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 10 data & business process services stocks we track reported a strong Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.9% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 0.5% below.

While some data & business process services stocks have fared somewhat better than others, they have collectively declined. On average, share prices are down 5% since the latest earnings results.

Weakest Q4: 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 $900 million, up 26.9% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 0.9%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates.

“With our 59th consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth and Adjusted EBITDA surging 83% year-over-year, CoStar Group is entering a period of significant earnings acceleration,” said Andy Florance, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CoStar Group.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 16.7% since reporting and currently trades at $40.93.

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

Best Q4: 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 $1.71 billion, up 7.8% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 6.5%. The business had an incredible quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and revenue estimates.

Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 18.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $162.

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

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 $512 million, up 16.4% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 1.8%. Still, it was a slower quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly.

Fair Isaac Corporation delivered the weakest full-year guidance update in the group. As expected, the stock is down 28.6% since the results and currently trades at $1,089.

Read our full analysis of Fair Isaac Corporation’s results here.

ADP (NASDAQ: ADP)

Processing one out of every six paychecks in the United States, ADP (NASDAQ: ADP) provides cloud-based human capital management solutions that help businesses manage payroll, benefits, talent acquisition, and HR administration.

ADP reported revenues of $5.36 billion, up 6.2% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 0.6%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also put up a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

ADP had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is down 19.7% since reporting and currently trades at $204.47.

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

SS&C (NASDAQ: SSNC)

Founded in 1986 as a bridge between technology and financial services, SS&C Technologies (NASDAQ: SSNC) provides software and software-enabled services that help financial firms and healthcare organizations automate complex business processes.

SS&C reported revenues of $1.65 billion, up 8.1% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts’ full-year EPS guidance estimates and full-year revenue guidance topping analysts’ expectations.

SS&C pulled off the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The stock is down 8.4% since reporting and currently trades at $68.66.

Read our full, actionable report on SS&C here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

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