Equifax (NYSE:EFX) Releases Q2 Earnings Guidance

Equifax (NYSE:EFX) updated its second quarter earnings guidance on Wednesday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $1.65-1.75 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.87. The company issued revenue guidance of $1.41-1.43 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $1.44 billion. Equifax also updated its FY 2024 guidance to 7.200-7.500 EPS.

Equifax Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of EFX opened at $216.20 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.73. Equifax has a 52-week low of $159.95 and a 52-week high of $275.10. The firm has a market cap of $26.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.15, a PEG ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.51. The business’s fifty day moving average is $257.79 and its 200-day moving average is $231.21.

Equifax (NYSE:EFX) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 18th. The credit services provider reported $1.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $1.39 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.40 billion. Equifax had a return on equity of 19.08% and a net margin of 10.42%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.43 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Equifax will post 7.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Equifax Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, February 23rd were paid a $0.39 dividend. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.72%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 22nd. Equifax’s payout ratio is 34.74%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on EFX shares. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price target on shares of Equifax from $276.00 to $241.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Equifax from $208.00 to $289.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Bank of America reduced their price target on Equifax from $300.00 to $255.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Redburn Atlantic lowered shares of Equifax from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $272.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Equifax from $290.00 to $273.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Equifax has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $266.35.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Equifax

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of EFX. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Equifax in the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Equifax during the fourth quarter worth approximately $53,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its holdings in Equifax by 91.4% in the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 310 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $74,000 after purchasing an additional 148 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in Equifax by 59.0% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 337 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $80,000 after buying an additional 125 shares during the period. Finally, Advisory Services Network LLC bought a new position in shares of Equifax during the 4th quarter worth approximately $94,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.20% of the company’s stock.

Equifax Company Profile

Equifax Inc operates as a data, analytics, and technology company. The company operates through three segments: Workforce Solutions, U.S. Information Solutions (USIS), and International. The Workforce Solutions segment offers services that enables customers to verify income, employment, educational history, criminal justice data, healthcare professional licensure, and sanctions of people in the United States; and employer customers with services that assist them in complying with and automating payroll-related and human resource management processes throughout the entire cycle of the employment relationship.