Core Insights - Fair Isaac (FICO) announced a new program that allows it to provide credit scores directly to mortgage lenders, bypassing traditional credit bureaus, which could significantly alter the mortgage industry landscape [2][3][4] Group 1: Fair Isaac's New Program - Fair Isaac's FICO Direct Mortgage License Program enables tri-merge resellers to access and distribute FICO scores directly to customers, reducing reliance on major credit bureaus [3] - The program is expected to save lenders up to 50% on per score FICO fees, marking a significant shift in how credit scores are delivered and priced in the mortgage sector [3][4] Group 2: Market Reactions - Following the announcement, shares of Equifax (EFX) and TransUnion (TRU) fell by 9% and 12% respectively, reflecting concerns over the potential loss of revenue from mortgage scoring [2][4] - In contrast, Fair Isaac's shares surged by approximately 20%, indicating strong market confidence in the new strategy [2][5] Group 3: Industry Implications - The move by Fair Isaac threatens a critical revenue stream for the major credit bureaus, as lenders may opt to bypass them entirely for credit scoring [4] - The third major credit score provider, Experian, also experienced a decline in share value in London, although it does not trade in the U.S. [4]

Fair Isaac is unveiling a major shift in how FICO scores are delivered to the mortgage industry, giving lenders the option to calculate and distribute FICO scores directly to customers. Shares of credit-reporting firms in the US fell on the news. Nathan Dean of Bloomberg Intelligence has more. ...

Chip Industry - Intel is in early stage discussions to add AMD as a foundry customer, which has led to a rise in Intel's shares [1][2] - Intel is seeking Anchor customers for its NextG processing chips, with recent wins including a $5 billion investment from Nvidia [2] - AMD currently relies on Taiwan Semiconductor for its advanced chips, and moving production to Intel would represent a significant shift [3] - Bernstein analysts express skepticism about the partnership due to AMD and Intel being rivals, although partnerships among rivals are becoming more common in the chip space [4] Credit Scoring Industry - FICO shares surged over 14% after the company announced it will directly license its credit scores to mortgage lenders, bypassing traditional credit bureaus [5][6] - This new model will cut the price of a credit score by 50%, impacting the margins of credit bureaus like Equifax and TransUnion, which saw their shares drop by more than 7% and 8% respectively [6][9] - The new direct-to-reseller model aims to provide greater price transparency, with resellers paying just under $5 per score and a funded loan fee of $33 per borrower [8] Berkshire Hathaway - Berkshire Hathaway has officially reached a deal to acquire Occidental Petroleum's chemical unit for $9.7 billion, marking its largest deal since 2022 [10][11] - The acquisition will allow Berkshire to utilize a portion of its cash reserves, which have been a point of interest among analysts [11] - Occidental Petroleum plans to use a significant portion of the proceeds to pay down its debt, which has been a challenge for the company [12]

Core Insights - The FICO report indicates a significant rise in delinquency rates across various loan types, particularly affecting Gen Z, with student loan delinquency reaching a record high of 3.1% and Gen Z holding 34% of open student loans [1][5]. - The average American credit score has dropped by 2 points to 715, marking the largest decline in over 15 years, with Gen Z experiencing the most substantial credit score drop [6][7]. Delinquency Rates - Personal loan delinquency has increased to 6.1%, surpassing 2019 levels of 5.6% and nearing the Great Recession peak of 7% [2]. - Bankcard delinquency rates have reached 11.7%, just 2% shy of the peak during the Great Recession [3]. - Car loan delinquency has stabilized year over year but is still up 24% since 2021 [2]. Economic Context - The report suggests that the current delinquency rates are more indicative of a recessionary economy rather than one in expansion, attributed to rising debt levels, missed payments, economic uncertainty, and higher consumer prices [4]. - The average credit score drop is linked to these economic factors, with a noted 2-point decrease in the average credit score since April 2009 [6]. Gen Z Specifics - Gen Z has seen an average credit score drop of 3 points, the largest among generational cohorts, primarily due to student loan delinquency [5]. - Despite challenges, Gen Z shows potential for credit score improvement through responsible credit behaviors, with 9.8% experiencing a credit score increase of over 50 points since 2024 [8][11]. Credit Score Distribution - A five-year high of 24.8% of American consumers are now in the top credit score range of 800 to 850, highlighting a disparity in financial health among different economic groups [10]. - The FICO report emphasizes that 90% of American consumers have made efforts to improve their financial health in the past year [12].

- Identity fraud fuels sharp rise in credit card cases -- Equifax Canada Market Pulse Fraud Trends and Insights Report - TORONTO, Oct. 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Equifax Canada’s Market Pulse Fraud Trends and Insights Report for the first half of 2025 reveals a sharp rise in credit card fraud, even as overall application fraud rates across Canada have fallen to their lowest point since Q3 2022. Nationally, application fraud rates dropped to 0.56 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, down from 0.70 per c ...

Group 1 - Equifax (NYSE: EFX) is positioned to benefit from regulatory changes affecting Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO), which has seen a 15% downward revision in its fair value compared to its actual price [1] - The focus is on long-term investment strategies in U.S. and European equities, emphasizing undervalued growth stocks and high-quality dividend growers [1] - Sustained profitability, characterized by strong margins, stable and expanding free cash flow, and high returns on invested capital, is highlighted as a more reliable driver of returns than valuation alone [1] Group 2 - The analyst has a beneficial long position in FICO shares through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives [2] - The article expresses the analyst's personal opinions and does not involve compensation from any company mentioned [2]

Core Insights - A significant number of federal student loan borrowers are facing potential involuntary collections, such as wage garnishment and withholding of tax refunds, due to high delinquency rates [1][5][7] - Borrowers are prioritizing mortgage and auto loan payments over student loans, but in the face of involuntary collections, they are more likely to prioritize student loan payments over credit cards and personal loans [2][3] Delinquency Trends - Serious delinquency rates for federal student loan borrowers have shown a concerning trend, with a notable increase in delinquencies across various credit products from December 2024 to June 2025 [3][4] - The serious delinquency rates for different credit products as of June 2025 are as follows: Mortgage at 5.59%, Auto at 6.30%, Personal Loans at 9.50%, and Credit Cards at 5.96% [4] Borrower Behavior - Nearly half of the federal student loan borrowers who are missing payments cite affordability concerns, while one-third are prioritizing other bills over student loan repayments [5] - As of July 2025, 29.0% of federal student loan borrowers in repayment, equating to 5.4 million individuals, were reported to be 90 or more days past due, indicating a persistent issue with delinquency [6] Future Implications - The ongoing high levels of serious delinquency among federal student loan borrowers may lead to a shift in payment hierarchy, where student loans could take precedence over other debts once involuntary collections begin [7] - Lenders are encouraged to utilize tools like TruVision Premium Student Loan Attributes to better understand the risks associated with federal student loan borrowers in their portfolios [8]

Core Insights - Betting activity among consumers increased to 30% in Q2 2025, up from 25% in Q2 2024, with significant growth among Gen Z and Millennials [1] - The report highlights that land-based casinos remain the top betting venues, closely followed by online sports betting, with Millennials increasing activity across all channels while Gen Z focused on online sports betting [3] Demographic Trends - The report identifies that the most active betting segments are urban-area Millennials and Gen Z consumers, predominantly renters without children, although Millennial households are more likely to have children and own homes [5] - A notable characteristic of these segments is a higher usage of cryptocurrency apps, indicating potential participation in online trading and gambling funded by cryptocurrency [6] Financial Behavior - Millennials and Gen Z consumers have seen their total monthly debt payments rise by 20% and 27% respectively, which is significantly higher than the inflation rate of 6% and wage growth of 8% [7] - Increased discretionary income is the most predictive factor for consumer engagement in betting, but factors like student loan repayments and inflationary pressures may hinder this engagement [8] Industry Recommendations - Operators are advised to prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term profits, with responsible gaming practices being essential to protect consumers and build trust with regulators [9] - The report emphasizes the need for operators to be sensitive to the financial situations of bettors, particularly as Gen Z is projected to become the dominant consumer segment in terms of spending [10]

Core Insights - TransUnion will release its financial results for Q3 2025 on October 23, 2025, at 6:00 a.m. Central Time [1] - A conference call to discuss these results will take place on the same day at 8:30 a.m. Central Time [1] Company Overview - TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries [2] - The company focuses on creating trust in the marketplace by providing a reliable representation of individuals through actionable consumer insights [2] - TransUnion has expanded its services beyond core credit into marketing, fraud, risk, and advanced analytics through acquisitions and technology investments [2] - The company's mission, termed Information for Good®, aims to foster economic opportunity and personal empowerment for millions globally [2]

New analysis shows how missing real-world attributes—like voter registration, vehicle ownership, and familial ties—can help lenders detect synthetic identities and reduce fraud exposureCHICAGO, Sept. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With synthetic identities now linked to a record number of newly opened accounts, U.S. lenders faced more than $3.3 billion in exposure for the year ending 2024. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for financial institutions such as auto lenders, mortgage lenders and cre ...