Experian maintains full-year outlook, shares hit 19-month low

By Rishab Shaju

Jan 21 (Reuters) - Shares in credit data and analytics company Experian EXPN.L fell to a 19-month low on Wednesday as the company maintained its annual forecasts after reporting third-quarter organic revenue growth of 8%.

The company derives a large share of its revenue from credit checks, mortgage inquiries and fraud screenings in North America, volumes that are sensitive to shifts in interest‑rate expectations and lender appetite.

Experian maintained its full-year forecast of 8% organic revenue growth.

Although the company's consumer services business continued to perform across all its key markets, organic revenue growth from commercial clients in Latin America and the UK and Ireland was flat against a backdrop of macroeconomic uncertainty.

SHARES DROP FOR FOURTH SESSION

Experian's share price dropped by as much as 7% on Wednesday, marking a fourth-straight session of declines and bringing 12-month losses to 20%.

Andrew Ripper, a Panmure Liberum analyst, pointed to a weak U.S. dollar, President Donald Trump's threat to cap credit card interest rates at 10% and Artificial Intelligence as factors behind the ongoing weak performance, as well as a decision by Fair Isaac Corporation FICO.N to sell its credit scores directly to mortgage lenders and sellers, cutting out credit bureaus such as Experian that serve as intermediaries.

On a post-earnings call, Experian said that a big part of the impact of the credit-card cap announced by Trump would most likely fall on U.S. consumers, if pushed through.