Equifax (NYSE:EFX – Free Report) had its price objective lowered by Morgan Stanley from $244.00 to $243.00 in a research note published on Wednesday morning,MarketScreener reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an overweight rating on the credit services provider’s stock.
A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Equifax in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $250.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank Of Canada set a $220.00 target price on shares of Equifax in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Equifax from $240.00 to $230.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Oppenheimer cut their target price on shares of Equifax from $271.00 to $266.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 12th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their target price on shares of Equifax from $250.00 to $245.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $231.00.
Read Our Latest Stock Report on Equifax
Equifax Trading Down 7.3%
Equifax (NYSE:EFX – Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 21st. The credit services provider reported $1.86 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.69 by $0.17. Equifax had a net margin of 11.12% and a return on equity of 20.41%. The firm had revenue of $1.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.61 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.53 earnings per share. Equifax’s revenue for the quarter was up 14.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equifax has set its Q2 2026 guidance at 2.150-2.250 EPS and its FY 2026 guidance at 8.340-8.740 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Equifax will post 8.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Equifax Increases Dividend
The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 9th were given a $0.56 dividend. This is a boost from Equifax’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. This represents a $2.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.3%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 9th. Equifax’s dividend payout ratio is 39.44%.
Insider Buying and Selling
In related news, EVP John W. Gamble, Jr. sold 4,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $195.72, for a total value of $880,740.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 58,921 shares in the company, valued at $11,532,018.12. This trade represents a 7.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Mark W. Begor sold 37,791 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.89, for a total value of $7,629,624.99. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 230,506 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $46,536,856.34. This represents a 14.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders sold a total of 49,671 shares of company stock worth $9,960,181 over the last three months. 1.70% of the stock is owned by insiders.
Institutional Trading of Equifax
A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Equifax by 2.1% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 15,282,951 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $3,920,535,000 after buying an additional 316,048 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in Equifax by 1.3% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 5,056,441 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $1,097,147,000 after buying an additional 66,289 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its position in Equifax by 35.8% in the fourth quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 4,344,531 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $942,676,000 after buying an additional 1,145,921 shares during the last quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. lifted its position in shares of Equifax by 57.2% during the fourth quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 2,809,879 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $609,693,000 after purchasing an additional 1,022,819 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Generation Investment Management LLP lifted its position in shares of Equifax by 6.3% during the third quarter. Generation Investment Management LLP now owns 2,736,467 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $701,986,000 after purchasing an additional 163,375 shares during the last quarter. 96.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
Key Stories Impacting Equifax
Here are the key news stories impacting Equifax this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Q1 beat and record revenue; management credited AI product innovation and strong U.S. mortgage results that drove 14% revenue growth — a clear fundamental positive for growth and margins. Equifax Delivers Record First Quarter Revenue
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst support remains: Needham reaffirmed a Buy with a $265 target, signaling institutional conviction in the company’s execution and buyback/capital allocation strategy. Needham Reaffirms Buy on Equifax
- Positive Sentiment: Goldman Sachs lifted its price target (192 → 200) and kept a Neutral rating, a modest positive that reduces near-term downside risk from that shop. Goldman Sachs Raises PT on Equifax
- Neutral Sentiment: Company guidance for Q2 and FY2026 was reiterated/set in a range that overlaps street estimates (Q2 EPS 2.15–2.25; FY EPS 8.34–8.74). That kept expectations roughly intact but left room for investor interpretation. Earnings Release & Call Materials
- Neutral Sentiment: Extensive earnings coverage and call transcripts are available (high visibility can amplify both upside and downside moves depending on next-quarter indicators). Earnings Call Transcript
- Negative Sentiment: Multiple firms trimmed price targets (Baird 250→245; Wells Fargo 240→230; Citi 256→238; Morgan Stanley 244→243). Those cuts — even when ratings were maintained — likely pressured the stock by reducing upside from some Wall Street desks. Baird Lowers PT on Equifax
- Negative Sentiment: Macro/geopolitical uncertainty (spike in rates after Iran tensions) clouds the mortgage outlook — the very end market that boosted Q1 — prompting investor caution despite the beat. Q1 Deep Dive: Mortgage Gains & Macro Headwinds
Equifax Company Profile
Equifax Inc (NYSE: EFX) is a global data, analytics and technology company that specializes in consumer and commercial credit reporting, decisioning tools and identity solutions. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Equifax is one of the three major consumer credit reporting agencies in the United States and provides credit information and related services to lenders, employers, governments and consumers worldwide.
The company’s offerings include consumer credit reports and scores, credit monitoring and identity protection services, and a range of business-oriented products for risk management, fraud detection and compliance.
Further Reading
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