Online Brokers Looking Healthy

Etrade (ET) one of the leading online discount brokers, released its monthly business metrics today. The retail investor seems to be back in 2006. Etrade netted 82,782 new accounts in February. Retail deposits increased to $18.7 billion in February for Etrade. Retail DARTS (Daily Average Revenue Trades) increased to 187,570 trades in Q106 compared to 128,408 trades in Q105. Looks like the quarter should be good.

Tradstation (TRAD) reported a 46% Year over year increase in DARTS for February and a 16% year over year increase in client assets.

optionsXpress (OXPS) daily average revenue trades (DARTs) of 29,200 were 64% higher than February 2005. And ending client assets of $3.7 billion were 76% higher than February 2005

Note: I am long ET