Equifax(US:EFX)2025-10-21 13:32Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Equifax reported revenue of $1.54 billion for Q3 2025, representing a 7% increase in constant currency and reported dollars, exceeding guidance by $25 million [6][10] - Adjusted EPS was $2.04, $0.12 above the midpoint of guidance, driven by stronger revenue growth and solid operating leverage [8][10] - Adjusted EBITDA margins improved to 32.7%, up 20 basis points sequentially [8][10] - Free cash flow guidance was raised to $950 million to $975 million, up from $900 million, with cash conversion exceeding 100% [10][11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. mortgage revenue increased by 13% in Q3, driven by stronger market volumes and lower mortgage rates [6][10] - EWS (Equifax Workforce Solutions) revenue grew by 5%, primarily due to government performance, with non-mortgage verifier growth at about 7% [11][12] - USIS (U.S. Information Solutions) revenue grew by 11%, with mortgage revenue up 26% and non-mortgage revenue up 5% [21][22] - International revenue increased by 7% in constant currency, with Canada up 11% and Latin America up 9% [29][30] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Mortgage hard credit inquiries were down about 7%, better than expectations of a decline of over 12% [6][10] - U.S. mortgage revenue constituted 21% of total Equifax revenue in the quarter [7] - Government revenue in EWS grew in the high single digits, exceeding expectations [12][13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Equifax is focusing on leveraging its new cloud capabilities and EFX.AI to drive innovation and new product development [31][51] - The company is expanding its VantageScore 4.0 mortgage credit score offerings to provide competitive pricing and drive conversions from FICO [24][28] - There is a strong emphasis on addressing improper payments and compliance with new government regulations through innovative solutions [16][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about long-term mortgage activity recovery as inflation stabilizes and rates decrease [7][10] - The company anticipates significant growth opportunities in the government sector due to new OB3 legislation [16][21] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining strong cash flow and returning value to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends [10][51] Other Important Information - Equifax incurred a restructuring charge of about $44 million in Q3, expected to yield annual savings of about $30 million starting in late 2026 [4][10] - The vitality index reached a record 16%, leading to an increase in full-year guidance for new product introductions [30][31] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you go into more detail on the mortgage pricing changes? - Management noted a groundswell of interest in VantageScore due to FICO's price increase, with active conversations and customer engagement around the transition [54][55] Question: Can you elaborate on the margin guidance and USIS margin reduction? - Management explained that variable compensation increases due to better-than-expected performance are impacting margins, alongside a higher mix of mortgage revenue [56][57] Question: Do you expect government discussions to ramp up after the fiscal year end? - Management indicated a mix of both immediate engagement and longer-term ramp-up, with states focusing on integrity to address error rates [60][63] Question: What is driving the increase in general corporate expenses? - The increase is primarily due to higher variable compensation linked to stronger performance and revenue [65][67] Question: Can you clarify the differences in mortgage growth between USIS and EWS? - Management explained that USIS benefits from earlier mortgage activity due to its position in the pre-qualification stage, while EWS reflects a more delayed response [69][70]