CHICAGO, March 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) announced today it completed a FedRAMP® Ready assessment for TruValidate™ solutions for government, which help public agencies interact with American public users to help protect against fraud. The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is a government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services.1 Achieving FedRAMP comp ...

Core Insights - TransUnion Canada is enhancing credit access for new Canadians and those new to the credit market through the TruVision Trended Risk Score, which provides a comprehensive view of payment behavior and creditworthiness [1][9] - The TruVision Trended Risk Score utilizes new algorithms and data to better predict future risk for New-to-Credit consumers, enabling lenders to confidently offer credit [1][2] Group 1: Market Trends - New Canadians and young consumers are a significant part of Canada's population growth, with international migration accounting for 92% of growth in Q3 2024 [2] - In 2024, New-to-Credit consumers represented 28% of new credit cards opened and 22% of all credit products, with new Canadians estimated to account for over half of that volume [2] Group 2: Consumer Behavior - Gen Z Canadians, born between 1997 and 2012, are the fastest-growing segment in credit card usage, showing an 18% year-over-year growth in balances, with total credit balances reaching $142 billion as of December 2024 [3] - This generation's credit balance growth significantly outpaces the overall growth rate of 4.5% [3] Group 3: Risk Assessment - Gen Z consumers exhibit a higher risk profile, with a delinquency rate of 0.57%, compared to an average of 0.28% for other generations as of Q4 2024 [4] - Lenders can still target this demographic for growth by employing effective credit decisioning tools to manage associated risks [4][5] Group 4: Strategic Insights - In a challenging macroeconomic environment, lenders are encouraged to modernize credit strategies to extend credit to young Canadians and new immigrants [5] - Companies that adapt to rapid changes in consumers' financial health will be better positioned to capture emerging consumer segments [5]

Core Insights - The phone remains a critical tool for businesses, with 86% of decision-makers agreeing it is the most important outbound channel for customer service and revenue growth [1][2] Study Overview - The study surveyed 719 decision-makers responsible for outbound call strategies, highlighting issues such as inaccurate customer contact data and call spoofing threats [2][11] - Compared to 2022, companies made 26% fewer calls while increasing the use of digital channels, yet the phone is still preferred for urgent customer service and personal matters [3][7] Importance of Communication Solutions - 75% of decision-makers believe accurate caller information is vital for enhancing customer engagement and increasing answer rates [4][5] - Key features for improving customer engagement include accurate caller ID (75%), protection against call spoofing (67%), indication of authenticated calls (62%), and displaying logos on outbound calls (58%) [5] Fraud and Call Spoofing Concerns - 80% of decision-makers reported an increase in customer service inquiries due to call spoofing, leading to higher operational costs [6] - 72% observed a decline in customer trust due to call spoofing, negatively impacting retention [7] - 55% of decision-makers indicated their current technologies lack adequate protection against call spoofing, an increase from 38% since 2022 [7] Recommendations for Improvement - Businesses can enhance customer experience by focusing phone use on urgent and personal matters and respecting individual contact preferences [8]

Core Insights - Mohamed Abdelsadek has been appointed as Executive Vice President and Chief Global Solutions Officer at TransUnion, effective March 10, 2025 [1][2] - Abdelsadek will oversee revenue growth and profitability through strategy, planning, innovation, and commercialization of TransUnion's global product portfolio [2][3] - TransUnion aims to enhance innovation and growth in its solutions, addressing the increasing demand for innovative information solutions in a digital world [3] Company Overview - TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries [5] - The company focuses on creating trust in the marketplace by providing a comprehensive view of consumers, which is referred to as a Tru™ picture [5] - TransUnion's innovative solutions extend beyond core credit services into marketing, fraud, risk, and advanced analytics, promoting economic opportunity and personal empowerment [5] Leadership Background - Abdelsadek has over seven and a half years of experience at Mastercard, where he held multiple executive roles and was part of the management committee [3] - His previous leadership roles include positions at Synchrony Financial and GE Capital, as well as consulting experience at McKinsey & Company [3][4] - Abdelsadek holds an M.B.A. from the Wharton School, an M.S. in computer science from Columbia University, and a bachelor's degree in computer science and electrical engineering from SUNY at Stony Brook [4]

Core Insights - A significant majority of dating app users express a desire for improved verification of user information, with 85% of women and 87% of men advocating for verification of details such as age, photo recency, and location [1][3] - The report highlights a discrepancy between online profiles and real-life appearances, with users reporting misleading photos and age misrepresentation [2][6] - There is a strong willingness among users to undergo background checks, with over 75% open to this idea, indicating a demand for enhanced trust and safety measures in online dating [3][6] User Concerns and Preferences - Users are particularly concerned about the accuracy of profile representations, with women more likely to report age misrepresentation and men more frequently experiencing bait and switch tactics [2][6] - A high percentage of users (79% of women and 81% of men) want platforms to verify age, while 64% of women and 61% of men want verification of photo recency [5] - Approximately 28% of users have experienced catfishing, and 21% have fallen victim to romance scams, underscoring the prevalence of fraud in online dating [7][8] Opportunities for Dating Platforms - Dating platforms have the potential to enhance user trust and loyalty by implementing identity verification tools, which could also serve as a new revenue stream [4][5][8] - The report suggests that users are willing to pay for background checks, with nearly 40% expressing a willingness to cover costs for both themselves and potential matches [5] - By leveraging identity data for verification, dating platforms can not only protect users from scams but also facilitate genuine connections [8]

Core Insights - The analysis by TransUnion indicates an elevated risk of tax refund theft in 2025, with 970 data breaches reported in 2024 that compromised personally identifiable information (PII) necessary for tax fraud [1][2] - A total of 640 million consumer records were exposed in 2024, with full Social Security numbers being exposed in 71% of breaches in the first half of 2024, a significant increase from 57% in 2023 [2] Government Agencies - Government agencies, including the IRS, are urged to be vigilant against fraudsters who may impersonate victims or validate stolen identity information through call centers and online portals [3][4] - The implementation of identity verification and document authentication technologies is recommended to detect impersonators, especially those using AI-generated credentials [4][5] - Agencies should consider using branded calling tools to proactively notify taxpayers at risk of fraud, as 62% of consumers are unlikely to answer calls from unrecognized numbers [5] Financial Institutions - Banks and financial institutions are advised to verify that payees match account owners to prevent fraudulent tax return claims [6] - Institutions should scrutinize new deposit account openings for potential fraud and protect existing accounts from takeovers [7] Consumer Protection - Consumers are encouraged to monitor their bank account activity and credit history, especially around the time their tax refund is due, to detect any unauthorized activity [8] - Utilizing credit monitoring services can help consumers identify if fraudsters have opened new accounts in their name [8]

Core Insights - TransUnion has advanced its partnership with Truework to enhance income and employment verification solutions for mortgage lenders, aiming to streamline the underwriting process and reduce costs [1][3][4] Company Developments - The new TruVision™ Income and Employment Verification solution allows mortgage lenders to access a comprehensive verification waterfall via the TransUnion API, building on previous solutions for rental screening and auto lending [2] - The solution boasts an industry-leading 75% average completion rate, providing instant data for over 48 million active employee records and covering 90% of US employers through consumer-permissioned payroll [3][5] Market Context - With mortgage originations expected to rise, the demand for efficient tools for income and employment verification is increasing among lenders [3] - The integration of Truework's solution is expected to save time and money for mortgage and home equity lenders while reducing errors in the verification process [4] Future Outlook - TransUnion is rolling out the new solution in phases, including integrations with loan origination systems and point-of-sale systems, and is inviting mortgage lenders to participate in an early adopter program [4]

Group 1 - TransUnion's CFO Todd Cello will present at the RBC Capital Markets Global Financial Institutions Conference on March 4, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. CT [1] - A live webcast of the presentation will be available on TransUnion's Investor Relations website, with a replay accessible afterward [1] Group 2 - TransUnion operates globally with over 13,000 associates in more than 30 countries, focusing on providing reliable representation in the marketplace [2] - The company emphasizes its commitment to innovative solutions that extend beyond core credit services into marketing, fraud, risk, and advanced analytics [2] - TransUnion's mission, termed Information for Good®, aims to create economic opportunities and empower consumers and businesses [2]

Core Insights - TransUnion (TRU) reported strong fourth-quarter 2024 results, with earnings and revenues exceeding Zacks Consensus Estimates [1][2] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share were 97 cents, surpassing the consensus by 1% and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 21.3% [2] - Total revenues reached $1 billion, slightly exceeding the consensus and growing 8.7% year over year [2] - Adjusted EBITDA was $378 million, marking a 16% increase year over year, and the EBITDA margin improved to 36%, up 200 basis points from the previous year [8] Segment Performance - U.S. Markets segment revenues were $792 million, an 8% increase year over year, with Financial Services growing 21% to $356 million [4] - International segment revenues were $245 million, an 11% increase year over year, but missed expectations [5] - Revenues from India grew 17% to $67 million, while Asia-Pacific revenues increased 19% to $29 million, both surpassing estimates [6] Stock Performance - TRU's stock has gained 29.5% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 23% and the S&P 500 growth of 24.1% [3] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter were $679 million, up from $643.2 million in the previous quarter [9] - Operating cash flow for the quarter was $254 million, with capital expenditures of $117.1 million [10] Guidance - For Q1 2025, TRU expects revenues of $1.06-$1.07 billion and adjusted EPS of 96-99 cents, both lower than consensus estimates [11] - For the full year 2025, TRU anticipates revenues of $4.33-$4.39 billion and adjusted EPS of $3.93-$4.08, also below consensus estimates [12]

Core Insights - Despite concerns regarding interest rate cuts, new account originations across various credit products are projected to grow in 2025 [1][3] - The growth in new auto, mortgage, and unsecured personal loans is anticipated after several years of stagnation due to high inflation and interest rates [2][3] Credit Product Growth Projections - Auto loan originations are expected to increase by 2.7% in 2025 [3] - Mortgage purchase originations are forecasted to rise by 13.3%, with total mortgage originations increasing from approximately 4.6 million in 2024 to about 5.7 million in 2025 [3][6] - Unsecured personal loans are projected to grow by 5.7%, with originations expected to reach approximately 20.8 million [3][6] Consumer Credit Environment - Signs of stabilization in the consumer credit market have been observed, with year-over-year growth in originations for auto, mortgage, and unsecured personal loans [4][5] - Delinquencies have shown mixed trends, with some products experiencing declines while others saw increases [5] Auto Loan Trends - Auto loan originations increased by 1.5% year-over-year in Q3 2024, driven primarily by super prime borrowers [23] - Consumer-level delinquencies for auto loans rose to 1.67%, reflecting a slight increase from previous quarters [26] Mortgage Loan Trends - Mortgage originations grew by 7% year-over-year in Q3 2024, with purchase originations accounting for 82% of total originations [18] - Delinquency rates for mortgages increased to 1.29%, although they remain low compared to historical standards [22] Unsecured Personal Loan Trends - Unsecured personal loan originations reached 5.8 million in Q3 2024, marking a 15% year-over-year increase [13] - Borrower-level delinquencies for unsecured personal loans decreased to 3.57%, indicating improved credit quality among borrowers [17]