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Meet This Exceptional Growth Stock in the S&P 500 That's Valued 60% Higher Than Nvidia
FICOFICO(FICO) The Motley Fool·2024-10-24 08:45

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the investment potential in Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO), emphasizing its strong financial performance and growth prospects despite its high price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio compared to other tech stocks like Nvidia [1][5][6]. Company Overview - Fair Isaac developed the FICO score, a key credit scoring product used by nearly all U.S. lenders, with scores above 670 considered good and above 800 exceptional [2]. - The company generated nearly 594millioninoperatingincomeoverthelastninemonths,achievinganimpressive89594 million in operating income over the last nine months, achieving an impressive 89% operating margin [3]. Financial Performance - Fair Isaac's software-as-a-service (SaaS) business, which leverages data and AI, has clients in over 100 countries and reported a 32% operating margin [4]. - Analysts predict that Fair Isaac may increase its mortgage credit score fees from 3.50 to 5in2025,potentiallyraisingrevenueby5 in 2025, potentially raising revenue by 200 million, or 11% [3]. Growth Strategy - The company aims to enhance client engagement by consolidating its software solutions onto a single platform, which is expected to improve sales efficiency and operating margins [5]. - Fair Isaac has delivered remarkable returns, with a 78% increase this year and 568% over the last five years, leading to heightened investor interest [5]. Valuation Considerations - Despite a high P/E ratio of 106, Fair Isaac's combination of a legacy business and a growing SaaS and AI segment positions it well for future growth [6]. - The potential for increased revenue from higher fees for FICO scores could positively impact the company's bottom line and reduce the elevated P/E ratio over time [6]. Investment Outlook - There is a favorable view on initiating a position in Fair Isaac, as it is considered one of the best-performing companies in the S&P 500 from an operational standpoint [7].