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Equifax Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 21 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 7% to $1.545 billion: Third quarter revenue was $1.545 billion, up 7% on both reported and local currency bases. Source
  • Diluted EPS up 14% to $1.29: Diluted EPS attributable to Equifax was $1.29, up 14% from $1.13. Net income attributable to Equifax was $160.2 million, up 13%. Source
  • Online Information Solutions up 12%: Online Information Solutions revenue was $467.5 million, up 12%, within USIS, where total revenue rose 11% to $530.2 million. Source
  • Vitality Index raised to 13%: Management raised the full-year 2025 Vitality Index to 13%, above its 10% long-term goal. Source
  • VantageScore 4.0 mortgage pricing reduced: VantageScore 4.0 mortgage credit scores will be offered in 2026 at over 50% below FICO mortgage scores, with the price held flat in 2027. Source
  • Mortgage hard-pull inquiries down 7%: Total U.S. mortgage hard-pull credit inquiries received by Equifax fell 7% year over year in the third quarter. Source
  • About $360 million returned in quarter: About $360 million was returned to shareholders in the third quarter, including repurchases of 1.2 million shares for $300 million. Source
  • Pivot to new product innovation: Management said it is pivoting to use new Cloud capabilities to accelerate New Product Innovation, with investment in products, data, analytics and EFX.AI. Source

“Our ability to deliver significant excess free cash flow to shareholders is a big milestone for Equifax as we move post-Cloud to fully focus on growth, innovation, new products, and free cash generation”

Mark W. Begor, Equifax Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported revenue SourceFourth quarter 2025$1.506 billion to $1.536 billionNew
Reported revenue SourceFull year 2025$6.030 billion to $6.060 billionRaised from $5.970 billion to $6.040 billion
Reported revenue growth SourceFull year 20256.1% to 6.7%Raised from 5.1% to 6.3%
Local currency revenue growth SourceFull year 20256.5% to 7.1%Raised from 5.4% to 6.6%
Adjusted EPS SourceFourth quarter 2025$1.98 to $2.08 per shareNew
Adjusted EPS SourceFull year 2025$7.55 to $7.65 per shareRaised from $7.33 to $7.63 per share
Free cash flow SourceFull year 2025$950 million to $975 millionRaised from over $900 million
Vitality Index SourceFull year 202513%Raised

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year reported revenue guidance midpoint raised by $40 million; Adjusted EPS guidance raised by $0.12 per share. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2025 free cash flow guidance raised from over $900 million to $950 million to $975 million. Source
  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter 2025 revenue and Adjusted EPS ranges were given, alongside the full-year ranges. Source
  • New: A new Mortgage Scores pricing structure was introduced, with VantageScore 4.0 offered below FICO mortgage score prices. Source
  • New: A third-quarter restructuring charge for the realignment of resources was recorded, mainly for headcount reduction. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 7% to $1.545 billion: Third quarter revenue was $1.545 billion, up 7% on both reported and local currency bases. Source
  • Diluted EPS up 14% to $1.29: Diluted EPS attributable to Equifax was $1.29, up 14% from $1.13. Net income attributable to Equifax was $160.2 million, up 13%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS up 10% to $2.04: Adjusted EPS attributable to Equifax was $2.04, up 10%. Adjusted net income attributable to Equifax was $252.9 million, up 9%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Online Information Solutions up 12%: Online Information Solutions revenue was $467.5 million, up 12%, within USIS, where total revenue rose 11% to $530.2 million. Source
  • Workforce Solutions revenue up 5%: Workforce Solutions revenue was $649.4 million, up 5%. Verification Services was $553.6 million, up 5%, and Employer Services was $95.8 million, up 1%. Source
  • International up 7% in local currency: International revenue was $365.3 million, up 6% reported and 7% local currency, led by Latin America and Canada. Source
  • Europe revenue up 4% in local currency: Europe revenue was $102.3 million, up 8% on a reported basis and 4% on a local currency basis. Source

“We are energized about our second half momentum of the New Equifax that is expected to deliver higher growth, margins, and accelerating free cash flow, and returning cash to shareholders in the future.”

Mark W. Begor, Equifax Chief Executive Officer

Products and customers

  • Vitality Index raised to 13%: Management raised the full-year 2025 Vitality Index to 13%, above its 10% long-term goal. Source
  • VantageScore 4.0 mortgage pricing reduced: VantageScore 4.0 mortgage credit scores will be offered in 2026 at over 50% below FICO mortgage scores, with the price held flat in 2027. Source
  • Free VantageScore offered to FICO buyers: Customers buying competing FICO scores in mortgage, automotive, card and consumer finance receive free VantageScore 4.0 scores through 2026. Source
  • Alternative data adds 33 million adults: Management said VantageScore 4.0's inclusion of alternative data makes it possible to score 33 million more U.S. adults. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • International operating margin up: International operating margin was 15.8%, against 13.9% a year earlier. Workforce Solutions operating margin was 43.8%, against 43.2%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin flat at 32.7%: Adjusted EBITDA was $504.8 million, up 7%. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 32.7%, flat year over year. Source
  • Selling and admin costs rose: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $434.1 million, up from $380.4 million. Cost of services was $663.2 million, against $645.2 million. Source
  • Restructuring charge tied to headcount: A $43.9 million restructuring charge for realignment of resources was recorded, mainly for headcount reduction. It is excluded from adjusted EPS. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Mortgage hard-pull inquiries down 7%: Total U.S. mortgage hard-pull credit inquiries received by Equifax fell 7% year over year in the third quarter. Source
  • Inquiry decline versus prior assumption: The prior release assumed third quarter mortgage inquiries would be down over 12%. The reported decline was 7%.
  • Hiring and mortgage headwinds cited: Management said third quarter results came despite headwinds from the U.S. hiring and mortgage markets. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Nine-month operating cash flow up: Cash provided by operating activities was $1,144.9 million for nine months, against $999.7 million. Capital expenditures were $351.4 million, against $392.6 million. Source
  • About $360 million returned in quarter: About $360 million was returned to shareholders in the third quarter, including repurchases of 1.2 million shares for $300 million. Source
  • Short-term debt higher than December: Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt were $759.3 million, against $687.7 million at the prior year-end. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Pivot to new product innovation: Management said it is pivoting to use new Cloud capabilities to accelerate New Product Innovation, with investment in products, data, analytics and EFX.AI. Source
  • Executing against EFX2027 priorities: Management said the company continued to execute against its EFX2027 Strategic Priorities in the quarter, despite market headwinds. Source
  • Cloud transformation contract terminations: The second quarter included $4.6 million of restructuring charges for contract terminations linked to completing the cloud technology transformation.

Coming up, as management said on 21 October 2025

  • Buybacks continue under $3 billion program: Share repurchases are made under the $3 billion program; the release states no new program amount. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
U.S. mortgage hard pull credit inquiries received by Equifax, year over year, third quarter 2025 Sourcedecline of 7%

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Antitrust litigation costs of $4.3 million were recorded in the quarter for the Workforce Solutions unit. Source
  • Regulatory: A $0.3 million accrual was recorded for legal and regulatory matters from the 2017 cybersecurity incident. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Third quarter revenue was reported as above the midpoint of the July guidance by $25 million. Source
  • Ahead: Cash conversion ratio is reported as over 100%, above the 95%+ Long Term Financial Framework. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.