S&P Global stock prices plummet, concerns raised over weak 2026 guidance

Investing.com - During Tuesday’s pre-market trading, S&P Global’s stock price dropped over 18% after the company reported earnings slightly below expectations and issued a weaker-than-expected guidance for 2026, raising concerns among analysts about its growth trajectory.

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The group reported fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of $4.30 per share, 2 cents below market consensus, with revenue of $3.92 billion, slightly above expectations.

Full-year adjusted earnings are expected to grow 14% to $17.83 per share. However, S&P Global forecasted 2026 adjusted earnings of $19.40 to $19.65 per share, below the market consensus of $19.96.

Analysts noted that this outlook highlights a slowdown in growth momentum within certain business segments.

Jeffrey Silber of BMO Capital wrote that the company “reported earnings slightly below expectations, though relative to high standards,” and added that “the 2026 guidance is below consensus,” with particular disappointment in the ratings business, where the 4-7% organic fixed-rate growth guidance appears “weak.”

He pointed out that investors had hoped for a stronger year in issuance and ratings activities.

Shlomo Rosenbaum of Stifel described the results as “mixed” and warned that the stock “may face pressure,” noting that free cash flow was below expectations and that the guidance fell short of the mid-term targets provided in December.

He emphasized that “2026 revenue and earnings per share guidance are below expectations,” and that three of the four remaining operating units saw revenue growth below their previous strategic ranges.

The stock decline indicates investor concerns about broader challenges that S&P Global may face in the financial data and analytics industry.

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