Mariner LLC Buys 3,499 Shares of Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX)

Mariner LLC grew its stake in shares of Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) by 18.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 22,613 shares of the credit services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,499 shares during the quarter. Mariner LLC’s holdings in Equifax were worth $5,763,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Equifax during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division purchased a new stake in shares of Equifax during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Spire Wealth Management increased its position in shares of Equifax by 98.7% during the fourth quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 151 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR purchased a new position in Equifax in the 4th quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, Atala Financial Inc purchased a new stake in Equifax during the 4th quarter valued at $49,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.20% of the company’s stock.

Equifax Price Performance

NYSE EFX opened at $221.43 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. Equifax Inc. has a 12 month low of $199.98 and a 12 month high of $309.63. The stock has a market cap of $27.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.85, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 1.65. The company’s 50 day moving average is $236.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $255.15.

Equifax (NYSE:EFX) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The credit services provider reported $2.12 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $2.12. Equifax had a net margin of 10.63% and a return on equity of 19.13%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Equifax Inc. will post 7.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Equifax Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were given a dividend of $0.39 per share. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 21st. Equifax’s payout ratio is currently 32.30%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Bank of America initiated coverage on Equifax in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $280.00 price target for the company. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on shares of Equifax from $284.00 to $281.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 7th. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Equifax from $335.00 to $310.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Equifax from $320.00 to $316.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Equifax from $313.00 to $284.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $292.31.

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.