As the Q1 earnings season wraps, let’s dig into this quarter’s best and worst performers in the data & business process services industry, including Planet Labs (NYSE: PL) and its peers.
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 10 data & business process services stocks we track reported a strong Q1. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.7% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.8% above.
In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.
Best Q1: 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 $94.15 million, up 42.1% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4.3%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and revenue guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations.
“Planet’s excellent start to the year is a testament to the mission-critical nature of our data in an increasingly complex world,” said Will Marshall, Planet’s Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairperson.
Planet Labs pulled off the highest guidance raise, fastest revenue growth, and highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. Investor expectations, however, were likely higher than Wall Street’s published projections, leaving some wishing for even better results (analysts’ consensus estimates are those published by big banks and advisory firms, not the investors who make buy and sell decisions). The stock is down 49.6% since reporting and currently trades at $21.92.
Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE: FICO)
Creator of the three-digit number that can determine whether you get a mortgage or credit card, Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE: FICO) develops analytics software and the widely used FICO Score, which is the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the United States.
Fair Isaac Corporation reported revenues of $691.7 million, up 38.7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 9.1%. The business had a very strong quarter with a solid beat of analysts’ ARR estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
Fair Isaac Corporation pulled off the biggest analyst estimate beat in the group. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 21% since reporting. It currently trades at $1,223.
Is now the time to buy Fair Isaac Corporation? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.
Weakest Q1: 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 $1.25 billion, up 13.7% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 2.7%. Still, it was a mixed quarter as it posted a miss of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates.
Interestingly, the stock is up 13.7% since the results and currently trades at $80.91.
Read our full analysis of TransUnion’s results here.
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 $1.95 billion, up 7.8% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 2.7%. It was a strong quarter as it also logged a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The stock is down 4.9% since reporting and currently trades at $152.90.
Read our full, actionable report on Broadridge 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 $897 million, up 22.5% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations. It was a strong quarter as it also produced a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS guidance for next quarter estimates.
CoStar had the weakest performance against analyst estimates and weakest guidance update of the whole group. The stock is down 16.1% since reporting and currently trades at $30.16.
Read our full, actionable report on CoStar here, it’s free.
Market Update
Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.
Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.
By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.
Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our 9 Best Market-Beating Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.
