What Is Quarter on Quarter (QOQ)?
Quarter on quarter (QOQ) is a measuring technique that calculates the change between one fiscal quarter and the previous fiscal quarter. The term is similar to the year-over-year (YOY) measure, which compares the quarter of one year (such as the first quarter of 2024) to the same quarter of the previous year (the first quarter of 2023).
The measure gives investors and analysts an idea of how a company is growing over each quarter.
Key Takeaways
- Quarter on quarter (QOQ) compares a change in performance between one fiscal quarter and the previous fiscal quarter.
- QOQ reflects short-term changes in various metrics and can indicate company performance over two quarters.
- Businesses that have income fluctuations or peak earnings at certain times may need to make seasonal adjustments or use a YOY metric to measure performance.
Understanding Quarter on Quarter (QQQ)
QOQ allows a business to monitor shorter-term changes and toprogress toward goals or benchmarks set for the year. It can provide valuable information as to how a company is performing and allow the company to respond and make process changes if required.
Often, the QOQ measure is used to compare earnings between quarters. For example, Company ABC’s first-quarter earnings were $1.50 per share, and its second-quarter earnings were $1.75 per share. By calculating the QOQ growth between quarters ($1.75 - $1.50/$1.50), it’s clear that the company has grown its earnings by 16.6%, which is a positive indicatorfor investors.
Quarter on Quarter in Practice
When used in financial or accounting principles, a quarteris a consecutive three-month period within the year. Traditionally, the first quarter (Q1) refers to January, February, and March. Each subsequent three-month period represents Q2, Q3, and Q4.
When used as part of a QOQ analysis, a business would compare financials from Q2 (April, May, June) to Q1 (January, February, March). This comparison varies from YOY, where the same quarter is compared from one year to the next. For example, Q1 of 2024is compared to Q1 of 2023in a YOY review.
Comparing quarters on a year-over-year (YOY) basis can be more effective than on a quarter-on-quarter (QOQ) basis, as it gives a broader picture of company health and is not impacted by seasonal issues.
Challenges With QOQ Analysis
There are circ*mstances where QOQ analysis may not provide a holistic view ofthe health of an organization. For example, if an industry experiences seasonal sales variance, such as landscapers or seasonal sellers, what may appear to be a downward trend may be an industry norm.
The same can apply if a business experiences higher earnings during a peak season that may reflect abnormally high growth from one quarter to the next. An organization may choose to adjust the figures seasonally and compensate for regular shifts in business, giving a more accurate picture throughout the year.Since YOY analysis involves the examination of the same quarter from one year to the next, it does not typicallyrequire a seasonal adjustment to provide valuable data.
Real-World Example
A company’s earnings report from one quarter to the next can affect the market. A disappointing earnings report can cause the stock to plunge as investors try to sell off the stock before the price drops.
In 2018, Amazon’s third-quarter earnings exceeded analysts’ estimates, but Amazon’s guidance for the fourth quarter fell short of expectations, and the company’s stock price plunged in response to the announcement. The last quarter of the year includes the holidays and is typically Amazon’s busiest season. Fourth-quarter revenue guidance was significantly below the consensus and caused concern among shareholders. Amazon stock plunged by 10%, although it eventually recovered as investors priced in the news.
How Does Quarter on Quarter (QOQ) Work?
Quarter on quarter (QOQ) compares performance change between one fiscal quarter and the previous fiscal quarter. It reflects short-term changes in various metrics and can indicate company performance over two quarters.
How Does QOQ Benefit a Business?
QOQ lets a company monitor shorter-term changes and progress toward goals or benchmarks set for the year. The measure can provide valuable information on a business’s performance and allow the business to respond and make process changes if it has to.
Where Is QOQ Less Effective?
An industry that experiences seasonal sales variance may not get an accurate picture of their well-being from QOQ analysis. A downward trend may be an industry norm. The same goes for a business that experiences higher earnings during a peak season that may reflect abnormally high growth from one quarter to the next.
The Bottom Line
Quarter on quarter (QOQ) calculates the change between one fiscal quarter and the previous fiscal quarter. The measuring technique gives investors and analysts an idea of how a company is growing over each quarter.
