Shares inCMC Markets (LSE: CMCX)hit a record high today (Wednesday), climbing about 23% to around 570 penceafter the London listed broker raised its annual profit forecast. The movecarried the stock past its previous peak of 559 pence, set in April 2021 duringthe pandemic era trading surge.CMC nowexpects net operating income of at least £550 million for the year ending March2027, up from the £460 million to £480 million range it gave last monthalongside a 20% rise in annual pre-tax profit. The figurealso sits well above the £385.5 million analysts had forecast, according to acompany-compiled consensus.A Record That Tops theCovid-Era PeakThe lasttime CMC traded this high, retail investors were piling into markets throughthe 2020 and 2021 lockdown boom that lifted brokers across the board. The stockspent the years afterward well below that mark before this year's run.Momentumwas already building before Wednesday. CMC shares had surged more than 40% over threesessions afteran earlier income beat, outpacing CFD rivals, and Wednesday's jump pushed thatrally into record territory.B2B Growth Behind theUpgradeCMC tiedthe raise to its business-to-business unit, the arm that supplies tradingtechnology and liquidity to banks, brokers and other financial firms. Thecompany described the driver as "exponential and exceptional growth"in that business, its own wording.That sideoffers larger client pools and higher margins than CMC's traditional retail CFDoperation. The broker has been building it through white-label and API deals,including a CFD partnership with neobank Revolut that has since spread across dozens ofcountries.The upgradecame with a core profit, or EBITDA, forecast of £250 million, while costguidance excluding variable pay held at around £280 million. With much of itscost base fixed, extra income converts to profit at a high rate, a dynamic CMCcalls operating gearing.Broker Shares Ride aSector-Wide RallyCMC is notthe only broker whose stock has run hard this year. IG Group hit its own record high in May, rising almost 11% in asingle session after it lifted revenue guidance and reported first-quarterorganic growth of 19%.Plus500 raised its 2026 outlook in April after Q1 revenuerose 18% to $242 million, while Warsaw listed XTB posted an 88.5% jump infirst-quarter revenue. Volatile markets through 2026 have pushed tradingactivity higher across the industry.Everton Deal Adds a BrandPushSeparately today,CMC Markets said it had become the mainclub partner and front-of-shirt sponsor of Everton Football Club, covering themen's, women's and under-21 teams in a multi-year deal. The companyframed it as a way to raise awareness of its investing, trading and wealthbusinesses beyond its core trading base.Founder andChief Executive Peter Cruddas said the company was "proud to partner witha club that shares our core values, identity and passion." The two sidesalso plan financial literacy programs across the Liverpool City Region.CMCMarkets, founded in 1989 and listed in London under the ticker CMCX, servesretail and institutional clients across 12 countries. Its nextscheduled update is its half-year results on November 19, 2026.This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.