The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who not so much). Let’s take a look at how data & business process services stocks fared in Q1, starting with TransUnion (NYSE: TRU).

A combination of increasing reliance on data and analytics across various industries and the desire for cost efficiency through outsourcing could mean that companies in this space gain. As functions such as payroll, HR, and credit risk assessment rely on more digitization, key players in the data & business process services industry could be increased demand. On the other hand, the sector faces headwinds from growing regulatory scrutiny on data privacy and security, with laws like GDPR and evolving U.S. regulations potentially limiting data collection and monetization strategies. Additionally, rising cyber threats pose risks to firms handling sensitive personal and financial information, creating outsized headline risk when things go wrong in this area.

The 11 data & business process services stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.3% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 6.8% on average since the latest earnings results.

TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)

One of the three major credit bureaus in the United States alongside Equifax and Experian, TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) is a global information and insights company that provides credit reports, fraud prevention tools, and data analytics to help businesses make decisions and consumers manage their financial health.

TransUnion reported revenues of $1.10 billion, up 7.3% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 2.3%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with a miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

“In the first quarter, TransUnion delivered strong results that again exceeded financial guidance,” said Chris Cartwright, President and CEO.

Interestingly, the stock is up 14.6% since reporting and currently trades at $88.51.

Read our full report on TransUnion here, it’s free.

Best Q1: CSG (NASDAQ: CSGS)

Powering billions of critical customer interactions annually, CSG Systems (NASDAQ: CSGS) provides cloud-based software platforms that help companies manage customer interactions, process payments, and monetize their services.

CSG reported revenues of $299.5 million, up 1.5% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 1.4%. The business had an exceptional quarter with full-year revenue guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

CSG scored the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 3.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $63.73.

Is now the time to buy CSG? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q1: Broadridge (NYSE: BR)

Processing over $10 trillion in equity and fixed income trades daily and managing proxy voting for over 800 million equity positions, Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR) provides technology-driven solutions that power investing, governance, and communications for banks, broker-dealers, asset managers, and public companies.

Broadridge reported revenues of $1.81 billion, up 4.9% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 2.5%. It was a slower quarter, leaving some shareholders looking for more.

Broadridge delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 1.6% since the results and currently trades at $238.16.

Read our full analysis of Broadridge’s results here.

Planet Labs (NYSE: PL)

Pioneering the concept of "agile aerospace" with hundreds of small but powerful satellites, Planet Labs (NYSE: PL) operates the world's largest fleet of Earth observation satellites, capturing daily images of our planet to provide insights on deforestation, agriculture, and climate change.

Planet Labs reported revenues of $66.27 million, up 9.6% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 6.5%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and full-year revenue guidance slightly topping analysts’ expectations.

Planet Labs achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is up 36.2% since reporting and currently trades at $5.46.

Read our full, actionable report on Planet Labs here, it’s free.

CoStar (NASDAQ: CSGP)

With a research department that makes over 10,000 property updates daily to its 35-year-old database, CoStar Group (NASDAQ: CSGP) provides comprehensive real estate data, analytics, and online marketplaces for commercial and residential properties in the U.S. and U.K.

CoStar reported revenues of $732.2 million, up 11.5% year on year. This number was in line with analysts’ expectations. It was a strong quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and revenue guidance for next quarter meeting analysts’ expectations.

CoStar had the weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The stock is down 2.2% since reporting and currently trades at $80.76.

Read our full, actionable report on CoStar here, it’s free.

Market Update

In response to the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been gradually trending down from its post-pandemic peak, trending closer to the Fed’s 2% target. Despite higher borrowing costs, the economy has avoided flashing recessionary signals. This is the much-desired soft landing that many investors hoped for. The recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November 2024) have bolstered the stock market, making 2024 a strong year for equities. Donald Trump’s presidential win in November sparked additional market gains, sending indices to record highs in the days following his victory. However, debates continue over possible tariffs and corporate tax adjustments, raising questions about economic stability in 2025.

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