Data & Business Process Services Stocks Q3 Highlights: EXL (NASDAQ:EXLS)

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 Q3, starting with EXL (NASDAQ:EXLS).

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 Q3. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.6% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.

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 $529.6 million, up 12.2% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a narrow beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rohit Kapoor said, “I am pleased to report another strong quarter as we delivered revenue growth of 12% and increased our adjusted diluted EPS by 11%. Our sustained double-digit growth demonstrates the strength of our competitive position as a global data and AI company. EXL’s recognized industry expertise and leadership in embedding AI in the workflow is resonating strongly with the market and fueling our growth with new and existing clients.”

Interestingly, the stock is up 2.8% since reporting and currently trades at $42.64.

Is now the time to buy EXL? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Best Q3: 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 $81.25 million, up 32.6% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 12.7%. The business had an incredible quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Planet Labs scored the biggest analyst estimates beat, fastest revenue growth, and highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 26.2% since reporting. It currently trades at $16.52.

Is now the time to buy Planet Labs? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.

Weakest Q3: Verisk (NASDAQ:VRSK)

Processing over 2.8 billion insurance transaction records annually through one of the world's largest private databases, Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ:VRSK) provides data, analytics, and technology solutions that help insurance companies assess risk, detect fraud, and make better business decisions.

Verisk reported revenues of $768.3 million, up 5.9% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 1.1%. It was a slower quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations and a slight miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Verisk delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates in the group. As expected, the stock is down 5.5% since the results and currently trades at $219.47.

Read our full analysis of Verisk’s results here.

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 $1.17 billion, up 7.8% year on year. This print beat analysts’ expectations by 3.2%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also produced revenue guidance for next quarter beating analysts’ expectations and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

The stock is up 5.1% since reporting and currently trades at $84.80.

Read our full, actionable report on TransUnion here, it’s free for active Edge members.

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 $1.57 billion, up 7% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 1.2%. Taking a step back, it was a mixed quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a miss of analysts’ billings estimates.

SS&C had the weakest full-year guidance update among its peers. The stock is up 7.1% since reporting and currently trades at $86.59.

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

Market Update

Thanks to the Fed’s series of rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has cooled significantly from its post-pandemic highs, drawing closer to the 2% goal. This disinflation has occurred without severely impacting economic growth, suggesting the success of a soft landing. The stock market thrived in 2024, spurred by recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November), and a notable surge followed Donald Trump’s presidential election win in November, propelling indices to historic highs. Nonetheless, the outlook for 2025 remains clouded by potential trade policy changes and corporate tax discussions, which could impact business confidence and growth. The path forward holds both optimism and caution as new policies take shape.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.