%3.8 %December 2025$1,123.93.1 %4.1 %Student Loans BalancesMonthStudent Loan Debt ($B)MoM Change %YoY Change (%)October 2025$1,3490.6 %-0.2 %November 2025$1,344-0.4 %-0.3 %December 2025$1,330-0.3 %-1.4 %Equifax has been tracking U.S. National Consumer Credit Trends for more than 20 years. Monthly reports can be found on [Equifax.com]. These reports track originations, balances and delinquencies on U.S. consumer mortgages, auto loans and leases, student loans, bankcards and private label credit cards, and pe ...

Core Insights - Financial stress in Canada increased in Q4 2025, but at a slower rate compared to previous years, with older consumers showing resilience while younger consumers and those in Ontario and Western provinces exhibited financial weakening [1] Consumer Debt Trends - Total consumer debt reached $2.65 trillion in Q4 2025, marking a 3.13% year-over-year increase, driven by a $50.26 billion rise in mortgage balances and a 4.50% increase in non-mortgage debt [2] - Delinquency rates for non-mortgage debt rose, with 90+ day delinquency increasing from 1.64% to 1.73%, a year-over-year increase of 5.43% [2] Age Group Analysis - Consumers aged 26 to 35 experienced the highest credit stress, with a delinquency rate of 2.55% and an 8.39% year-over-year decline in credit health [3] Regional Divergence - A "two Canadas" scenario emerged, with Ontario experiencing the fastest growth in non-mortgage delinquency at 10.31% compared to Q4 2024, while regions with better housing affordability like Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia saw decreases in delinquency rates [4] Credit Card Spending - Credit card spending during the 2025 holiday season decreased by 0.7% year-over-year to $2,297, with younger consumers (aged 26-35) reducing their holiday spending by 2.0% [5] - Despite reduced spending, credit card balances reached a historic $131 billion, an increase of 4.04% [5] Borrowing Power and Credit Access - Lenders tightened access to credit for riskier borrowers, with non-mortgage debt for subprime consumers remaining stagnant, while super prime consumers saw a 6.1% increase in average non-mortgage debt to $20,818 [6] Mortgage Market Dynamics - Total mortgage debt reached $1.95 trillion in Q4 2025, a 2.6% year-over-year increase, with mortgage renewals dominating the market [7] - Average new loan amounts increased by 4.1% to $363,778, with first-time homebuyers facing an average new loan size of $441,301, up 5% [8] Interest Rate Impact - The Bank of Canada's 2.25% policy rate provided some relief, but housing affordability remained strained, particularly in high-priced regions like Ontario and British Columbia [8] - Rising missed payments on higher-value mortgages in Ontario indicated that post-renewal payment levels were too high for some consumers [9]

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ____________________________________ FORM 10-K ☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 OR ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to Commission File Number 001-06605 ____________________________________ EQUIFAX INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its chart ...

Equifax Delivers Optimal Pathâ"¢ Directly to U.S. Consumers via the myEquifax Mobile App [Accessibility Statement] Skip NavigationLeveraging the Advanced Equifax Cloud-native Platform and Patented EFX.AI Capabilities, Optimal Path Gives Consumers More Control Over Their Financial Journeys at No Additional CostATLANTA, Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- [Equifax]® (NYSE: EFX) is leveraging its advanced cloud- native platform and patented EFX.AI capabilities to deliver [Optimal Path]â"¢, the company's interactive ...

Core Insights - Gen Digital Inc. (NASDAQ:GEN) reported Q3 FY2026 earnings with revenue of $1.24 billion, reflecting a 26% year-over-year growth, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.23 billion [1] - The company achieved record quarterly bookings of $1.32 billion, a 27% year-over-year increase, driven by strong adoption of AI-powered security and financial wellness solutions [2] - Management raised FY2026 revenue guidance to $4.955 billion to $4.975 billion, up from the previous range of $4.92 billion to $4.97 billion, indicating continued business momentum [3] Financial Performance - Non-GAAP diluted EPS increased by 14% year-over-year to $0.64, exceeding consensus estimates by approximately $0.01 [1] - FY2026 non-GAAP EPS guidance was raised to a range of $2.54 to $2.56, compared to the previous range of $2.51 to $2.56 [3] - For Q4, management anticipates revenue between $1.24 billion and $1.26 billion, with non-GAAP EPS expected to be between $0.64 and $0.66 [3] Strategic Partnerships - Gen Digital expanded its partnership with Equifax to integrate data assets and technology platforms, enhancing consumer financial management and security [4] - Under the new terms, Gen Digital will incorporate Equifax's financial health and fraud data into its AI-powered offerings, while Equifax will utilize Gen Digital's platform for personalized financial product recommendations [5] Company Overview - Gen Digital Inc. specializes in cybersecurity software and services for consumers and small businesses, offering products such as antivirus protection, identity theft prevention, and VPN solutions [6]

Core Insights - Equifax's growth is driven by sustained revenue momentum from diverse offerings and innovations in AI and analytics [1][11] - The company is expected to see significant earnings growth in the coming years, with a projected increase of 14.4% in Q1 2026 and 20% in 2027 [2][11] Revenue and Earnings Growth - Earnings are expected to rise by 13.5% in 2026 and 20% in 2027, while revenues are projected to grow by 10.7% in 2026 and 8.5% in 2027 [2][11] Business Model and Data Assets - Equifax generates revenue through proprietary datasets, including consumer credit files and alternative credit assets [4] - The company serves a wide range of industries, which helps mitigate sector-specific vulnerabilities and supports sustained revenue growth [5] AI Innovations - Equifax is enhancing its services with advanced AI-driven solutions, including the Agentic AI platform and Ignite AI Advisor for improved customer insights [6][7][11] Market Position and Liquidity - Despite strong growth prospects, Equifax has a current ratio of 0.61, indicating potential challenges in meeting short-term obligations [8]

Core Insights - The recent volatility in tech stocks is attributed to significant capital expenditure announcements from major companies like Alphabet and Amazon, leading to a market reevaluation of investment returns in the AI sector [4][5][6] - The transition from "Stage 1" to "Stage 2" of the AI boom indicates a shift in focus from large tech companies to smaller firms that provide essential infrastructure for AI development [8][10][20] Group 1: Market Reactions and Trends - The S&P 500 software and services sector lost approximately $1 trillion in market value, with major players like Microsoft and Salesforce experiencing sharp declines [2][6] - Following initial losses, tech stocks rebounded significantly, cutting the week's losses in half, indicating ongoing market recovery [2] - Investors are increasingly questioning the return on investment for the substantial capital expenditures planned by major tech firms, leading to a sell-off [6][7] Group 2: Capital Expenditure Insights - Alphabet announced a capital expenditure of $13.9 billion for Q4, with projections for 2026 spending to rise to between $175 billion and $185 billion, nearly doubling previous estimates [4] - Amazon's capital expenditure for 2026 is projected to reach $200 billion, exceeding expectations by about $50 billion, contributing to a total of approximately $710 billion in projected spending from the top five hyperscalers [5] - This spending translates to nearly $2 billion per day being invested in data centers, chips, and networking infrastructure [5] Group 3: Investment Opportunities - The capital flowing into AI infrastructure presents opportunities for smaller companies that manufacture the necessary components and systems, marking the beginning of "Stage 2" in the AI boom [8][10] - Companies involved in providing power systems, networking infrastructure, and memory technologies are positioned to benefit from this infrastructure spending [16] - Specific companies identified as potential winners include Arista Networks, Eaton, and Broadcom, which are well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for AI infrastructure [16][18] Group 4: Challenges for Legacy Companies - The rapid advancement of AI tools raises concerns about the viability of legacy software and data services companies, which may struggle to compete with AI-driven alternatives [11][12] - Companies categorized under "KIDS" (Knowledge work, Information collection, Data analysis, Software) face significant risks as AI could render their business models obsolete or less profitable [12][13][14] - The decline in stock prices for KIDS companies, such as FactSet and Morningstar, reflects a broader market reevaluation of these business models in light of AI advancements [14]

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is identified as the greatest investment opportunity of the current era, with a strong emphasis on the urgency to invest now [1][13] - The energy demands of AI technologies are significant, with data centers consuming as much energy as small cities, leading to concerns about power grid capacity and rising electricity prices [2][3] Investment Opportunity - A specific company is highlighted as a critical player in the AI energy sector, owning essential energy infrastructure assets that are poised to benefit from the increasing energy demands of AI [3][7] - This company is not a chipmaker or cloud platform but is positioned as a "toll booth" operator in the AI energy boom, collecting fees from energy exports and benefiting from the onshoring trend driven by tariffs [5][6] Financial Position - The company is noted for being debt-free and holding a significant cash reserve, amounting to nearly one-third of its market capitalization, which provides a strong financial foundation [8] - It also has a substantial equity stake in another AI-related company, offering investors indirect exposure to multiple growth opportunities without the associated premium costs [9][10] Market Trends - The article discusses the broader trends of AI, energy, tariffs, and onshoring, indicating that this company is well-positioned to capitalize on these interconnected developments [6][14] - The influx of talent into the AI sector is expected to drive continuous innovation and advancements, reinforcing the importance of investing in AI-related companies [12] Future Outlook - The potential for significant returns is emphasized, with projections suggesting a possible 100% return within 12 to 24 months for investors who act quickly [15][19] - The company is described as undervalued, trading at less than seven times earnings, which presents a compelling investment opportunity in the context of the AI and energy sectors [10][11]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q3 bookings reached $1.3 billion, up 27% year-over-year, and revenue was $1.2 billion, up 26% year-over-year [20] - Non-GAAP EPS increased by 14% year-over-year, reaching $0.64 [26] - Operating income was $629 million, translating to a 51% operating margin [26] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cyber safety segment bookings grew 5% year-over-year, with revenue increasing by 3% [20] - MoneyLion experienced nearly 40% revenue growth in Q3, driven by strong demand for personal financial products [23] - The Engine Marketplace processed over 360 million inquiries annually, with significant growth in both first-party and third-party products [16][54] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The paid customer base grew to over 78 million, with an increase of 1 million sequentially [25] - Cyber safety direct customers increased by 500,000, reflecting ongoing expansion [25] - The partnership with Equifax is expected to enhance product adoption and provide deeper insights into consumer risk profiles [50] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to build a trusted AI-powered platform focused on cyber safety and financial wellness [4] - The introduction of the Agent Trust Hub and Norton Neo browser highlights the company's commitment to securing AI interactions [10][12] - The strategy emphasizes the convergence of identity threats and financial risks, positioning the company as a leader in integrated solutions [11] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the threat landscape is evolving, with AI-driven scams becoming more prevalent [5][6] - The company is raising its revenue and EPS guidance for fiscal 2026, reflecting strong performance and momentum [30] - Management expressed confidence in the long-term growth potential driven by the integration of MoneyLion and ongoing investments in AI capabilities [31] Other Important Information - The company generated $541 million in operating cash flow and $535 million in free cash flow during Q3 [28] - A quarterly cash dividend of $0.125 per common share was approved, to be paid on March 11, 2026 [29] - The company is exploring refinancing options for its term loan maturing in September 2028 [28] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is Gen addressing the trust consumers need in AI? - Management acknowledged the growing need for trust in AI and highlighted the launch of the Agent Trust Hub to validate risks associated with AI agents [33][39] Question: What is the current status of the MoneyLion business transition? - Management confirmed that MoneyLion is progressing cautiously towards subscription models, with strong growth in personal financial offerings [40][42] Question: Can you elaborate on the Equifax partnership and its impact? - The partnership with Equifax is expected to enhance consumer risk visibility and drive incremental product adoption through Engine [48][50] Question: How is the company managing sales and marketing expenses? - Management indicated an increase in sales and marketing investments to capture higher returns, particularly in membership adoption [84][86] Question: What are the future plans for capital deployment? - The company plans to maintain a balanced approach to capital deployment, focusing on dividends, debt paydown, and opportunistic share buybacks [77][79]

Core Viewpoint - Equifax Inc. has demonstrated strong financial performance in the fourth quarter of 2025, with significant revenue growth and earnings surpassing estimates, despite facing margin pressures and a challenging industry environment [2][3][4]. Financial Performance - Equifax reported fourth-quarter revenues of $1.6 billion, exceeding consensus estimates by 1.3% and reflecting a 9.2% year-over-year increase [3]. - The company's earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter were $2.09, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.5% [2]. - Revenue growth was driven by Workforce Solutions and USIS segments, with respective year-over-year increases of 9% and 12% [3]. Market Position and Outlook - Morgan Stanley set a price target of $244 for Equifax, indicating a potential price increase of approximately 34.78% from its current price of $181.04 [2][6]. - Equifax's market capitalization is approximately $22.3 billion, with a trading volume of 4,826,833 shares on the NYSE [5]. Industry Context - Over the past year, Equifax shares have declined by 34.7%, which is less severe than the 41.6% drop experienced by the industry [4]. - The Zacks S&P 500 composite has seen an 18.5% increase, indicating a challenging environment for the credit reporting industry [4].