Credit information provider Equifax Inc. (EFX), which I first wrote about on June 3, 2009 at a price of $27.06, has meandered at/near $36 this winter, but I still like the business model.

Look for Equifax to post a 7% 2011 revenue gain, on a continued, slow recovery in credit-related and mortgage-related revenue streams in North America. Meanwhile, the longer-term view looks even better, aided by acquisitions and emerging market revenue growth, particularly in Latin America.

Further, prudent cost cuts have made Equifax a more-productive organization, which will aid the bottom line.

Credit information provider Equifax Inc. (EFX), first discussed here on June 3, 2009 at a price of $27.06, has uptrended since September, and now may be a good time to consider taking some profits off the table.

However, those investors who can tolerate the risk can maintain their full position and go for an even bigger gain, as more upside is likely for EFX in 2011.

Look for a slow recovery in EFX's credit-related and mortgage-related revenue streams. Meanwhile, the longer-term view remains promising, aided by acquisitions and emerging market revenue growth, particularly in Latin America. Equifax should post 4-6% revenue growth in 2011.

I first wrote about Equifax Inc. (EFX) on June 3, 2009, at a price of $27.06, and shares of the credit information provider swooned in spring, after rising to a high of about $37.

The down-slope was a surprise, and the shares even formed a bear hug this summer, amid the roughly 25% decline. Still, for those who endured the slide, your patience likely will be rewarded. Here's why.

Part of Equifax's slide can be attributed to likely more-modest 2010 revenue gains, due to a slower-than-expected-recovery in credit-related and mortgage-related revenue streams. Equifax should post 1% to 3% revenue growth in 2010.

Analyst Upgrades

• Goldman upgraded Republic Services (RSG) to buy from neutral and raised its price target to $34 from $32. The firm cites valuation for the upgrade.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded MeadWestvaco (MWV) to buy from hold due to valuation and keeps a $29 price target for shares.
• UBS upgraded Symantec (SYMC) to buy from neutral.
• Lloyds Banking (LYG) upgraded to add from neutral at WestLB.
• Ternium (TX) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Barclays.

Analyst Upgrades

• Baird upgraded C.H. Robinson (CHRW) to outperform from neutral and has a $67 target on the stock. The firm upgraded shares citing growth opportunities given the capacity constrained environment.
• UBS upgraded Navistar (NAV) to buy from neutral, citing improved trucker preferences towards the company's engine technology.
• KeyBanc upgraded Crane (CR) to buy from hold based on valuation stabilization and potential upside in aerospace, among other reasons. The firm has a $39 target on the stock.
• United Therapeutics (UTHR) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Equifax (EFX) was upgraded to overweight from equal weight at Stephens.
• Brown & Brown (BRO) was upgraded to buy from hold at Citigroup.
  

The shares of credit information provider Equifax Inc. (EFX), which I first wrote about on June 3, 2009 at a price of $27.06, over-corrected during the May 6 'flash crash,' and that offers an opportunity for investors who can tolerate the risk.

Equifax should post 5-9% revenue growth in 2010, aided by acquisitions and emerging market revenue growth, particularly in Latin America. Meanwhile, the U.S. market, stung by the nation's worst housing recession in more than 25 years, should stabilize at some point in 2010, aiding mortgage application-related revenue.

Analyst Upgrades

• Kaufman Bros. upgraded Palm (PALM) to hold from sell after the company was acquired by Hewlett-Packard (HPQ).
• Citigroup upgraded Akamai (AKAM) to buy from hold following the company's better-than-expected Q1 results. The firm raised its target for shares to $44 from $32.
• Deutsche Bank upgraded Rockwell Automation (ROK) to hold from sell following the company's Q2 results and guidance. The firm raised its target for shares to $60 from $49.
• First Solar (FSLR) was upgraded to buy from hold at Deutsche Bank and to hold from sell at Soleil.
• Beckman Coulter (BEC) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at Piper Jaffray.
• Barrick Gold (ABX) was upgraded to buy from hold at Jefferies.

Credit information provider Equifax Inc. (EFX), which I first wrote about on June 3, 2009, at a price of $27.06, is doing what it takes to grow revenue and earnings, and I still like the business model here.

Look for Equifax to post 4% to 7% revenue growth in 2010, aided by acquisitions and emerging market revenue growth, particularly in Latin America. Meanwhile, the U.S. market, stung by the nation's worst housing recession in more than 25 years, should stabilize at some point in 2010, aiding mortgage application-related revenue.

Equifax (EFX) has erased most of the concerns associated with its summer stock price dip, and that's one reason I'm reiterating my buy rating for the credit rating giant, first recommended on June 3, 2009, at a price of $27.06.

Equifax, one of three global providers of consumer and commercial credit information, commonly called credit reports, remains well-positioned to benefit from increased requests for credit reports, as the U.S. and global economic recoveries progress.

"We're always ready to shift to an individual stock when we see an attractive investment opportunity like Equifax (NYSE: EFX)," says money manager and advisor Jim Stack, who incidentally, accurately called both the 2008 market top and the March bottom.

In his InvesTech Market Analyst, he explains, "The stock is attractively valued based on revenue, cash flow, and earnings power of the company." Here's his review of the credit reporting agency.

"Equifax is in the business of supplying clients with the power of information and is most commonly known as a credit reporting agency. The 'credit score' your banker looks at when you apply for a loan is derived from information supplied by Equifax and its competitors.

In June, the call was that Equifax (NYSE: EFX) was undervalued. Well, it's still undervalued, and I'm Reiterating my Buy rating, first recommended on June 3, 2009 at a price of $27.06.

Surprisingly, Equifax's shares have meandered in the past four months, and technically, there is concern about a possible double-top at/near $30.

Readers of this space know that the investment bias is toward large-cap companies with demonstrated business models and who have a competitive advantage in established markets, preferably with a favorable, global trend as a support. And with the aforementioned in mind, Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX) is worth a review.

Equifax is one of three global providers of consumer and commercial credit information, commonly called credit reports. And in these capital-challenged days, if your 'tri-merged doesn't surge,' chances are you're not getting a home mortgage.

It's been said that if the U.S. state of Georgia were an independent nation, it would have the 18th largest economy in world. The "Empire State of the South" ranked tenth in U.S. in per capita personal income in 2005, and has one of the fastest growing populations in the U.S. -- about a million additional people between 2000 and 2005. Its diverse industrial output ranges from peaches and peanuts, to textiles, food processing, and aircraft manufacturing, to publishing and tourism. Georgia is home to such corporate giants as Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO); Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL); Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD); UPS (NYSE: UPS); Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NYSE: NWL), and Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX).

It's also home to Acuity Brands Inc. (NYSE: AYI) and Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN), both of which represented Georgia on the Forbes 2007 list of 100 best mid cap stocks. I examine two other Peach State companies -- RPC Inc. (NYSE: RES) and Radiant Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: RADS) -- in a separate Investing in Georgia post.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Campbell Soup Co (CPB), Yum! Brands (YUM), NYSE Euronext (NYX), Forest Laboratories (FRX) and International Speedway Corp (ISCA) were some of today's noteworthy upgrades:

• JP Morgan upgraded shares of Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB) to Overweight from Neutral as they believe the company's entrance into Russia and China is not priced into shares. JP Morgan also added CPB to their Analyst Focus List.

• UBS upgraded shares of Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) to Buy from Neutral based on higher estimates for international, potential debt leverage, and a potential minority spin-off of its China business.

• Lehman upgraded NYSE Euronext (NYSE: NYX) to Overweight from Equal Weight on valuation following the recent weakness. They believe Q2 earnings and a potential S&P 500 Index addition could be a catalyst for gains.

• UBS upgraded Forest Labs (NYSE: FRX) to Buy from Neutral on valuation and their belief that the company will prevail in a patent dispute over Lexapro with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (TEVA).

• AG Edwards upgraded International Speedway (NASDAQ: ISCA) to Hold from Sell on valuation...

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Hambrecht upgraded Micron Technology (NYSE: MU) to Buy from Hold.

• JMP Securities raised shares of Equifax (NYSE: EFX) to Outperform from Market Perform.

• Ferris Baker Watts upgraded Unica Corp (NASDAQ: UNCA) to Neutral from Sell.

• Calyon upgraded Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) to Neutral from Sell.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Most lifestyles in America are significantly impacted by credit ratings. That makes the companies determining our scores pretty powerful outfits. One of the biggest credit reporters in the country is headquartered in Atlanta.

Equifax Inc. (NYSE: EFX) collects, organizes, and manages credit, financial, public record, demographic and marketing information regarding individuals and businesses. It then markets the information to businesses and government agencies, which use it to make informed decisions about extending credit, mitigating fraud, managing portfolio risk and developing marketing strategies. The firm also enables consumers to manage and protect their financial affairs, through a portfolio of products that it sells via the Internet. Equifax operates in North America, South America and Europe.

The company pleased investors last week, when it issued upside guidance for Q2 EPS (55-57 cents, vs. 54 cent Street consensus) and FY07 EPS ($2.25-$2.33, vs. $2.19 consensus). Management said it upgraded previous guidance, because acquisition of payroll services provider Talx Corporation put Equifax "on a clear path to deliver the growth and financial performance" outlined in a strategic plan presented last year. The news popped the shares out of a late May "cup" into the early June "handle" of a Cup & Handle formation. The price is now showing signs of completing the pattern with a bullish rise from the right-hand side of the "handle."

Brokers recommend the issue with three "strong buys," one "buy" and nine "holds." The EFX P/E ratio (19.81), Price to Cash Flow ratio (14.90), Price to Free Cash Flow ratio (18.13), EPS Growth rate (20.83%), Operating Margin (28.14%), Net Profit Margin (17.79%), Return on Assets (15.12%), Return on Investment (19.81%) and Return on Equity (31.44%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages.

Institutional investors hold about 84% of the outstanding shares. The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P 500 Index. Over the past 52 weeks, it has traded between $30.15 and $44.36. A stop-loss of $38.65 looks good here. Note that the firm recently announced it will buy back $250 million of its stock, under a plan that becomes effective June 25. Note also that it is expected to report Q2 results in late July.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.