EQUIFAX INC

FICO has announced it will maintain its wholesale mortgage score bundle price at $10 for lenders and brokers participating in its Preferred Program, covering both Classic FICO and FICO Score 10T. This decision comes as the mortgage industry prepares for a multiyear transition in conventional mortgage credit score requirements, with competitors like VantageScore 4.0 offered at a lower price point. The move aims to ensure lenders have access to trusted tools for risk assessment amidst evolving policy discussions around credit report usage in mortgage underwriting.

RBC Capital Markets downgraded Equifax (EFX) to Sector Perform from Outperform, citing a more balanced risk/reward profile after a recent rally. The downgrade also considers three headwinds affecting the mortgage credit-scoring outlook, leading to a 1.2% slip in Equifax stock in early Monday trading.