Equifax (EFX) 2026 Baird Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference summary

AI strategy and data moat

• Proprietary data assets, including credit, income, and employment data, form a significant AI data moat, differentiating from competitors reliant on public data.

• Over 10,000 financial institutions and five million companies contribute data regularly, ensuring exclusivity and depth.

• Explainable AI is a key investment area, with over 50 new patents in the past year, supporting regulatory compliance and customer needs.

• AI deployment in scores, models, and products has delivered performance lifts of up to 1,000 basis points.

• Cloud investments of $3 billion over six years now enable advanced AI integration and product differentiation.

Operational efficiency and productivity

• AI is being deployed in operations, technology, and support teams, driving significant productivity gains.

• AI agents in call centers are expected to generate $75 million in cost savings over the next few years.

• Margin expansion is guided at 75 basis points this year, with further gains expected from ongoing AI-driven efficiencies.

• Technology workforce, nearly half of 15,000 employees, is leveraging AI for coding and support functions.

Market expansion and product innovation

• AI advisors now help small banks and governments utilize alternative data for better scoring, expanding market reach.

• Employment and income verification remains a core, fast-growing segment, with government verticals showing strong pipeline growth.

• The government vertical, sized at $750 million in 2026, faces a $5 billion TAM, with legislative changes (OB3 bill) expected to drive adoption from 2027.

• Talent vertical growth is driven by digital resume data, new product rollouts, and acquisitions like Appriss Insights.