Equifax (NYSE:EFX) Shares Gap Up on Earnings Beat

Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX - Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Tuesday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. The stock had previously closed at $215.29, but opened at $241.27. Equifax shares last traded at $239.20, with a volume of 212,142 shares traded.

The credit services provider reported $1.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $1.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.41 billion. Equifax had a return on equity of 19.13% and a net margin of 10.63%.

Equifax Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Investors of record on Friday, May 23rd will be given a $0.50 dividend. This is a boost from Equifax's previous quarterly dividend of $0.39. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.78%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 23rd. Equifax's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 32.30%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

EFX has been the topic of a number of 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 report on Friday, April 4th. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Equifax in a report on Thursday, April 10th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $280.00 price objective on the stock. Needham & Company LLC restated a "buy" rating and issued a $295.00 price target on shares of Equifax in a research report on Wednesday. Oppenheimer cut their target price on shares of Equifax from $286.00 to $279.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price target on Equifax from $340.00 to $300.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Equifax has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $292.00.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Equifax

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of EFX. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Equifax in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC grew its position in Equifax by 1,920.0% in 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 in the last quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new position in Equifax in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Colonial Trust Co SC raised its position in shares of Equifax by 505.0% in the fourth quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 121 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the period. Finally, Central Pacific Bank Trust Division purchased a new position in Equifax during the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Institutional investors own 96.20% of the company's stock.

Equifax Stock Up 0.1 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $236.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $254.14. The company has a market cap of $32.12 billion, a PE ratio of 53.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.65.

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.