Topic: Growth Stocks

FAIR ISAAC CORP. $38.98 – New York symbol FICO

FAIR ISAAC CORP. $38.98 (New York symbol FICO; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (415-472-2211; www.fairisaac.com; Shares outstanding: 36.0 million; Market cap: $1.4 billion; Dividend yield: 0.2%) makes FICO Scores, which dominates the market for software that helps businesses evaluate customer creditworthiness. The company is also profiting by selling software that helps credit card issuers control fraud and analyze their clients’ spending patterns.

In its fiscal 2012 first quarter, which ended December 31, 2011, Fair Isaac’s earnings jumped 87.4%, to $30.0 million from $16.0 million a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 107.5% to $0.83 from $0.40, on fewer shares outstanding. The latest earnings also beat the consensus estimate of $0.62 a share.

Savings from the company’s ongoing cost cuts were a big reason for the increase. Sales rose 9.2%, to $170.3 million from $155.9 million.

Fair Isaac spends around 10% of its sales on research. That lets it keep producing innovative new products that help it stay ahead of its competitors.

The company’s balance sheet is sound. It holds cash and securities of $231.6 million, or $6.28 a share. Its long-term debt of $504 million is a manageable 36.0% of its market cap.

Fair Isaac should earn $2.52 a share in fiscal 2012. The shares have risen 95% since the start of October 2011, but they still trade at just 15.5 times that figure.

Fair Isaac is still a buy.

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