Generate Investment Management Ltd Increases Stock Holdings in Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX)

Generate Investment Management Ltd boosted its stake in shares of Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) by 122.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 86,282 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 47,564 shares during the period. Equifax comprises about 1.5% of Generate Investment Management Ltd’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest position. Generate Investment Management Ltd owned approximately 0.07% of Equifax worth $21,989,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EFX. International Assets Investment Management LLC grew its position in shares of Equifax by 76,913.8% during the third quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 960,362 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $282,212,000 after purchasing an additional 959,115 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its position in Equifax by 37.4% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,233,744 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $950,268,000 after acquiring an additional 880,162 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in Equifax by 34.2% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 863,718 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $251,480,000 after purchasing an additional 220,109 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its stake in shares of Equifax by 5,123.0% during the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 115,114 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $33,827,000 after acquiring an additional 112,910 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Equifax by 13.1% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 767,136 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $225,431,000 after purchasing an additional 88,895 shares during the period. 96.20% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Lisa M. Nelson sold 551 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 transaction, 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.66% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently issued reports on EFX shares. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their price objective on Equifax from $340.00 to $300.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 15th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of Equifax from $320.00 to $316.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Equifax from $321.00 to $313.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday. Wolfe Research cut shares of Equifax from an “outperform” rating to a “peer perform” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, BNP Paribas upgraded Equifax from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $305.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 16th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Equifax presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $310.41.

Equifax Price Performance

Equifax stock opened at $247.04 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 54.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 1.58. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $261.38 and its 200 day moving average price is $274.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.88. Equifax Inc. has a 1 year low of $213.02 and a 1 year high of $309.63.

Equifax (NYSE:EFX) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The credit services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $2.12. Equifax had a net margin of 10.07% and a return on equity of 18.56%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Equifax Inc. will post 7.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Equifax Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a $0.39 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.63%. Equifax’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 34.67%.

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.