Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. Has $2.48 Million Stake in Equifax, Inc. (NYSE:EFX)

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Equifax, Inc. (NYSE:EFX - Free Report) by 70.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,187 shares of the credit services provider's stock after purchasing an additional 4,204 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Equifax were worth $2,481,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. True Wealth Design LLC raised its stake in Equifax by 1,920.0% in the 4th quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 101 shares of the credit services provider's stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares during the period. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Equifax in the fourth quarter valued at $28,000. Colonial Trust Co SC lifted its stake in shares of Equifax by 505.0% during the 4th quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 121 shares of the credit services provider's stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. City Holding Co. acquired a new stake in shares of Equifax during the 1st quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Generali Asset Management SPA SGR bought a new stake in shares of Equifax during the 4th quarter worth about $39,000. 96.20% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity at Equifax

In related news, EVP John W. Gamble, Jr. sold 2,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $259.10, for a total transaction of $518,200.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 65,176 shares of the company's stock, valued at $16,887,101.60. This trade represents a 2.98% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Mark W. Begor sold 22,160 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $256.61, for a total value of $5,686,477.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 142,395 shares of the company's stock, valued at $36,539,980.95. This represents a 13.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.40% of the company's stock.

Equifax Price Performance

EFX traded down $0.56 during trading on Friday, hitting $261.81. 386,682 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 982,266. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $264.32 and a 200 day moving average price of $252.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85. Equifax, Inc. has a twelve month low of $199.98 and a twelve month high of $309.63. The company has a market cap of $32.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.54, a PEG ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.60.

Equifax (NYSE:EFX - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 22nd. The credit services provider reported $1.53 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $1.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.41 billion. Equifax had a return on equity of 18.81% and a net margin of 10.68%. Equities research analysts forecast that Equifax, Inc. will post 7.58 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Equifax Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 23rd were paid a $0.50 dividend. This is an increase from Equifax's previous quarterly dividend of $0.39. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.76%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 23rd. Equifax's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.90%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. BNP Paribas downgraded shares of Equifax from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $265.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Friday, March 14th. Oppenheimer increased their target price on Equifax from $277.00 to $296.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Equifax from $277.00 to $295.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 18th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Equifax from $288.00 to $306.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, Barclays reissued an "equal weight" rating and set a $260.00 target price (down previously from $325.00) on shares of Equifax in a report on Friday, April 4th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $294.94.

Equifax Profile

Equifax Inc operates as a data, analytics, and technology company. The company operates through three segments: Workforce Solutions, U.S. Information Solutions (USIS), and International. The Workforce Solutions segment offers services that enables customers to verify income, employment, educational history, criminal justice data, healthcare professional licensure, and sanctions of people in the United States; and employer customers with services that assist them in complying with and automating payroll-related and human resource management processes throughout the entire cycle of the employment relationship.