Equifax shares rose $16.18 to $174.75 in an October 20, 2026, trading snapshot, a gain of approximately 10.2%. The advance came on the day the credit-data company reported higher third-quarter revenue and profit but reduced its full-year outlook because of weaker U.S. mortgage conditions.
Key Takeaways
- The $174.75 share quotation was a trading snapshot, not a confirmed closing price.
- Third-quarter net income increased 32%, while revenue rose 10% year over year.
- Management lowered its annual outlook as it expected mortgage-market weakness to continue.
Table of Contents
- Equifax shares advance on results day
- Profit growth outpaces the increase in revenue
- Mortgage weakness weighs on the annual outlook
- Conclusion
Equifax shares advance on results day
The sharp increase coincided with the publication of results for the quarter ended September 30, 2026. The available trading data do not establish which parts of the announcement drove the share-price move.
The results were already announced on October 20, rather than remaining an upcoming event. Equifax’s business spans consumer credit information, employment and income verification, and international data and analytics services.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Fourth-quarter 2026 revenue guidance | $1.605 billion–$1.635 billion |
| Fourth-quarter adjusted EPS guidance | $2.07–$2.17 per share |
| Full-year 2026 revenue guidance | $6.646 billion–$6.676 billion |
| Full-year adjusted EPS guidance | $8.45–$8.55 per share |
Profit growth outpaces the increase in revenue
Equifax’s third-quarter 2026 results announcement showed revenue of $1.6925 billion, up 10% from a year earlier. Net income attributable to the company rose to $211.7 million from $160.2 million.
Reported diluted earnings per share increased 39% to $1.79. Adjusted earnings per share, a non-GAAP measure that excludes certain items, rose 11% to $2.26. Adjusted EBITDA margin widened to 33.1% from 32.7%.
Growth extended across the three main business units: Workforce Solutions revenue increased 7%, U.S. Information Solutions revenue rose 13%, and International revenue grew 9% on a reported basis.
Companywide U.S. mortgage revenue increased 15% despite what management described as a weaker market. The contrast matters: growth in Equifax’s mortgage-related sales did not mean the underlying mortgage market had strengthened.
Mortgage weakness weighs on the annual outlook
Chief Executive Officer Mark W. Begor said the weaker U.S. mortgage conditions seen in the latter half of the third quarter were expected to persist through the remainder of 2026. Equifax maintained its expectation for high-single-digit growth in Diversified Markets revenue but lowered its full-year revenue guidance midpoint to $6.661 billion.
Management also reduced the full-year adjusted earnings midpoint by $0.04 to $8.50 per share. Begor said cost controls and AI-driven operating efficiencies were expected to offset much of the gross-margin impact from lower mortgage revenue; that remains a management expectation, not a completed result.
Equifax returned $158 million to shareholders during the quarter, comprising $92 million in share repurchases and $66 million in dividends.
Conclusion
The next operating test is whether Equifax delivers within its fourth-quarter guidance while mortgage demand remains weak. The company also expects its Círculo de Crédito acquisition to close in the fourth quarter; the transaction was not yet completed at the time of the announcement.
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