Equifax (EFX)

[winston]

not vested

IT'S A BULL MARKET IN IDENTITY PROTECTION

If you've used a credit card lately, there's a chance someone has stolen your identity.

Over the past couple of years, hackers have gained access to more than 100 million credit-card numbers from retail giants like Target and Home Depot.

They've also stolen 80 million records – including Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, and more – from health insurance companies.

While that's an annoyance for the average American, it's a boon to Equifax (EFX). One of the country's three largest credit-reporting agencies, Equifax is worth more than $12 billion.

It's best-known for running credit checks on individuals and selling that information to companies considering whether to approve people for credit cards, car loans, and mortgages. But it also offers credit-monitoring services to keep a close eye on your credit score.

As you can see from the following chart, Equifax is in a steady long-term uptrend. Shares are up more than 210% over the last four years alone. It's a bull market for this credit agency...

Source: Daily Wealth

[winston]

not vested

Equifax Is Your Stability In a Sea Of Volatility: EFX Stock

When the markets get turbulent, EFX is the kind of stock you want to own

By Louis Navellier

Source: Blue Chip Growth

http://investorplace.com/2015/12/equifa ... mzCpPl96M8

[winston]

not vested

IT'S A BULL MARKET IN IDENTITY PROTECTION

Today's chart shows that one of America's three major credit-reporting companies is still going strong...

Equifax (EFX) – along with rivals TransUnion and Experian – is known for running credit checks on people.

It sells that information to businesses that decide whether to approve you for a credit card, car loan, or mortgage. The company also offers services to help you keep a close eye on your credit score.

Last month, Equifax reported great first-quarter results. It also continues to grow in new areas, having just completed the purchase of Australian credit-information firm Veda Group in February.

As you can see, Equifax remains in a steady, long-term uptrend. Shares are up more than 160% in the past four years. They're up
about 15% since acquiring Veda. The message is clear: Equifax's bullish uptrend continues...

Source: Daily Wealth

[winston]

Credit-reporting firm Equifax jumps more than 35% since mid-February.

[winston]

not vested

Equifax Inc. provides information solutions and human resources business process outsourcing services for businesses, governments, and consumers.

The company operates through four segments: U.S. Information Solutions (USIS), International, Workforce Solutions, and Personal Solutions.

Source: Today's Big Stock

http://todaysbigstock.com/2016/10/11/eq ... -nyse-efx/

[winston]

not vested

Equifax: Sell Before It Worsens

by Bill Maurer

Summary
The company disclosed a massive data breach.
Three insiders appeared to sell after it happened.
Shares will likely head much lower.

After more than 20% top line growth in last year's Q3 and Q4 period, the company only saw growth of 5.6% in its most recent quarter.

The biggest impact is likely to be to its global consumer segment, which sells credit monitoring and theft protection services.

Of the just over $7 billion in assets, more than $4 billion of that was in goodwill, with another nearly $1.4 billion in intangible assets.

Due to the acquisitions made in recent years, the company finished its latest quarter with just $400 million in cash but more than $2.8 billion in debt.

Additionally, the stock traded at more than 21 times next year's earnings at Thursday's close, expensive for high-single digit growth.

Three executives - the CFO, the president of US Information Solutions, and the president of Workforce Solutions - sold roughly $1.8 million worth of shares in the days after the breach was discovered, and the sales were not listed as part of pre-set trading plans.

Global Payments (NYSE:GPN) dropped 25% from peak to valley in 2012 when it had a data breach.

Source: Seeking Alpha

https://seekingalpha.com/article/410515 ... ngcom_feed

[winston]

Equifax: Watch These Levels

By Nicholas Santiago

Last week it was reported that the leading credit services company Equifax (NYSE:EFX) faced a severe data breach. The breach could impact 143 million U.S. consumers. The news sent the stock price tumbling.

Before the breach, the stock was trading at around $140 a share. Today, it's trading at $111.22.

Traders and investors should note that when a stock declines in this type of pattern, the selling can be violent and long.

Many traders might remember when Target (NYSE:TGT) reported its data breach: the selling was sharp and the stock has still not recovered from the decline.

EFX will have some near-term support around the $100 level, but the stronger chart support will be around $92.50.

This chart support level was tested in February 2016 and should be solid support when retested for the EFX share price.

Source: TheMoneyStocks.com

https://www.investing.com/analysis/equi ... -200213090

[winston]

Where Can Equifax Go From Here?

Summary
Unprecedented data breach in both severity and duration of damage.
Explicit costs can be billions annually.
Broad-based consumer anger and fear will propel congressional actions against EFX.

What hackers stole from Equifax – social security numbers, addresses, birthdates, and some driver’s license numbers – are the identities of 143 million Americans. With this collection of information, they can submit false tax returns to collect refunds, apply for credit cards/loans/financial aid, rent apartments, apply for insurance, etc…

Furthermore, this potential for theft is lifelong since one cannot change one’s identity. Hackers can commit fraud against the victims 5, 25, 45… yrs later as long as they have the stolen data.

The larger concerns are the 3 issues below:
1. Loss of enterprise business
2. Paying for credit freezes/thaws forever
3. Lawsuits, politics, and the negative overhang

So far EFX has begrudgingly agreed to pay for Americans who will freeze their EFX accounts in the next 30 days.

The average cost to freeze and thaw varies by state, ranging from $3 to $10. Assume $5 per event and assume, conservatively, that the average person has one freeze or thaw per year, the cost will be 5 * 2 bureaus (Transunion and Experian) * 143m = $1.43B/yr in addition to EFX’s own operational costs of freezing/thawing its own files.

This compared against EFX’s 2016 revenue of $3.14B and operating income of $817m

Source: Seeking Alpha

https://seekingalpha.com/article/410666 ... ngcom_feed

[winston]

not vested

When Will Equifax Stock's Capitulation End?

By Justin Kuepper

EFX shares have plummeted more than 30% since Sept. 8, when it disclosed a massive security breach affecting up to 143 million U.S. consumers. In the days following the announcement, the company has faced numerous lawsuits and investigations across many state and federal agencies and consumer groups.

Atlanta-based Equifax said it discovered the hack at the end of July and that it had been occurring since mid-May. The company faces actions including a lawsuit filed by the State of Massachusetts, a probe by the New York Attorney General and congressional hearings.

While many investors have struggled to find the silver lining, Evercore analyst David Togut recommended aggressively buying Equifax stock because there is no material development that would hurt long-term earnings power and the firm is likely to have significant cybersecurity insurance coverage to handle much of the losses.

Equifax CEO Richard Smith also reassured customers that the company is taking measures to support consumers and avoid future issues.

From a technical perspective, the stock moved significantly lower on Wednesday in a bearish engulfing that could signal further downside ahead. The relative strength index (RSI) may point to oversold conditions at 13.96, but the moving average convergence divergence (MACD) continues to look extremely bearish. The positive news for the stock is that selling volume has been declining, which could indicate that some of the capitulation is coming to an end.

Traders should watch for the stock to continue moving lower over the near term given the bearish engulfing, but declining volumes could signal a bottom moving into next week.

Traders may want to stay clear of the market – so as not to try to catch a falling knife – but short sellers may want to keep an eye on volume and price action to avoid covering their positions too late. In the meantime, the market will be keeping a close eye on any regulatory actions taken.

Source: Investopedia

http://www.investopedia.com/news/when-w ... z4shFrF1G1

[winston]

not vested

Equifax Valuation Is Attractive But Risks Remain


Summary

The plunge in Equifax's share price after the data breach was announced has made the company's valuation attractive.

Potential costs could go up to $34B, but likely in the $300M to $900M range.

Risks grow as management's ham fisted response continues to anger consumers.

Approximately 76% of the company’s revenue comes from consumer and commercial credit reporting related services.

Over the past five years the company has grown revenue at 10.68% annually, operating income at 11.78% annually, net income at 15.98% annually, and free cash flow at 13.27% annually.

The company now only trades at a forward P/E of 17.2.

Source: Strubel Investment Management

https://seekingalpha.com/article/410690 ... ngcom_feed