Equifax Inc. (EFX) Stock

Equifax Inc. trades at a P/E ratio of 49.73, which is above the market average of approximately 20. This premium valuation suggests investors expect above-average growth or the company has competitive advantages justifying the higher multiple. Looking ahead, the forward P/E of 27.93 is lower than the current P/E, indicating analysts expect earnings to grow over the next year. The PEG ratio of 1.14 indicates reasonable value when growth is considered.

With a beta of 1.68, Equifax Inc. is significantly more volatile than the market. For every 10% market move, this stock tends to move 17% in the same direction. Higher beta stocks offer greater potential returns but with increased risk. The price-to-book ratio of 6.14 shows investors value the company above its book value, which often reflects intangible assets or growth prospects.

Equifax Inc. achieves a profit margin of 11.00%, meaning it retains $11.00 from every $100 in revenue after all expenses. This represents a solid margin typical of well-run businesses, showing the company can effectively balance revenue generation with cost control. The operating margin of 20.20% reveals how efficiently the company runs its core business operations before interest and taxes. With ROE at 12.80% and ROA at 5.80%, the company achieves moderate returns on invested capital.

Equifax Inc.'s revenue grew by 7.40% year-over-year, showing steady progress in growing the business. This positive trajectory indicates the company maintains competitive positioning in its markets. Earnings increased by 16.80% year-over-year, outpacing revenue growth through improved margins. These growth metrics should be evaluated against CONSULTING SERVICES industry averages for proper context.

Equifax Inc. offers a dividend yield of 0.66%, paying $1.67 per share annually. This modest yield below 2% suggests the company prioritizes growth investments over current income. While the dividend provides some return, investors are likely attracted more by capital appreciation potential than income generation. To receive the next dividend, shares must be purchased before the ex-dividend date of Sep 2, 2025.

The dividend sustainability can be assessed through the payout ratio - Equifax Inc. pays $1.67 per share in dividends against earnings of $5.14 per share, resulting in a payout ratio of 32.49%. This balanced payout between 30-60% suggests a sustainable dividend policy that allows both shareholder returns and business reinvestment. The dividend appears well-covered by earnings. The next dividend payment is scheduled for Sep 15, 2025.

Equifax Inc. has a market capitalization of $31.5B, classifying it as a large-cap stock ($10B-$200B). Large-caps are typically industry leaders with established business models, offering a balance of stability and growth potential. They often provide dividend income and are core holdings in institutional portfolios. With 123.20M shares outstanding, the company's ownership is relatively concentrated. As a participant in the CONSULTING SERVICES industry, it competes with other firms in this sector.

Equifax Inc.'s book value per share is $41.22, while the current stock price is $214.24, resulting in a price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 5.20. This high P/B ratio indicates significant intangible assets, strong brand value, or high growth expectations. Technology and consumer brand companies often trade at elevated P/B ratios due to intellectual property and competitive advantages not reflected on the balance sheet. As a common stock, this represents equity ownership with voting rights.

23 analysts cover EFX with 65% recommending buy/strong buy ratings. Analyst predictions have mixed reliability - studies show consensus rarely beats market returns consistently. The mixed views reflect uncertainty about the outlook. The consensus target of $281.00 implies 31.2% upside, but targets are often adjusted to follow price moves rather than predict them.

Current analyst recommendations:5 Strong Buy, 10 Buy, 8 Hold, 00The bullish tilt suggests optimism about future prospects, though investors should conduct independent research.Remember that analyst opinions often lag price movements and can be influenced by investment banking relationships.