Equifax reduced its full-year 2026 revenue guidance to $6.661 billion at the midpoint, a move attributed by Chief Executive Officer Mark W. Begor to a significantly weakened U.S. mortgage market in the latter half of the third quarter. The Atlanta-based company reported third-quarter revenue of $1.693 billion, which rose 10 percent on a reported basis and 9 percent in local currency compared to the same period in 2025. Despite the downward revision to total revenue, Equifax maintained its adjusted earnings per share guidance at $8.50, a decrease of only $0.04 per share from prior estimates.
The company’s Diversified Markets segment, which excludes mortgage-related services, grew 8 percent on a reported basis in the third quarter. Begor stated that this growth was broad-based across all business units and driven by a new product Vitality Index exceeding 17 percent, a figure he noted is above the company’s 10 percent long-term goal. Workforce Solutions revenue increased by 7 percent to $693.9 million, while U.S. Information Services (USIS) revenue rose 13 percent to $599.1 million. International revenue grew 9 percent on a reported basis to $399.5 million, with local currency growth of 7 percent driven by low double-digit gains in Australia and high single-digit growth in Latin America.
Mortgage-related performance varied across segments due to rising interest rates. Workforce Solutions mortgage revenue remained flat, whereas USIS mortgage revenue increased by 28 percent despite the weaker market conditions. Begor indicated that the weak U.S. mortgage market observed in the latter half of the third quarter is expected to continue through the remainder of 2026. The company expects to recover the gross margin impact from lower mortgage revenue through cost management and AI-driven operating efficiencies, aiming for strong operating margin performance.
Equifax returned $158 million in cash to shareholders during the quarter, comprising $92 million in share repurchases for 0.5 million shares and $66 million in quarterly dividends. Net income attributable to Equifax rose 32 percent to $211.7 million, while diluted earnings per share increased 39 percent to $1.79 from $1.29 in the prior year period. The company also expects to close its acquisition of Círculo de Crédito in the fourth quarter, a transaction Begor described as part of a strategy to use free cash flow for bolt-on mergers and acquisitions.