Stifel Nicolaus Has Lowered Expectations for Equifax (NYSE:EFX) Stock Price

Equifax (NYSE:EFX - Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by stock analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from $284.00 to $281.00 in a report issued on Friday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "buy" rating on the credit services provider's stock. Stifel Nicolaus' price objective would indicate a potential upside of 11.64% from the stock's previous close.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Wolfe Research downgraded shares of Equifax from an "outperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Equifax from $320.00 to $316.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Equifax from $304.00 to $283.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. UBS Group decreased their price target on Equifax from $335.00 to $310.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Equifax from $321.00 to $313.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Equifax presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $301.69.

Equifax Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of EFX traded down $1.20 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $251.70. 426,391 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,020,938. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $31.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 52.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 1.58. The firm's fifty day moving average is $261.02 and its 200-day moving average is $274.82. Equifax has a 1 year low of $213.02 and a 1 year high of $309.63.

Equifax (NYSE:EFX - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The credit services provider reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $2.12. Equifax had a return on equity of 19.13% and a net margin of 10.63%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Equifax will post 7.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Lisa M. Nelson sold 551 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, November 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $260.39, for a total transaction of $143,474.89. Following 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 transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 1.57% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Equifax

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Equifax during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Equifax during the third quarter valued at $29,000. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division purchased a new stake in Equifax in the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Spire Wealth Management lifted its stake in shares of Equifax by 98.7% during the 4th quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 151 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the period. Finally, Generali Asset Management SPA SGR purchased a new position in shares of Equifax during the 4th quarter worth $39,000. 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.