Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) Sees Large Decrease in Short Interest

Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX - Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of November. As of November 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,070,000 shares, a decline of 8.8% from the November 15th total of 2,270,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,020,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.0 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms recently commented on EFX. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Equifax from $277.00 to $307.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 20th. UBS Group initiated coverage on Equifax in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. They issued a "buy" rating and a $360.00 price target on the stock. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Equifax from $290.00 to $333.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, October 18th. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Equifax from a "neutral" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $305.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on shares of Equifax from $305.00 to $284.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Equifax presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $311.39.

Equifax Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:EFX traded up $0.15 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $273.65. 1,878,381 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 879,669. Equifax has a 12 month low of $213.02 and a 12 month high of $309.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.88. The company's 50 day simple moving average is $267.36 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $270.89. The firm has a market capitalization of $33.92 billion, a PE ratio of 60.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.26 and a beta of 1.57.

Equifax (NYSE:EFX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 16th. The credit services provider reported $1.85 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.84 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $1.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.44 billion. Equifax had a net margin of 10.07% and a return on equity of 18.56%. Equifax's revenue was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.76 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that Equifax will post 7.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Equifax Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 13th. Investors of record on Friday, November 22nd were paid a dividend of $0.39 per share. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.57%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 22nd. Equifax's payout ratio is 34.67%.

Insider Activity at Equifax

In other Equifax news, EVP John J. Kelley III sold 1,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $272.92, for a total transaction of $272,920.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 11,269 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,075,535.48. This trade represents a 8.15 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Lisa M. Nelson sold 551 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $260.39, for a total transaction of $143,474.89. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 11,697 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,045,781.83. This trade represents a 4.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 59,855 shares of company stock worth $16,187,044 in the last 90 days. 1.57% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Equifax

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of EFX. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of Equifax by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,816,186 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $1,415,284,000 after buying an additional 52,489 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its position in shares of Equifax by 4.9% during the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 4,276,798 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $1,036,952,000 after purchasing an additional 200,665 shares during the period. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Equifax by 37.4% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,233,744 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $950,268,000 after purchasing an additional 880,162 shares in the last quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Equifax by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 3,044,561 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $738,184,000 after purchasing an additional 70,091 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Equifax by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,885,661 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $845,041,000 after purchasing an additional 29,742 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors 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.

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