Equifax (NYSE:EFX) Reaches New 12-Month Low – Time to Sell?

Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) shares hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Saturday . The stock traded as low as $209.89 and last traded at $210.30, with a volume of 2944287 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $231.80.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

EFX has been the subject of several recent research reports. Barclays reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $260.00 target price (down from $325.00) on shares of Equifax in a research note on Friday. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price objective on Equifax from $340.00 to $300.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 15th. UBS Group decreased their target price on Equifax from $335.00 to $310.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Needham & Company LLC decreased their price target on Equifax from $325.00 to $300.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Equifax from $320.00 to $316.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $294.50.

Equifax Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $26.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.54, a P/E/G ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.65. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $248.10 and a 200 day simple moving average of $261.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.75.

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

Equifax Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were paid a $0.39 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.74%. Equifax’s dividend payout ratio is currently 32.30%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Equifax

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Equifax during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC lifted its holdings in Equifax by 1,920.0% during the 4th quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 101 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new position in Equifax in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Colonial Trust Co SC grew its stake in Equifax by 505.0% during the fourth 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 last quarter. Finally, Central Pacific Bank Trust Division acquired a new stake in shares of Equifax during the fourth quarter worth approximately $35,000. 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.