EFX

A comparison of two consulting services stocks reveals that CBIZ (CBZ) presents a better value opportunity than Equifax (EFX). CBZ has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) with improving earnings outlook, a lower forward P/E of 13.17 versus EFX's 20.79, and a superior Value grade of A compared to EFX's C grade.

Several companies reported better-than-expected third-quarter 2026 earnings results, driving stock price increases. Halliburton, KeyCorp, Hasbro, and Equifax all surpassed analyst consensus estimates, with Hasbro and Equifax posting particularly strong gains of 11.2% and 11.3% respectively.

Equifax reported Q3 2026 earnings with diversified markets revenue growing 8% year-over-year. The company secured $550 million in annual government contract value for workforce verification services, deployed AI tools to improve operational efficiency and raise profitability guidance, and saw rapid adoption of VantageScore among mortgage lenders. Management expects significant upside when mortgage rates decline, with potential for over $1 billion in incremental mortgage revenue and $700 million in margin expansion.

Equifax reported Q3 adjusted EPS of $2.26 (up 10.8% YoY) and revenues of $1.69 billion (up 9.6% YoY), beating consensus estimates. However, the company cut its 2026 revenue guidance midpoint to $6.661 billion due to weaker U.S. mortgage demand, offsetting strong growth in USIS (up 13%), Workforce Solutions (up 7%), and international operations (up 9%).

Equifax reported Q3 2026 earnings of $2.26 per share, beating consensus estimates of $2.19, with revenues of $1.69 billion. Despite the beat, the company received a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) rating due to unfavorable estimate revision trends. The stock has underperformed the S&P 500 by 39.3 percentage points year-to-date, declining 26.9% versus the market's 12.4% gain.

Equifax is expected to report Q3 2026 results on October 20 with revenues projected to rise 9.6% year-over-year to $1.7B and EPS growth of 7.8% to $2.20. The company's Workforce Solutions segment is anticipated to grow 12%, while USIS and International segments are expected to show solid margin expansion. However, the Zacks model does not predict an earnings beat due to a negative Earnings ESP of -0.59% and a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell).

Equifax is expected to report Q3 2026 earnings of $2.21 per share with 9.6% revenue growth, but analysts have recently become bearish with a negative Earnings ESP of -2.02% and a Zacks Rank #4, making an earnings beat unlikely. The stock carries a difficult-to-predict outlook ahead of its October 20 earnings release.

Equifax Canada reports an 8% year-over-year increase in credit card application fraud in Q2 2026, primarily driven by third-party identity theft targeting Canadians aged 56-65. While fraud in auto loans, mortgages, and telecommunications declined, overall consumer debt reached $2.68 trillion with delinquency rates rising 11.7%, indicating persistent financial pressure on Canadian households.

Rollins, Inc. reported disappointing Q3 2026 results with earnings declining 2.9% year-over-year to 34 cents per share, missing consensus estimates. While revenues grew 6.2% to $1.09 billion, operating margins contracted 140 basis points to 20.5% due to rising costs and weak residential customer acquisition.

Commercial and termite operations provided growth, but profitability suffered. The company is restructuring its marketing strategy and generated strong free cash flow of $235.5 million, up 28.8% year-over-year.

Booz Allen Hamilton is expected to report Q3 2026 earnings of $1.44 per share (down 3.4% YoY) and revenues of $2.8 billion (down 3.1% YoY) on October 23. Despite declining earnings and revenues, the company has a positive Earnings ESP of +5.31% combined with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), suggesting a likely earnings beat. The company has beaten consensus estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with a notable +21.48% surprise in the most recent quarter.

Credit card application fraud in Canada rose 8% year-over-year in Q2 2026, reaching 0.91%, driven primarily by third-party identity theft. Canadians aged 56-65 are being disproportionately targeted by fraudsters exploiting higher credit limits and infrequent credit report monitoring. The fraud surge occurs amid rising consumer debt ($2.68 trillion) and increased delinquencies, while auto, mortgage, and telecommunications fraud rates declined.

The global debt management services market is estimated at USD 47.17 billion and is projected to reach USD 99.9 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 7.79%. Growth is driven by rising consumer debt, increasing financial awareness, fintech innovation, and cloud adoption.

Debt consolidation services currently lead the market, while debt settlement services are expected to register higher growth. Asia is forecast to experience notable growth due to rapid urbanization and expanding credit access.