BNP Paribas Downgrades Equifax (NYSE:EFX) to Neutral

Equifax (NYSE:EFX) was downgraded by equities researchers at BNP Paribas from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating in a note issued to investors on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports. They presently have a $265.00 price objective on the credit services provider’s stock. BNP Paribas’ price target would suggest a potential upside of 11.75% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other research firms have also recently commented on EFX. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on Equifax from $284.00 to $281.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Equifax from $321.00 to $313.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Equifax from $320.00 to $316.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Equifax from $304.00 to $283.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on Equifax from $335.00 to $310.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $298.47.

Equifax Price Performance

NYSE:EFX opened at $237.14 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $254.17 and its two-hundred day moving average is $268.68. The firm has a market cap of $29.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.10, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.75. Equifax has a one year low of $213.02 and a one year high of $309.63.

Equifax (NYSE:EFX) 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%. Research analysts expect that Equifax will post 7.58 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Equifax in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC raised its position in Equifax by 1,920.0% in the fourth quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 101 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the period. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new position in Equifax during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of Equifax during the third quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Colonial Trust Co SC grew its stake 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 buying an additional 101 shares in the last quarter. 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.