Equifax (NYSE:EFX) Releases FY 2024 Earnings Guidance

Equifax (NYSE:EFX) updated its FY 2024 earnings guidance on Wednesday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 7.200-7.500 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 7.640. The company issued revenue guidance of $5.7 billion-$5.8 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $5.8 billion. Equifax also updated its FY24 guidance to $7.20-7.50 EPS.

Equifax Price Performance

Shares of EFX traded down $0.89 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $237.68. 1,566,536 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 787,436. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $259.23 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $231.00. Equifax has a 52-week low of $159.95 and a 52-week high of $275.10. The company has a market cap of $29.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 54.02, a PEG ratio of 1.91 and a beta of 1.51.

Equifax (NYSE:EFX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 17th. The credit services provider reported $1.50 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.06. Equifax had a net margin of 10.36% and a return on equity of 19.40%. The business had revenue of $1.39 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.40 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.43 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Equifax will post 7.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Equifax Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd were paid a dividend of $0.39 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.66%. Equifax’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 35.45%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have commented on EFX. Evercore ISI raised shares of Equifax from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $210.00 to $310.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Equifax from $195.00 to $222.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, December 29th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Equifax from $270.00 to $285.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of Equifax from $208.00 to $289.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Finally, Redburn Atlantic cut shares of Equifax from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $272.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $267.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Equifax

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Equifax in the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Equifax in the 4th quarter worth $53,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its holdings in Equifax by 91.4% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 310 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $74,000 after buying an additional 148 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd raised its stake in shares of Equifax by 59.0% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 337 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $80,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Equifax in the 4th quarter valued at about $94,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.20% of the company’s stock.

About Equifax

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.