Wrapping up Q4 earnings, we look at the numbers and key takeaways for the data & business process services stocks, including CoStar (NASDAQ: CSGP) 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 11 data & business process services stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues along with next quarter’s revenue guidance were in line with analysts’ consensus estimates.

While some data & business process services stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 4.3% since the latest earnings results.

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 $709.4 million, up 10.8% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. Overall, it was an exceptional quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is up 5% since reporting and currently trades at $79.25.

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

Best Q4: 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 $316.7 million, up 6.5% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. The business had an exceptional quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and full-year revenue guidance exceeding analysts’ expectations.

CSG delivered the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. However, the results were likely priced into the stock as it’s traded sideways since reporting. Shares currently sit at $60.37.

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

Weakest Q4: Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE: DNB)

Known for its proprietary D-U-N-S Number that serves as a unique identifier for businesses worldwide, Dun & Bradstreet (NYSE: DNB) provides business decisioning data and analytics that help companies evaluate credit risks, verify suppliers, enhance sales productivity, and gain market visibility.

Dun & Bradstreet reported revenues of $631.9 million, flat year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 4%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

Dun & Bradstreet delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 14.7% since the results and currently trades at $8.96.

Read our full analysis of Dun & Bradstreet’s results here.

EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS)

Originally founded as an outsourcing company in 1999 before evolving into a technology-focused enterprise, EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS) provides data analytics and AI-powered digital operations solutions that help businesses transform their operations and make better decisions.

EXL reported revenues of $481.4 million, up 16.3% year on year. This number surpassed analysts’ expectations by 1.1%. Aside from that, it was a slower quarter as it produced a miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

EXL achieved the fastest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 2.6% since reporting and currently trades at $47.41.

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

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 $61.55 million, up 4.6% year on year. This print came in 1.2% below analysts' expectations. It was a softer quarter as it also recorded revenue guidance for the full year missing analysts’ expectations.

The stock is down 20.5% since reporting and currently trades at $3.37.

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

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 5 Quality Compounder Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

Join Paid Stock Investor Research

Help us make StockStory more helpful to investors like yourself. Join our paid user research session and receive a $50 Amazon gift card for your opinions. Sign up here.