Equifax (NYSE:EFX) Stock Rating Lowered by Argus

Argus downgraded shares of Equifax (NYSE:EFX - Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Tuesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports.

Several other research firms have also commented on EFX. Barclays dropped their target price on Equifax from $335.00 to $325.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Oppenheimer dropped their target price on Equifax from $286.00 to $279.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Needham & Company LLC dropped their target price on Equifax from $325.00 to $300.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Wolfe Research lowered Equifax from an "outperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price objective on Equifax from $290.00 to $333.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, October 18th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $301.13.

Equifax Stock Performance

Shares of EFX stock traded down $0.87 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $250.00. The stock had a trading volume of 533,865 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,047,211. The business's fifty day moving average is $260.48 and its 200-day moving average is $274.38. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. The firm has a market cap of $30.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 51.64, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 1.58. Equifax has a 1-year low of $213.02 and a 1-year high of $309.63.

Equifax (NYSE:EFX - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The credit services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $2.12. Equifax had a return on equity of 19.13% and a net margin of 10.63%. On average, research analysts forecast that Equifax will post 7.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Equifax Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be given 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 0.62%. Equifax's dividend payout ratio is currently 32.30%.

Insider Transactions at Equifax

In other news, EVP Lisa M. Nelson sold 551 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $260.39, for a total value of $143,474.89. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 11,697 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,045,781.83. This represents a 4.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.57% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Equifax

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of Equifax during the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Equifax during the fourth quarter worth approximately $25,000. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division purchased a new position in shares of Equifax during the fourth quarter worth approximately $35,000. Spire Wealth Management grew its position in shares of Equifax by 98.7% during the fourth quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 151 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Generali Asset Management SPA SGR purchased a new position in shares of Equifax during the fourth quarter worth approximately $39,000. 96.20% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.