Shift in Credit Scoring Impacts Homebuying Loans
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 10 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy EFX?
Source: CNBC
- Credit Score Update: The government has announced that mortgage lenders can now use VantageScore 4.0 as a new credit scoring standard, which will impact loan approvals by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, potentially allowing more consumers to qualify for loans.
- Advantages of New Scoring Models: VantageScore 4.0 and the upcoming FICO 10T will consider rental and utility payment histories, meaning consumers with limited credit reports may benefit from better loan rates due to these additional data points.
- Data Reporting Challenges: Although the new models can utilize rental payment data, only 13% of consumers' rent payments are currently reported to credit bureaus, limiting many renters' opportunities to improve their credit scores and highlighting deficiencies in the credit reporting system.
- Impact of Trended Data: The new scoring models will incorporate trended data based on credit behavior over the past 24 months, allowing lenders to more accurately assess borrowers' credit risks, which will encourage consumers to manage their credit card debt more effectively before applying for mortgages.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy EFX?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on EFX
Wall Street analysts forecast EFX stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 172.240
Low
195.00
Averages
232.08
High
283.00
Current: 172.240
Low
195.00
Averages
232.08
High
283.00
About EFX
Equifax Inc. is a global data, analytics, and technology company. The Company is engaged in helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions. The Company’s Workforce Solutions segment provides services enabling customers to verify income, employment, educational history, criminal justice data, healthcare professional licensure and sanctions of people in the United States. The Company’s U.S. Information Solutions (USIS) segment provides consumer and commercial information solutions to businesses in the United States, including online information, decisioning technology solutions, identity management services, analytical services, e-commerce fraud and charge back protection services, portfolio management services, mortgage information and marketing services. The Company’s International segment provides products and services similar to those available in the USIS segment but with variations by geographic region.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Credit Score Update: The government has announced that mortgage lenders can now use VantageScore 4.0 as a new credit scoring standard, which will impact loan approvals by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, potentially allowing more consumers to qualify for loans.
- Advantages of New Scoring Models: VantageScore 4.0 and the upcoming FICO 10T will consider rental and utility payment histories, meaning consumers with limited credit reports may benefit from better loan rates due to these additional data points.
- Data Reporting Challenges: Although the new models can utilize rental payment data, only 13% of consumers' rent payments are currently reported to credit bureaus, limiting many renters' opportunities to improve their credit scores and highlighting deficiencies in the credit reporting system.
- Impact of Trended Data: The new scoring models will incorporate trended data based on credit behavior over the past 24 months, allowing lenders to more accurately assess borrowers' credit risks, which will encourage consumers to manage their credit card debt more effectively before applying for mortgages.
See More
- Investor Conference Schedule: Equifax will participate in the Baird 2026 Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference on June 2, 2026, with CEO Mark W. Begor and CFO John Gamble engaging in a Fireside Chat at 10:50 AM, which is expected to attract significant investor interest.
- Live Webcast Invitation: The company invites investors to join the live webcast of the upcoming Fireside Chats, with replays available within 24 hours post-event, enhancing investor engagement and transparency.
- Multiple Conference Participation: CFO John Gamble will attend the Bernstein Annual Strategic Decisions Conference on May 27, 2026, while Senior VP Trevor Burns will participate in several conferences, including the Barclays Americas Select Franchise Conference on May 5, demonstrating the company's commitment to investor communication.
- Global Business Presence: Equifax operates in 24 countries with nearly 15,000 employees, leveraging its unique blend of data, analytics, and cloud technology to assist financial institutions and businesses in making more confident decisions, thereby reinforcing its critical role in the global economy.
See More
- Investor Conference Schedule: Equifax will participate in several investor conferences in May and June 2026, including the Baird Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference on June 2, where CEO Mark W. Begor and CFO John Gamble will engage in a Fireside Chat at 10:50 AM, expected to attract significant investor interest.
- Live Webcast Invitation: The company invites investors to join the live webcast of these Fireside Chats on its Investor Relations website, with replays available within 24 hours post-event, aiming to enhance investor engagement and transparency.
- Executive Attendance at Multiple Conferences: CFO John Gamble will attend the Bernstein Annual Strategic Decisions Conference on May 27, while Senior VP Trevor Burns will participate in Barclays, Needham, and J.P. Morgan conferences on May 5, May 14, and June 2 respectively, highlighting the company's commitment to investor communication.
- Global Business Presence: Equifax operates in 24 countries with nearly 15,000 employees, leveraging its unique blend of data, analytics, and cloud technology to assist financial institutions and businesses in making more confident decisions, thereby reinforcing its critical role in the global economy.
See More
- Technological Disruption: Upstart leverages artificial intelligence to assess borrowers' creditworthiness by considering over 2,500 variables, resulting in a 43% increase in approval rates without additional defaults, significantly enhancing competitiveness in the auto loan market.
- Loan Performance: Since its inception in 2012, Upstart has originated over 5 million loans totaling more than $50 billion, with 1.5 million loans worth $11 billion issued last year alone, indicating strong market demand and growth potential.
- Profitability Improvement: Upstart reported a net income of over $54 million last year, reversing a $128 million loss in 2024, marking a significant improvement in profitability and positioning the company for continued growth.
- Market Outlook: Despite facing economic headwinds, Upstart's stock is priced at less than 10 times its anticipated per-share profit, reflecting investor confidence in its future growth, especially as traditional credit bureaus struggle with technological challenges.
See More
- Innovative Credit Assessment: Upstart utilizes artificial intelligence to evaluate individual creditworthiness by considering over 2,500 variables, resulting in a 43% increase in loan approval rates without additional defaults, significantly enhancing acceptance among auto dealers.
- Loan Performance Growth: Since its inception in 2012, Upstart has originated over 5 million loans totaling more than $50 billion through over 100 lending partners, with nearly 1.5 million loans worth $11 billion issued last year, demonstrating strong market demand.
- Profitability Recovery: Upstart reported a net income of over $54 million last year, reversing a loss from 2024, indicating the company is achieving sustainable profitability, although growth this year may face economic headwinds.
- Market Competitive Advantage: While traditional credit bureaus like Equifax are launching similar AI-powered products, Upstart maintains a lead due to its ground-up development, making it a compelling growth stock for investors.
See More

Equifax Share Sale: Officer Begor Mark Wintend plans to sell 37,791 shares of Equifax common stock on April 24, with a total market value of approximately $6.52 million.
Reduction in Shareholding: Begor Mark has reduced his shareholding in Equifax by 37,791 shares since February 10, 2026, with a total value of around $7.63 million.
See More










