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TD Ameritrade Holding Marketcap, Competitors, Revenue, Net Worth 2025

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. logo

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. logo

Founded
1971 (as First Omaha Securities)
Acquisition by Schwab
$26 Billion (2020)
Peak Annual Revenue
$6.0 Billion (2019)
Client Accounts at Acquisition
12 Million
Final Platform Transition
May 2024

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

1971
J. Joe Ricketts founded First Omaha Securities, Inc. in Omaha, Nebraska. The small investment banking firm laid the foundation for what would become TD Ameritrade.
1983
Ameritrade Clearing Inc. was established as a clearing broker, providing the infrastructure for processing securities transactions.
1988
The company introduced the first quote and order entry system via touch-tone phone, pioneering convenient access to trading for retail investors.
1995
Ameritrade acquired K. Aufhauser & Company and its WealthWeb platform, becoming one of the first brokerages to offer online securities trading. The first online order was received in August 1994.
1997
Ameritrade became a publicly held company through an initial public offering that opened at $15 per share.
2001
Ameritrade acquired National Discount Brokers Corporation in September, adding $6.3 billion in client assets and strengthening its market position.
2006
Ameritrade acquired TD Waterhouse USA from Toronto-Dominion Bank on January 24. Following the acquisition, the company renamed itself TD Ameritrade. TD Bank received a 39% ownership stake in the combined entity.
2009
TD Ameritrade acquired Thinkorswim Group Inc. in a cash and stock deal valued at approximately $606 million. The transaction added advanced trading platforms and investor education tools.
2013
The company opened a $250 million headquarters building in Omaha, consolidating its operations and cementing its commitment to the Nebraska city.
2017
TD Ameritrade acquired the stock brokerage division of Scottrade, significantly expanding its client base and market reach.
2019
Charles Schwab announced its agreement to acquire TD Ameritrade for $26 billion in November. The deal aimed to create the largest retail brokerage in the United States.
2020
Schwab completed its acquisition of TD Ameritrade on October 6. The combined company began the multi-year integration process to merge operations and platforms.
2024
The final TD Ameritrade client accounts transitioned to Schwab’s platform in May. This marked the end of TD Ameritrade as an independent trading platform after 53 years of operation.

TD Ameritrade Co-founders

J. Joe Ricketts

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

FAQs

When was TD Ameritrade acquired by Charles Schwab?

Charles Schwab completed its acquisition of TD Ameritrade on October 6, 2020, in a $26 billion all-stock transaction. The deal created a brokerage giant with over $6 trillion in combined client assets.

Who founded TD Ameritrade?

J. Joe Ricketts founded TD Ameritrade in 1971 as First Omaha Securities. He built the company from a small investment banking firm into one of America’s largest online brokers over nearly five decades.

What happened to TD Ameritrade accounts after the Schwab acquisition?

TD Ameritrade accounts transitioned to Charles Schwab’s platform between 2020 and 2024. The final client accounts moved in May 2024, completing the integration. Clients maintained their assets with access to Schwab’s services.

What was TD Ameritrade’s peak revenue?

TD Ameritrade achieved peak revenue of $6.0 billion in 2019, the year before Charles Schwab announced its acquisition. Revenue growth was driven by trading activity, asset management fees, and interest income from client deposits.

What major acquisitions did TD Ameritrade make?

TD Ameritrade’s largest acquisitions included TD Waterhouse USA in 2006, Thinkorswim Group for $606 million in 2009, and Scottrade’s brokerage division in 2017. These deals expanded its client base and technological capabilities significantly.
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