Nicola Wealth Management LTD. Has $15.29 Million Position in Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX)

Nicola Wealth Management LTD. increased its position in Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) by 27.7% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 60,000 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 13,000 shares during the quarter. Equifax accounts for 1.6% of Nicola Wealth Management LTD.’s portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. Nicola Wealth Management LTD.’s holdings in Equifax were worth $15,291,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in EFX. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Equifax in the 3rd quarter valued at about $234,000. Stephens Inc. AR grew its stake in shares of Equifax by 19.3% in the 3rd quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 1,003 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $295,000 after buying an additional 162 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Equifax by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 1,474 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $401,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its stake in shares of Equifax by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 36,979 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $10,867,000 after buying an additional 114 shares during the period. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Equifax in the 3rd quarter valued at about $200,000. 96.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Equifax Price Performance

Equifax stock opened at $244.38 on Tuesday. Equifax Inc. has a 52 week low of $213.02 and a 52 week high of $309.63. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $255.86 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $271.01. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 0.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. The stock has a market cap of $30.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 50.60, a P/E/G ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.58.

Equifax (NYSE:EFX) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The credit services provider reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $2.12. Equifax had a net margin of 10.63% and a return on equity of 19.13%. On average, equities analysts predict that Equifax Inc. will post 7.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Equifax Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Investors of record on Friday, February 21st will be issued a $0.39 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.64%. Equifax’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 32.30%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

EFX has been the subject of several research reports. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on Equifax from $340.00 to $300.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Argus downgraded Equifax from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. BNP Paribas upgraded Equifax from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $305.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, December 16th. Needham & Company LLC cut their price target on Equifax from $325.00 to $300.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Equifax from $284.00 to $281.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $301.13.

Equifax 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.