity groups and heritages through celebrations, 
observances, food, literature, art, employee 
spotlights and more throughout the year.

Feeding Hong Kong 
Virtu employees packed 500 food parcels for Feeding 
Hong Kong. The food bank addresses the issues of 
food waste and poverty in Hong Kong.

Virtu Financial  2021 Annual Report
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DISCL AIMER

END NOTES

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements 

1 Rule 605’s calculation method greatly understates the value provided to retail investors. Wholesale market 

This report may contain “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the 

makers are required to fill marketable orders at prices typically better than the National Best Bid and Offer 

Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements regarding Virtu Financial, Inc.’s (“Virtu’s”, the 

(NBBO), regardless of the quantity of shares displayed at the NBBO. This improvement to both displayed price 

“Company’s” or “our”) business that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking 

and size—or “Real Price Improvement”—is not captured by Rule 605. Virtu alone provided $3.5B in Real Price 

statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily 

Improvement to retail investors in 2021. For more information on this subject, please consult: Measuring Real 

be accurate indications of the times at, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved. The 

Execution Quality Benefits to Retail Are Significantly Understated, June 2021 presentation to US SEC IAC: 

Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in 

https://www.sec.gov/comments/265-28/26528-8901054-242178.pdf.

assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, and if the Company does 

update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make 

additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. Forward-looking 

statements are based on information available at the time and/or management’s good faith belief with 

respect to future events, and is subject to risks and uncertainties, some or all of which are not predictable or 

within Virtu’s control, that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed 

in the statements. Those risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: risks relating to the COVID-19 

pandemic, including the possible effects of the economic conditions worldwide resulting from the COVID-19 

pandemic and governmental and other responses thereto; fluctuations in trading volume and volatilities in the 

markets in which we operate; the ability of our trading counterparties and various clearing houses to perform 

their obligations to us; the performance and reliability of our customized trading platform; the risk of material 

trading losses from our market making activities; swings in valuations in securities or other instruments in 

which we hold positions; increasing competition and consolidation in our industry; the risk that cash flow 

from our operations and other available sources of liquidity will not be sufficient to fund our various ongoing 

obligations, including operating expenses, short term funding requirements, margin requirements, capital 

expenditures, debt service and dividend payments; regulatory and legal uncertainties and potential changes 

2 This reflects a non-GAAP measure. Please refer to Virtu Financial’s Fourth Quarter 2021 Earnings 

Supplement, slide 14 for reconciliation to the equivalent GAAP measure. https://ir.virtu.com/financials-and-

filings/quarterly-results/default.aspx.

3 This reflects a non-GAAP measure. Please refer to Virtu Financial’s Fourth Quarter 2021 Earnings 

Supplement, slide 13 for reconciliation to the equivalent GAAP measure. https://ir.virtu.com/financials-and-

filings/quarterly-results/default.aspx. 

4 Shares repurchased calculated on a settlement date basis.

5 Triton, as the top-ranked Execution Management System for the second consecutive year at The TRADE’s 

Leaders in Trading Awards.

6 Employee counts as of April 14, 2022, is 960.

7 Retail order flow market share based on December 2021 Rule 605 reports.

associated with our industry, particularly in light of increased attention from media, regulators and lawmakers 

8 This reflects a non-GAAP measure. Please refer to Virtu Financial’s Fourth Quarter 2021 Earnings 

to market structure and related issues including but not limited to the retail trading environment. wholesale 

Supplement, slide 15 for reconciliation to the equivalent GAAP measure. https://ir.virtu.com/financials-and-

market making and off exchange trading more generally and payment for order flow arrangements; potential 

filings/quarterly-results/default.aspx.

adverse results from legal or regulatory proceedings; our ability to remain technologically competitive 

and to ensure that the technology we utilize is not vulnerable to security risks, hacking and cyber-attacks; 

risks associated with third party software and technology infrastructure. For a discussion of the risks and 

uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements, 

see Virtu’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to Virtu’s Annual Report on 

Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC.

GAAP and Non-GAAP Results 

This report includes or may include certain non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted EPS, Normalized 

Adjusted EPS, Adjusted Net Trading Income, Normalized Adjusted Net Income, Normalized Adjusted Pre-Tax 

Income, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, EBITDA Margin, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Trading Capital, Invested Capital, 

Adjusted Operating Expense and Adjusted Compensation Expense. Non-GAAP financial measures should 

be considered only as supplemental to, and not as superior to, financial measures prepared in accordance 

with GAAP. Other companies may use similarly titled non‐GAAP financial measures that are calculated 

differently from the way we calculate such measures. Accordingly, our non‐GAAP financial measures may 

not be comparable to similar measures used by other companies. We caution investors not to place undue 

reliance on such non‐GAAP measures, but instead to consider them with the most directly comparable 

GAAP measure. Non‐GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be 

considered in isolation, or as a substitute for our results as reported under GAAP. A reconciliation of non‐GAAP 

measures to the most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP is included 

in Virtu Financial’s Fourth Quarter 2021 Earnings Supplement, https://ir.virtu.com/financials-and-filings/

quarterly-results/default.aspx.

Virtu Financial  2018 Annual Report

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Virtu Financial  2018 Annual Report

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Corporate Information

Annual Meeting 
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Virtu 
Financial, Inc. will be held virtually on  
June 2, 2022, at 9:00 AM ET

Transfer Agent and Registrar 
American Stock Transfer Trust Company, LLC (AST)

Stock 
Since the Company’s initial public offering on April 
16, 2015, shares of Virtu have been quoted on the 
NASDAQ, and trade under the symbol “VIRT”.

Independent Registered 
Accounting Firm 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Contact  
1633 Broadway 
41st Floor 
New York, NY 10019 
+1.646.682.6000

—

investor_relations@virtu.com | media@virtu.com

www.virtu.com 

© 2022 VIRTU Financial Inc.

 
www.virtu.com 
www.virtu.com