Equifax(US:EFX)2025-10-21 13:30Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Equifax reported revenue of $1.54 billion for Q3 2025, representing a growth of over 7% in constant currency and reported dollars, exceeding the midpoint of July guidance by $25 million [5][39] - Adjusted EPS was $2.04 per share, which is $0.12 above the midpoint of July guidance, reflecting stronger revenue growth and solid operating leverage [8][39] - Adjusted EBITDA margins were 32.7%, up 20 basis points sequentially [8] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - USIS revenue grew by 11%, driven primarily by a strong 26% increase in mortgage revenue, while EWS mortgage revenue was up 2% against a market decline of 7% in hard inquiries [20][12] - EWS revenue grew by 5%, with government performance driving high single-digit growth [9][11] - B2B non-mortgage revenue increased by about 150 basis points sequentially, indicating a focus on customer growth post-cloud transformation [9][20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total U.S. mortgage revenue was up 13% in the quarter, with mortgage hard credit inquiries down about 7%, better than expectations [5][6] - International revenue increased by 7% in constant currency, with Canada showing strong growth of 11% [27][28] - The mortgage market is expected to improve over the long term as inflation stabilizes and rates decrease [6][39] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on leveraging its new Equifax Cloud™ and EFX.AI™ capabilities to drive cost savings and operational efficiency [3][30] - A new pricing structure for VantageScore 4.0 aims to deliver significant savings to customers while enhancing profitability for Equifax [23][49] - The company is positioned to capitalize on government program integrity opportunities following the OB3 legislation, with expectations for growth in EWS government business [16][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the long-term recovery of the mortgage market, projecting a return to levels seen between 2015 and 2019 as economic conditions improve [6][39] - The company anticipates ongoing discussions with federal and state agencies regarding new solutions to comply with stricter income verification requirements [16][60] - Management highlighted the importance of the new VantageScore pricing structure in driving customer conversions and enhancing profitability [23][46] Other Important Information - Equifax returned approximately $360 million to shareholders in Q3 2025 through share repurchases and dividends [10][48] - The company raised its full-year revenue guidance by $40 million and adjusted EPS by $0.12 per share based on strong Q3 performance [10][39] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you go into more detail on the mortgage pricing changes? - Management noted a significant increase in interest around VantageScore 4.0 due to FICO's price increase, with many customers actively engaging in discussions about conversion opportunities [53] Question: Can you elaborate on the margin guidance and the reduction in USIS margin guidance? - Management explained that the increase in variable compensation due to stronger performance impacted margins, alongside a higher mix of mortgage revenue affecting gross margins [54][56] Question: Do you expect states to start using your solutions ahead of time after the OB3 signing? - Management indicated a mix of both immediate engagement and longer-term revenue growth expected from new solutions, with a positive uptick in conversations at the state level [58][60] Question: What is driving the increase in general corporate expenses? - The increase is primarily due to higher variable compensation linked to stronger revenue and operating income performance [63][64] Question: Can you clarify the differences in mortgage growth between USIS and EWS? - Management explained that USIS benefited from a significant FICO price increase and an uptick in mortgage activity, while EWS's growth was constrained by a declining mortgage market [67][68]