These firms hand you the picks and shovels in the investing gold rush. Charles Schwab (SCHW) and Interactive Brokers (IBKR) are veterans in that durable, behind the scenes game.
Old School Brokers Trading Near Highs
Charles Schwab (SCHW) is having a standout year. It recently reported stellar Q2 2025 results -adjusted EPS of $1.14, up 25% in revenue year-over-year, and net interest income surged 30.8%. Client assets hit a record $10.76 trillion, and the stock has jumped roughly 30% year-to-date. Even amid volatility, it’s outperforming peers and near its all-time high.
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is riding its momentum too. It’s up about 44% year-to-date, with a total return over 12 months exceeding 100% - far outpacing the S&P 500.
So, if you’re looking to lean into consistent earnings engines, Schwab brings scale and stability, while Interactive Brokers brings fast-growing tech infrastructure and global reach. Both are delivering the goods in 2025.
The “New” Brokers: Robinhood & eToro
Not to be outdone, newer players are grabbing headlines too.
Robinhood (HOOD) has been on a tear. Its stock has soared roughly 190% year-to-date, with total returns north of 426% over the past 12 months. It’s capturing attention with its mass-market appeal, meme-stock-style momentum, and exposure to the multi-trillion crypto market.
eToro (ETOR), which debuted its public journey in May, posted impressive Q2 numbers recently - net contribution rose 26% to $210 million, adjusted profit reached $0.56 per share (vs estimates of $0.50), and assets under administration jumped 54% year-over-year to $17.5 billion. The number of funded accounts surged 14% to 3.63 million. Despite this, the stock slipped post‑earnings. Likely a post-IPO reaction.
Bottom Line for Free Subscribers
SCHW: Big, steady, powerful market leader - great for the long haul.
IBKR: Tech-driven, global growth - exciting momentum.
HOOD: Volatile, high-growth, retail-driven - brings energy (and risk).
ETOR: Fresh IPO, crypto and stock combo, AI-driven tools - eye-catching future potential.
Choose your exposure based on what fits your style: steady and proven, or fast and flashy. Either way, you’re investing in the backbone of trading - not the miners, but the gearmakers.
