Since the first time I shared my view about the effects of the combination of higher interest rates, a housing shortage, and inflationary pressures around two years ago, the situation hasn't gotten any better.Triba Research's mission is to uncover high-quality businesses with the potential to deliver sustainable, double-digit returns over the long term. The investment strategy focuses on identifying companies with strong competitive advantages, operating in growing markets, maintaining low debt levels, and ...

Survey finds younger Canadians are thinking about switching from their current lenders for additional credit support, while mortgage-holders eye refinancing optionsTORONTO, Sept. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadians are re-evaluating their financial relationships, according to new research from Equifax Canada. A new consumer survey* commissioned by Equifax Canada shows many people in Canada are considering switching from their current banks and lenders in search of additional support for their credit and ...

Anand Chokkavelu, CFA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Lou Whiteman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Tyler Crowe has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Equifax. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. ...

Core Insights - Equifax is launching Identity Proofing within its Kount 360 platform to enhance identity verification for businesses in regulated industries, aiming to reduce fraud and comply with know-your-customer requirements [1][2] Group 1: Product Features - Identity Proofing integrates verification checks throughout the customer journey, ensuring the authenticity of customer-provided information and its absence from sanctions or global watchlists [1][2] - The solution includes customizable workflows that utilize digital signals from emails and devices, enabling screening against sanction watchlists and detection of synthetic identities [2][4] - Integrated document verification and facial recognition biometric checks are part of the offering, developed in partnership with Incode, enhancing security against fraud schemes [2][4] Group 2: Benefits - Businesses can achieve better fraud prevention outcomes and improve customer interactions through streamlined onboarding processes and comprehensive views of identity risk [3][4] - The solution allows for a user-friendly experience by consolidating multiple solutions from a single provider, thus eliminating the need for managing various point solutions [7] - Step-up authentication is included to create a seamless customer experience by automatically sending protocols after verification, ensuring rightful ownership of the identity [7]

Data Breach - Credit reporting industry faces unauthorized access to a third-party application [1] - Personal information of customers was stored on the compromised application [1]

A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Equifax (EFX) . Shares have added about 1% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Equifax due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its latest earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.Equifax Beats on Q2 EarningsEquifax has reported impressive second-qua ...

Core Insights - Consumer credit performance shows early signs of stabilization in Q2 2025, particularly among mortgage holders, while younger Canadians without mortgages continue to face financial pressures [1][2] - Total consumer debt reached $2.58 trillion, a 3.1% year-over-year increase, with average non-mortgage debt per consumer at $22,147 [3][20] - The delinquency rate for non-mortgage holders is nearly double that of mortgage holders, indicating a growing financial divide [2][10] Consumer Debt and Delinquency Trends - Approximately 1.4 million Canadians missed a credit payment in Q2 2025, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous quarter but an increase of 118,000 from a year ago [1] - The average non-mortgage debt for consumers under 36 years old rose to $14,304, with a delinquency rate of 2.35%, reflecting a 19.7% year-over-year increase [10][20] - Delinquency rates in Ontario and Alberta are notably high, with Ontario's non-mortgage delinquency rate at 1.75% and Alberta's at 1.98% [5][6] Regional Analysis - Ontario has the highest delinquency levels for non-mortgage products, with significant increases in urban areas like Toronto and Hamilton [5] - Alberta's delinquency rates have also risen, influenced by economic challenges and a recent population surge [6] - Mortgage delinquency rates in Ontario and British Columbia remain elevated, with Ontario at 0.27% and British Columbia at 0.19% [7] Credit Demand and Spending Behavior - New credit trades decreased by 4.5% year-over-year, with only super-prime consumers seeing growth, indicating tighter lending criteria [12] - Average credit card spending per consumer was over $2,100 in June, a 0.4% decrease from June 2024, suggesting declining consumer spending on credit cards [3] - Auto loan originations increased by 2.9% year-over-year, primarily among low-risk consumers, with average loan amounts climbing to $35,586 [15][16] First-Time Homebuyer Activity - First-time homebuyer activity increased by 1.8% year-over-year, but major markets like Ontario and British Columbia saw lower numbers compared to 2024 [14] - The average loan amount for first-time homebuyers rose by 4% from Q2 2024, now close to $430K, intensifying affordability pressures [14]

Core Insights - Enerflex reported a record adjusted EBITDA of $130 million for Q2/25, an increase from $122 million in Q2/24 and $113 million in Q1/25, driven by higher gross margins and operational efficiencies [4][11][25] - The company generated revenue of $615 million in Q2/25, slightly up from $614 million in Q2/24 and significantly higher than $552 million in Q1/25 [4][11] - Net earnings rose to $60 million or $0.49 per share in Q2/25, compared to $5 million or $0.04 per share in Q2/24 and $24 million or $0.19 per share in Q1/25 [4][11] Financial Performance - Gross margin before depreciation and amortization was $175 million, representing 29% of revenue, compared to $173 million (28%) in Q2/24 and $161 million (29%) in Q1/25 [4][11] - Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) decreased to $61 million, down from $75 million in Q2/24, due to cost-saving initiatives [4][11] - Free cash flow was a use of cash of $39 million in Q2/25, compared to a use of cash of $4 million in Q2/24 and a source of cash of $85 million in Q1/25 [4][11][29] Backlog and Market Position - The Engineered Systems (ES) backlog remained steady at $1.2 billion, providing strong visibility into future revenue [10][15] - The Energy Infrastructure (EI) contract backlog was robust at $1.5 billion, expected to generate approximately $1.5 billion of revenue over their remaining terms [2][15] - Bookings for ES were $365 million in Q2/25, up from $331 million in Q2/24, indicating a healthy demand environment [10][15] Capital Expenditures and Shareholder Returns - Capital expenditures for 2025 are targeted at approximately $120 million, with about $60 million allocated for growth opportunities [2][5][18] - The company returned $18 million to shareholders in Q2/25 through dividends and share repurchases, with a quarterly dividend declared at C$0.0375 per share [19][21][20] Management Commentary and Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to generate stable returns, supported by strong fundamentals in energy security and natural gas demand [9][14] - The company aims to enhance profitability, leverage its market position, and maximize free cash flow to strengthen its financial position [14][15]

Core Insights - The second quarter of 2025 shows a steady delinquency rate of 1.5% on total U.S. consumer debt, with total consumer debt reaching $17.86 trillion, marking a 2% increase year-over-year [1][2][9] - A K-shaped recovery is evident, with subprime borrowers experiencing increased financial strain, as their share of bankcard debt has risen to 22.1%, a 3.5% increase from May 2024 and a 50.9% increase from May 2021 [3][4] Consumer Debt Trends - Total U.S. consumer debt reached $17.86 trillion in June 2025, up from $17.80 trillion in May and $17.73 trillion in April, reflecting a month-over-month increase of 0.3% [1][9] - The total bankcard debt for subprime borrowers has surged by 135% to $233.1 billion in May 2025 compared to $99.4 billion in May 2021, while total bankcard debt for all consumers grew by only 54% [3] Student Loan Insights - Outstanding student loan debt decreased to $1.33 trillion in June 2025, an 11% year-over-year decline, with the number of active accounts falling by 15.6% to 146.7 million [5] - Severe delinquency rates for student loans have shown volatility, peaking at 18.73% in May before slightly decreasing to 17.95% in June [5] Bankcard and Auto Credit Trends - Bankcard balances increased to $1.07 trillion in June 2025, with a year-over-year growth of 4.2%, while delinquency rates fell to 2.79%, down from a peak of 3.22% in November 2024 [6][8] - Auto loan and lease debt grew to $1.68 trillion, with leases increasing by 13.6% while auto loan balances rose only 1.1%, indicating a shift in consumer preference towards leasing [7][8]

Core Insights - Equifax and Qlarifi are collaborating on a study to analyze the impact of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) reporting on credit risk assessments and fraud prevention [1][2] - The study will utilize real-time BNPL data from multiple providers, marking the first of its kind in the U.S. [2][4] Group 1: BNPL Usage Trends - Over 50% of U.S. consumers currently use BNPL for payments, with 35% planning to increase their usage in 2025 [2] - The growing adoption of BNPL necessitates a deeper understanding of its predictive capabilities for lenders [5] Group 2: Study Objectives and Benefits - The joint study aims to minimize loan stacking risks, quantify the predictive power of BNPL data, and enhance consumer benefits [4] - It will explore how BNPL data can improve consumer protection by providing early visibility into financial stress and preventing overextension [5] Group 3: Company Profiles - Equifax is a global data, analytics, and technology company with nearly 15,000 employees, operating in 24 countries [7] - Qlarifi specializes in real-time BNPL consumer credit data, offering insights that help lenders make informed underwriting decisions [8]