greeksoup/ stock research

Equifax Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter revenue grew 9%: Revenue was $1,550.6 million, up 9% on both reported and local currency bases against the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell 1%: Adjusted EPS attributable to Equifax was $2.09 in the quarter, down 1% from the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • USIS revenue up 12% on mortgage: USIS revenue rose 12% to $526.9 million, with Mortgage revenue up 33% and Diversified Markets up 5%. Source
  • U.S. Mortgage revenue up 20%: U.S. Mortgage revenue rose 20% in the quarter, while management described the underlying Mortgage market as declining. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin down to 32.8%: Consolidated adjusted EBITDA margin was 32.8%, against 35.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Free cash flow reached $1.13 billion: Free cash flow for 2025 was $1.13 billion, up almost 40%, reflecting operating performance and cash conversion. Source
  • Quarterly cash returns of $561 million: The company returned $561 million of cash to shareholders in the fourth quarter, including share repurchases. Source

“We were pleased with the strong Equifax results in a challenging market environment and momentum into 2026 from our fourth quarter results”

Mark W. Begor, Equifax Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Reported revenue midpoint Sourcefull year 2026$6.72 billion (midpoint), up about 10.5%New
Reported revenue range Sourcefull year 2026$6.660 billion to $6.780 billion; growth 9.6% to 11.6%New
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull year 2026$2.12 billion (midpoint), up about 10%New
Adjusted EPS range Sourcefull year 2026$8.30 to $8.70 per share; midpoint $8.50New
Reported revenue range Sourcefirst quarter 2026$1.597 billion to $1.627 billion; growth 10.7% to 12.8%New
Adjusted EPS range Sourcefirst quarter 2026$1.63 to $1.73 per shareNew
Local currency and organic growth Sourcefull year 2026Local currency 9.1% to 11.1%; organic local currency 9.0% to 11.0%New
Mortgage market and credit score assumptions Source2026U.S. mortgage market down low single digits; 100% of mortgage credit scores as FICO ScoresNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Full-year 2026 guidance and first quarter 2026 guidance were issued in this release. The prior release gave 2025 guidance only. Source
  • New: Strategic priorities are now labelled EFX2028. The prior release labelled them EFX2027. Source
  • New: The segment previously labelled Non-Mortgage within Verification Services is now labelled Diversified Markets. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Fourth quarter revenue grew 9%: Revenue was $1,550.6 million, up 9% on both reported and local currency bases against the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Diluted EPS and net income rose: Diluted EPS attributable to Equifax was $1.44, against $1.39; net income attributable to Equifax was $175.8 million, up 1%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS fell 1%: Adjusted EPS attributable to Equifax was $2.09 in the quarter, down 1% from the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Full-year revenue grew 7%: Full-year 2025 revenue was $6,074.5 million, up 7% on reported and local currency bases compared with 2024. Source
  • Full-year adjusted EPS rose 5%: Full-year adjusted EPS attributable to Equifax was $7.65, up 5% from the prior year. Source
  • Full-year net income up 9%: Full-year net income attributable to Equifax was $660.3 million, up 9% from $604.1 million in 2024. Source

Segment and regional revenue

  • Workforce Solutions revenue up 9%: Workforce Solutions revenue was $652.2 million, up 9%. Verification Services and Employer Services are reported within this segment. Source
  • USIS revenue up 12% on mortgage: USIS revenue rose 12% to $526.9 million, with Mortgage revenue up 33% and Diversified Markets up 5%. Source
  • Online Information Solutions up 13%: Online Information Solutions revenue was $447.9 million, up 13%. Financial Marketing Services revenue was $79.0 million, up 2%. Source
  • International up 7%, led by Latin America: International revenue was $371.5 million, up 7% reported and 5% in local currency, led by Latin America at $107.5 million. Source
  • Europe up 9% reported, 4% local: Europe revenue was $108.7 million, up 9% reported and 4% in local currency. Asia Pacific rose 4% to $87.2 million; Canada rose 5% to $68.1 million. Source

“As U.S. mortgage customers convert to the lower-priced and higher-performing Vantage scores, we expect significant margin expansion.”

Mark W. Begor, Equifax Chief Executive Officer

Mortgage, employer and government demand

  • U.S. Mortgage revenue up 20%: U.S. Mortgage revenue rose 20% in the quarter, while management described the underlying Mortgage market as declining. Source
  • Employer Services grew 2%: Employer Services revenue was $95.2 million, up 2%, compared with 10% growth in Verification Services. Source
  • Government growth led Verification: Within Verification Services, low double digit Government growth was the lead driver of the 10% increase. Source

Products and new product innovation

  • Vitality Index double digit in all units: New products built on EFX Cloud and EFX.AI produced a double digit Vitality Index in every business unit. Source
  • Pivot to Cloud for product innovation: Management said the company has pivoted to using new Cloud capabilities to accelerate New Product Innovation. Source
  • New products expected to drive 2026: Investment in new products, data, analytics and EFX.AI capabilities is expected to drive growth in 2026 and beyond. Source

“We are energized about our momentum of the New Equifax but even more energized about our ability 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

Costs and restructuring

  • Cost of services and SG&A rose: Cost of services was $661.2 million and SG&A was $420.9 million, up from $615.0 million and $344.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income and depreciation: Operating income was $284.2 million against $288.1 million. Depreciation and amortization was $184.3 million against $171.6 million. Source
  • Restructuring for headcount reduction: Full-year 2025 restructuring charges were $49.9 million, mainly for headcount reduction tied to the company's global strategic objectives. Source

Adjusted EBITDA margins by segment

  • Adjusted EBITDA margin down to 32.8%: Consolidated adjusted EBITDA margin was 32.8%, against 35.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
  • Workforce Solutions margin 51.3%: Workforce Solutions adjusted EBITDA margin was 51.3% against 51.9%. Operating margin was 43.8% against 43.1%. Source
  • USIS margin down, operating flat: USIS adjusted EBITDA margin was 36.3% against 38.3%. USIS operating margin was 24.4%, flat year on year. Source
  • International operating margin 16.4%: International operating margin was 16.4% against 17.4%. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 31.6% against 32.5%. Source

Cash flow and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow reached $1.13 billion: Free cash flow for 2025 was $1.13 billion, up almost 40%, reflecting operating performance and cash conversion. Source
  • Operating cash flow and capital spending: Operating cash flow was $1,615.7 million in 2025, and capital expenditures were $481.4 million. Source
  • Quarterly cash returns of $561 million: The company returned $561 million of cash to shareholders in the fourth quarter, including share repurchases. Source
  • Excess cash flow called a milestone: Management called the ability to deliver significant excess free cash flow to shareholders a big milestone for the company. Source
  • Full-year dividends per share: Full-year 2025 dividends per common share were $1.89, against $1.56 in 2024. Source

Balance sheet and share count

  • Short-term debt rose to $1,038.0 million: Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt were $1,038.0 million at December 31, 2025, against $687.7 million. Source
  • Long-term debt declined: Long-term debt was $4,055.3 million at December 31, 2025, against $4,322.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Outstanding shares fell to 120.4 million: Outstanding common shares were 120.4 million at December 31, 2025, against 124.0 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 February 2026

  • Post-Cloud focus on growth and cash: Management said the company will move post-Cloud to focus fully on growth, innovation, new products and free cash generation. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Vitality Index, fourth quarter Source17%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management named U.S. mortgage and hiring market headwinds as conditions the quarter was delivered against. Source
  • Operational: Acquisition-related costs of $8.5 million in the quarter, mainly integration costs, were recorded in operating income. Source
  • Regulatory: A $30.0 million charge was recorded for a settlement associated with the resolution of inquiry disputes related claims. Source
  • Regulatory: Antitrust litigation costs for the Workforce Solutions business were $1.2 million in the quarter and $5.4 million in the year. Source
  • External: Foreign currency losses from remeasuring peso-denominated balances were recorded because Argentina is a highly inflationary economy. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Fourth quarter revenue was $30 million above the midpoint of the October guidance. Source
  • Ahead: USIS revenue growth of 12% was described as well above the 6 to 8% long-term financial framework. Source
  • Ahead: Fourth quarter Vitality Index of 17% was above the 10% long-term goal. 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.