JPMorgan Chase & Co. Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for First Advantage (NYSE:FA) Stock

First Advantage (NYSE:FA) had its target price boosted by equities researchers at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $15.00 to $18.00 in a report released on Friday,Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an “overweight” rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.‘s price objective points to a potential upside of 12.78% from the stock’s current price.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of First Advantage from $16.00 to $15.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 6th. Barclays increased their price objective on First Advantage from $15.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus set a $18.00 price objective on First Advantage in a research report on Friday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, First Advantage presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $17.75.

First Advantage Price Performance

NYSE FA opened at $15.96 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $11.75 and a 200-day simple moving average of $12.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 3.85 and a quick ratio of 3.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 532.00 and a beta of 1.13. First Advantage has a 52-week low of $8.82 and a 52-week high of $19.01.

First Advantage (NYSE:FA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 7th. The company reported $0.26 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.21 by $0.05. First Advantage had a net margin of 0.65% and a return on equity of 13.16%. First Advantage’s revenue was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.17 EPS. First Advantage has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.150-1.250 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that First Advantage will post 0.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other First Advantage news, President Joelle M. Smith sold 23,334 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.00, for a total transaction of $350,010.00. Following the transaction, the president owned 19,393 shares in the company, valued at $290,895. This trade represents a 54.61% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 4.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of First Advantage

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of FA. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. grew its stake in First Advantage by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 35,567 shares of the company’s stock valued at $501,000 after buying an additional 1,471 shares during the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its position in First Advantage by 22.6% during the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 9,211 shares of the company’s stock worth $142,000 after acquiring an additional 1,700 shares during the last quarter. Swiss National Bank boosted its holdings in First Advantage by 1.6% during the third quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 151,544 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,332,000 after acquiring an additional 2,400 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its position in shares of First Advantage by 5.9% in the second quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 44,279 shares of the company’s stock valued at $735,000 after purchasing an additional 2,463 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clearstead Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of First Advantage by 192.8% in the fourth quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 4,333 shares of the company’s stock valued at $63,000 after purchasing an additional 2,853 shares during the last quarter. 94.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Key First Advantage News

Here are the key news stories impacting First Advantage this week:

• Positive Sentiment: First Advantage delivered Q1 adjusted EPS of $0.26, topping estimates of $0.21, while revenue rose 8.6% year over year to $385.2 million and adjusted EBITDA increased 14.3%. First Advantage Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
• Positive Sentiment: Management reaffirmed its 2026 outlook and expects margin expansion in the second half, which suggests improving profitability and execution. First Advantage reaffirms 2026 outlook while expecting adjusted EBITDA margins around 29% in 2H
• Positive Sentiment: JPMorgan raised its price target on First Advantage to $18 from $15 and reiterated an overweight rating, implying further upside from current levels. Benzinga report on JPMorgan price target increase
• Neutral Sentiment: First Advantage said its management team will participate in upcoming investor conferences, which could help keep the stock in focus but does not change fundamentals on its own. First Advantage to Participate in Upcoming Investor Conferences
• Neutral Sentiment: The company’s FY 2026 guidance was reaffirmed rather than raised, and revenue guidance remains roughly in line with expectations, which tempers the near-term excitement. First Advantage keeps 2026 guidance, sees margin lift to 29%

About First Advantage

First Advantage is a global provider of background screening, identity verification and workforce risk management solutions. The company delivers a comprehensive suite of services that help employers verify candidate credentials, manage regulatory compliance and mitigate risk throughout the employee lifecycle. Its platform is built to integrate with leading human capital management and applicant tracking systems, enabling a seamless and scalable experience for organizations of all sizes.

The company’s core offerings include pre-employment and continuous background screening, digital identity verification, drug and health testing, and ongoing employee monitoring.