Trading in futures and options involves the risk of loss and is not suitable for every investor.
Plus500 has announced the acquisition of US broker-dealer Hedge Capital Markets, paving the way for a new multi-asset trading and investing super-app in the first quarter of 2027. Analysts at Panmure Liberum have reiterated their BUY rating on Plus500 shares, with a price target of 5,400p.
The acquisition, announced on 13 October 2026, will give Plus500 USA direct access to the US securities market, allowing it to expand beyond its existing futures and prediction markets business into stocks, options, ETFs and other exchange-listed securities.
Hedge, founded in 2021, is registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
The deal, which remains subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions, will be funded entirely from Plus500’s existing cash reserves, which stood at more than $860 million at the end of June 2026. The acquisition price has not been disclosed.
Plus500 plans US investing super-app
The acquisition forms part of Plus500’s strategy to establish a comprehensive trading and investing platform in the US, combining multiple asset classes within a single application.
The new platform, expected to launch in Q1 2027, will bring together futures, prediction markets, stocks, options and ETFs, enabling customers to manage their trading and investing activities through one account.
Plus500 has also established a new operational hub in New York, complementing its existing Chicago operations. The Hedge team will join the business, bringing specialist securities expertise and regulatory capabilities.
Commenting on the acquisition on LinkedIn, Owen Jones, Group Head of Investor Relations at Plus500, highlighted the significance of the company’s expansion into US securities.
“Entry into SEC-regulated securities: our US offering expands beyond futures and prediction markets into stocks, options, ETFs and other exchange-listed securities, opening access to the world’s largest pool of retail investment activity.”
Jones also described the acquisition as the “Foundation for our US ‘super-app'”, which Plus500 expects to deliver deeper customer engagement, higher retention and access to a larger market.
Panmure Liberum maintains BUY rating with 5,400p target
Investment bank Panmure Liberum has responded positively to the acquisition, maintaining its BUY recommendation and 5,400p price target for Plus500 shares.
With Plus500 trading at 3,324p at the close on 12 October 2026, the target represents approximately 62% potential share price upside.
In a research note titled Hedge unlocks the US super-app, analyst Barun Singh described the transaction as a significant step towards Plus500’s ambitions in the US.
“The deal is the enabler; the story is Plus500’s own US multi-asset ‘super-app’, due in Q1 2027, bringing futures, prediction markets, stocks, options and ETFs into one app.”
Panmure Liberum also highlighted the strategic importance of acquiring regulatory licences rather than building the entire operation from scratch.
“The licence, not the app,” the broker noted, explaining that the acquisition provides the SEC licence and FINRA membership required to offer US securities alongside Plus500’s existing products.
The research note added that Plus500 is “repeating its 2021 CFTC playbook: buy a licence, scale it, fund it from cash.”
Panmure Liberum has left its earnings estimates unchanged following the announcement, suggesting that the acquisition is primarily a longer-term strategic opportunity rather than an immediate earnings catalyst.
Cross-selling opportunities in the US
One of the biggest opportunities for Plus500 will be cross-selling additional products to its existing US customers.
Panmure Liberum noted that nearly every US futures customer already has a stockbroking account elsewhere, but the reverse is not necessarily true.
By combining securities trading with its existing futures and prediction markets offering, Plus500 could attract new customers while increasing the range of products available to existing users.
The broker also highlighted Plus500’s growing US business-to-business operations, which generated approximately $70 million in revenue during the first half of 2026, equivalent to an annualised run rate of around $140 million.
This provides an additional opportunity to expand the company’s institutional offering alongside its retail trading business.
Plus500 targets long-term US growth
Plus500 CEO David Zruia described the acquisition as a major milestone for the company.
“The Hedge acquisition marks a pivotal step in Plus500’s US journey,” he said.
Zruia added that the acquisition would provide the regulatory permissions, expertise and technology needed to accelerate the company’s growth in the world’s largest retail investment market.
The expansion follows Plus500’s acquisition of a US futures business in 2021, which established the foundations of its CFTC-regulated operations.
With its latest acquisition, Plus500 is moving towards becoming a broader multi-asset investment platform in the US, rather than focusing primarily on derivatives trading.
The planned super-app launch in early 2027 will be an important milestone in determining whether Plus500 can successfully translate its established trading technology and existing US customer relationships into a larger retail investing business.
Panmure Liberum’s BUY recommendation and price target are the broker’s views, not a guarantee of future share price performance. Panmure Liberum identifies Plus500 as a corporate broking client.
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