FA vs EFX vs TRU vs FICO

For growth investors, First Advantage Corporation (FA) is the stronger pick with 83.

0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 6. 9% for Equifax Inc. (EFX). TransUnion (TRU) offers the better valuation at 31. 4x trailing P/E (15. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate First Advantage Corporation (FA) a "Buy" — based on 12 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, TransUnion (TRU) is the cheapest at 31.

4x versus Fair Isaac Corporation at 42. 6x. On forward P/E, First Advantage Corporation is actually cheaper at 13. 1x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Fair Isaac Corporation wins at 0. 96x versus Equifax Inc. 's 4. 39x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) delivered a total return of +127.

7%, compared to -29. 3% for TransUnion (TRU). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: FICO returned +949. 1% versus FA's -12. 4%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

86β versus TransUnion's 1. 36β — meaning TRU is approximately 59% more volatile than FICO relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, First Advantage Corporation (FA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 113% for TransUnion — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), First Advantage Corporation (FA) is pulling ahead at 83.

0% versus 6. 9% for Equifax Inc. (EFX). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: First Advantage Corporation grew EPS 73. 0% year-over-year, compared to 9. 9% for Equifax Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, FA leads at 24. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is the more profitable company, earning 32.

7% net margin versus -2. 2% for First Advantage Corporation — meaning it keeps 32. 7% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: FICO leads at 46. 5% versus 9. 0% for FA. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — FICO leads at 82. 2%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 96x versus Equifax Inc. 's 4. 39x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, First Advantage Corporation (FA) trades at 13. 1x forward P/E versus 26. 4x for Fair Isaac Corporation — 13. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for FICO: 46. 0% to $1649. 11.

In this comparison, EFX (1.

1% yield), TRU (0. 6% yield) pay a dividend. FA, FICO do not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

86), +949. 1% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (FICO: +949. 1%, FA: -12. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (FA (Industrials) and EFX (Industrials) and TRU (Industrials) and FICO (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: FA is a small-cap high-growth stock; EFX is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; TRU is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; FICO is a mid-cap high-growth stock. EFX, TRU pay a dividend while FA, FICO do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.