Data Services Stocks Beat Q1 Revenue Estimates, But Equifax, Planet Labs Tumble

Data and business process services stocks reported first-quarter 2026 revenue that exceeded analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.7%, though uneven market reactions saw several names decline. Equifax (NYSE:EFX) posted revenue of $1.65 billion, up 14.3% year-over-year and beating forecasts by 2%, but its shares fell 13.7% after the company issued full-year EPS guidance slightly below expectations. Planet Labs (NYSE:PL), TransUnion (NYSE:TRU) and CoStar (NASDAQ:CSGP) all topped revenue projections, yet their stocks slipped or held flat. The outlier, Fair Isaac (NYSE:FICO), surged 15.1% following a 9.1% revenue beat and strong annual recurring revenue metrics. The sector, which benefits from growing digitization of credit, HR and payroll processes, faces headwinds from tightening data-privacy regulations and escalating cyber threat risks. The mixed stock performance highlights investor sensitivity to forward guidance and broader market caution amid geopolitical tensions, including the U.S.-Iran conflict.