Equifax third-quarter revenue rises 10% as it cuts 2026 revenue guidance

Equifax Inc. (EFX) said Tuesday in a regulatory filing that third-quarter 2026 revenue rose 10% to $1.69 billion. It also said it is reducing its full-year 2026 revenue guidance because the U.S. mortgage market weakened in the latter half of the quarter.

The results cover the three months ended Sept. 30, 2026. The company published them in a press release attached to its 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

Here's how the company did:

• Revenue: $1,692.5 million vs. $1,544.9 million a year earlier
• Diluted EPS: $1.79 vs. $1.29 a year earlier
• Adjusted diluted EPS: $2.26 vs. $2.04 a year earlier
• Net income attributable to Equifax: $211.7 million vs. $160.2 million a year earlier

Revenue grew 10% on a reported basis and 9% in local currency. Diversified Markets revenue rose 8%, and U.S. Mortgage revenue rose 15% despite the weaker market.

Net income attributable to Equifax rose 32%, and diluted EPS rose 39%. Weighted-average diluted shares fell to 118.1 million from 124.1 million a year earlier.

Operating income was $355.3 million, up from $264.3 million. The operating margin was 21.0%, compared with 17.1% a year earlier.

Adjusted EBITDA, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization with certain one-time items excluded, was $560.2 million, up 11%. The adjusted EBITDA margin was 33.1%, up from 32.7%.

Here's how other Equifax segments did during the quarter:

• Workforce Solutions: revenue of $693.9 million, up 7%; operating margin of 44.1%, against 43.8%
• U.S. Information Solutions: revenue of $599.1 million, up 13%; operating margin of 24.3%, against 23.2%
• International: revenue of $399.5 million, up 9% reported and 7% in local currency; operating margin of 15.8%, flat from a year earlier

Within Workforce Solutions, Verification Services revenue rose 9% to $603.2 million, and Employer Services revenue fell 5% to $90.7 million. The company said Talent Solutions revenue grew more than 20%, Consumer Lending rose high double digits and Government rose mid-single digits.

In U.S. Information Solutions, Online Information Solutions revenue rose 13% to $529.7 million and Financial Marketing Services revenue rose 11% to $69.4 million. USIS Mortgage revenue rose 28%, while Workforce Solutions Mortgage revenue was about flat.

Every International region grew on a reported basis. Asia Pacific revenue rose 20% to $107.7 million, and Latin America rose 12% to $114.1 million. Europe rose 3% to $105.5 million and Canada rose 2% to $72.2 million.

The new product Vitality Index was a record over 17%, the company said, above its 10% long-term goal.

Guidance

The company is reducing its full-year 2026 revenue guidance at the midpoint to $6.661 billion. The release does not give the prior midpoint, and the cut reflects lower U.S. Mortgage-related revenue.

Diversified Markets revenue guidance is maintained at high single-digit percent growth. The 2026 adjusted EPS guidance midpoint is $8.50 per share, a reduction of $0.04 per share at the midpoint.

The guidance table gives full-year 2026 reported revenue growth of 9.4% to 9.9% and adjusted EPS of $8.45 to $8.55 per share. For the fourth quarter, the company expects reported revenue growth of 3.5% to 5.4% and adjusted EPS of $2.07 to $2.17 per share.

The company expects the weaker mortgage market to continue through the rest of 2026. Cost management and AI-driven operating cost efficiencies should allow it to principally recover the gross margin impact from lower Mortgage revenue, the company said.

“Our strong third quarter results reflect the resiliency of the broad-based Equifax business model in a challenging mortgage market,” CEO Mark W. Begor said.

“We are confident in the future of the New Equifax,” Begor said, adding that the company expects to deliver higher growth, margins and accelerating free cash flow.

Capital returns and acquisition

The company returned $158 million to shareholders in the quarter, repurchasing 0.5 million shares for $92 million and paying $66 million in quarterly dividends. Dividends per common share were $0.56, up from $0.50 a year earlier.

The company expects to close its Círculo de Crédito acquisition in the fourth quarter. The release does not give the purchase price or other terms.

Cost of services rose to $752.4 million from $663.2 million, while selling, general and administrative expenses fell to $390.4 million from $434.1 million. The year-earlier quarter included $43.9 million of realignment charges tied to headcount reductions, and no such charge was recorded in the 2026 quarter.

Acquisition-related amortization expense was $59.9 million, against $62.7 million a year earlier. The company is deploying EFX.AI against a $150 million AI productivity goal.