Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

Shares of Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) have been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the eighteen analysts that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, fourteen have given a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $301.13.

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on EFX shares. Gordon Haskett upgraded shares of Equifax to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Equifax from $335.00 to $325.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on shares of Equifax from $340.00 to $300.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 15th. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of Equifax from $335.00 to $310.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Equifax from $320.00 to $316.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 28th.

Equifax Price Performance

EFX stock opened at $254.87 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $31.61 billion, a PE ratio of 52.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.65. The company’s 50-day moving average is $254.88 and its 200-day moving average is $269.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.88. Equifax has a 1 year low of $213.02 and a 1 year high of $309.63.

Equifax (NYSE:EFX) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The credit services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.12. Equifax had a net margin of 10.63% and a return on equity of 19.13%. Equities research analysts expect that Equifax will post 7.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Equifax Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.39 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.61%. Equifax’s payout ratio is currently 32.30%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Equifax

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of EFX. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Equifax during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC increased its stake in shares of Equifax by 1,920.0% during the 4th quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 101 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Equifax during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in Equifax in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Colonial Trust Co SC boosted its holdings in Equifax by 505.0% in the 4th quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 121 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors 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.