TSX Group Inc. is reporting a sharply higher profit for the third quarter ended September 30. The TSX also announced a apecial $5 a share dividend.

The surprise payout comes on top of its regular quarterly dividend of 18¢ cents a share. The TSX had been sitting on a healthy cash reserve.

The dividend was announced as TSX reported net income of $18.9 million, or 56¢ a share, for the quarter, up from $13.2 million, or 39¢ a share, a year ago..

The TSX says the results were driven by new listings and stronger trading activity.

The operator of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the small-cap TSX Venture Exchange said revenue climbed to $59.4 million from $56.6 million a year ago, driven by a 29.2% rise in listing fees and a 15.1% increase in trading revenue.

The total value of securities traded on both the senior and junior exchanges increased 17.6% to C$166.4 billion, reflecting the year-on-year improvements in equity markets.

TSX’s initial public offering hit the market last November at $18 a share, making it the first North American exchange to trade publicly.

On Tuesday it closed at $37.78 before its Q3 results were released.