TD Ameritrade was a pioneering online brokerage that revolutionized retail investing through technology-driven solutions. Founded in 1971 by J. Joe Ricketts, the company grew from a small investment banking firm in Omaha into one of America’s largest online brokers.
The firm made history by introducing the first quote and order entry system via touch-tone phone in 1988. It later became an early adopter of online trading after acquiring K. Aufhauser & Company in 1995, which operated WealthWeb, the first firm to offer online securities trading.
Charles Schwab completed its acquisition of TD Ameritrade on October 6, 2020, creating a brokerage behemoth with over $6 trillion in client assets and 28 million accounts. The integration marked the end of TD Ameritrade’s independent operations, with the platform fully transitioning to Schwab by May 2024.
TD Ameritrade History
TD Ameritrade Co-founders
Joe Ricketts founded First Omaha Securities in 1971 and built it into TD Ameritrade, one of America’s largest online brokers. He served as chairman and remained involved in the company for decades, helping pioneer discount brokerage and online trading before stepping down from the board in 2020.
TD Ameritrade Marketcap
TD Ameritrade’s market capitalization fluctuated significantly throughout its history as a publicly traded company. The company went public in 1997 and experienced substantial growth during the dot-com boom. Market conditions, competitive pressures, and strategic acquisitions influenced its valuation over time.
TD Ameritrade Revenue
TD Ameritrade’s revenue grew steadily from 2010 through 2019, driven by increased trading volumes, asset-based fees, and expanded service offerings. The company reached peak revenue of $6.0 billion in 2019, reflecting strong client engagement and market activity before the Schwab acquisition.
TD Ameritrade Acquisitions
TD Ameritrade pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy throughout its history to expand market share and capabilities. The company’s most significant acquisition came in 2006 when Ameritrade purchased TD Waterhouse USA from Toronto-Dominion Bank. This transformative deal combined two major players in online brokerage and resulted in the TD Ameritrade brand. The transaction brought 7.2 million client accounts and $225 billion in client assets under one roof.
In 2009, TD Ameritrade acquired Thinkorswim Group Inc. for approximately $606 million. Thinkorswim brought sophisticated trading platforms favored by active traders and options specialists. The acquisition included INVESTools, an investor education division that enhanced TD Ameritrade’s educational offerings. This deal strengthened the company’s position in the active trader segment.
The company made several smaller acquisitions in the early 2000s to consolidate market share. In 2001, TD Ameritrade purchased TradeCast for business-to-business capabilities and National Discount Brokers Corporation for $6.3 billion in client assets. The firm acquired Mydiscountbroker.com in 2003 and completed multiple purchases in 2004, including Bidwell and Company, BrokerageAmerica, Investex, and JB Oxford and Company.
TD Ameritrade’s largest deal as an acquirer came in 2017 when it purchased Scottrade’s stock brokerage division. Scottrade was a well-established discount broker with a strong branch network and loyal client base. The acquisition added substantial assets and positioned TD Ameritrade for the competitive battles ahead in the commission-free trading era.
TD Ameritrade Competitors
TD Ameritrade competed in a highly competitive online brokerage landscape against both established financial institutions and innovative technology-driven startups. The firm faced pressure from traditional brokers reducing fees and new entrants offering commission-free trading before its acquisition by Charles Schwab.
| Competitor | Specialty |
|---|---|
| Charles Schwab | Full-service brokerage with retail and institutional offerings |
| E*TRADE | Online brokerage with strong mobile platforms |
| Fidelity Investments | Comprehensive financial services and retirement planning |
| Robinhood | Commission-free mobile-first trading platform |
| Interactive Brokers | Advanced trading tools for active traders |
| Vanguard | Low-cost index funds and retirement investing |
| Merrill Edge | Bank of America integration and advisory services |
| Ally Invest | Banking integration with competitive pricing |
| Webull | Commission-free trading with advanced charting |
| Tastytrade | Options trading focused platform |

