Fair Isaac still has plenty of appeal

Article Excerpt

FAIR ISAAC CORP. $37 (New York symbol FIC; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 57.4 million; Market cap: $2.1 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) develops statistical-based credit scoring systems that calculate the likelihood an individual will pay back a loan. The company’s best-known product, the FICO score, helps banks, credit card companies and other lenders cut their loan losses. The stock fell last year after three leading credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, teamed up to launch a new credit score to compete with FICO. However, they also offer FICO scores to their clients. Fair Isaac feels these three firms have a strong incentive to push their own system instead of paying fees to use FICO, and the company has filed an antitrust lawsuit. It could take years to settle, but the suit improves the company’s long-term prospects. The slowdown in the housing market has also cut demand for Fair Isaac’s products. But it recently sold part of its mortgage-related operations,…