First Advantage Past Earnings Performance
Past criteria checks 2/6
First Advantage's earnings have been declining at an average annual rate of -49.9%, while the Professional Services industry saw earnings growing at 11.2% annually. Revenues have been growing at an average rate of 18.1% per year. First Advantage's return on equity is 0.7%, and it has net margins of 0.5%.
Key information
-49.92%
Earnings growth rate
-48.63%
EPS growth rate
| Professional Services Industry Growth | 10.99% |
| Revenue growth rate | 18.05% |
| Return on equity | 0.66% |
| Net Margin | 0.53% |
| Last Earnings Update | 31 Mar 2026 |
Recent past performance updates
Recent updates
Narrative Update • May 02
FA: Buyback Plan And 2026 Guidance Will Support Steady Outlook
Analysts have nudged their price target for First Advantage to $13.00, reflecting updated views on slightly lower discount and future P/E assumptions, along with modestly adjusted expectations for revenue growth and profit margins. What's in the News First Advantage issued earnings guidance for full year 2026, expecting revenue in a range of US$1.625b to US$1.7b (Key Developments).
Narrative Update • Apr 17
FA: Buybacks And 2026 Outlook Will Support Margin Expansion And Upside Potential
Analysts have nudged their price target on First Advantage to $17.00, reflecting updated assumptions around slightly higher revenue growth, a modestly stronger profit margin, a marginally lower discount rate, and a slightly reduced future P/E multiple. What's in the News First Advantage Corporation announced a share repurchase program of up to US$100 million of its common stock, funded with existing cash, with no expiration date for the program (Key Developments).Seeking Alpha • Apr 13
First Advantage: Upgrade To Buy On Improved Fundamentals As Valuation Stayed Depressed
Summary First Advantage is upgraded to Buy as execution drives growth despite a weak hiring environment. FA’s Sterling integration is complete, with retention improving to 97% and cost synergies reaching a $55M run rate. Enterprise wins and cross-sell momentum signal increasing customer trust and larger, more bundled deals. FA trades at 8.7x forward PE—historically low—while the earnings growth outlook brightens, presenting a compelling risk-reward. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaNarrative Update • Apr 03
FA: 2026 Guidance And Buybacks Will Support Margins And Upside Potential
Analysts have reduced their price target on First Advantage from $20 to $17 as they factor in updated views on fair value, discount rate, revenue growth, profit margin, and future P/E assumptions. What's in the News First Advantage issued earnings guidance for full year 2026, with expected revenue in a range of $1,625 million to $1,700 million (company guidance).
Narrative Update • Mar 20
FA: Share Repurchases And 2026 Guidance Will Support Future Earnings Upside
Analysts have revised their 12 month price target for First Advantage to $15.00 from $17.57, reflecting updated assumptions for revenue growth, profit margins, and future P/E multiples. What's in the News First Advantage issued full year 2026 earnings guidance, with expected revenue in the range of US$1.625b to US$1.7b (company guidance).Narrative Update • Mar 06
FA: Buyback Plan And 2026 Guidance Will Support Balanced Outlook
Analysts have trimmed their price target on First Advantage from $14.19 to $13.00, reflecting updated views on fair value, discount rate assumptions, revenue growth expectations, profit margins, and the P/E multiple they are willing to apply. What's in the News First Advantage issued full year 2026 earnings guidance, with revenue expected in a range of US$1.625b to US$1.7b (company guidance).Narrative Update • Feb 19
FA: Stable Assumptions And Higher Future P/E Will Support Earnings Upside
Analysts have adjusted their price target for First Advantage to $17.57, with the change reflecting updated assumptions for the discount rate and future P/E, while keeping fair value, revenue growth, and profit margin estimates broadly consistent with prior views. Valuation Changes Fair Value: Model fair value remains at $17.57, with no change from the prior estimate.Analysis Article • Feb 10
Take Care Before Jumping Onto First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA) Even Though It's 28% Cheaper
First Advantage Corporation ( NASDAQ:FA ) shareholders won't be pleased to see that the share price has had a very...Narrative Update • Feb 04
FA: Refined 2025 Guidance And Synergies Will Support Earnings Upside
Analysts now hold their fair value estimate for First Advantage steady at US$17.57 per share, with only small tweaks to assumptions, such as a slightly higher discount rate and a modestly higher future P/E multiple, shaping this latest price target update. What's in the News First Advantage narrowed its full year 2025 earnings guidance, refining the ranges it had provided a year ago.Narrative Update • Jan 21
FA: Refined 2025 Synergies Will Support Stronger Margins And Upside Potential
Narrative Update on First Advantage Analysts have held their price target for First Advantage steady at US$20.00, as they balance a lower assumed revenue growth rate of 8.95% with a higher projected profit margin of 12.05% and a more conservative future P/E of 19.73x. What's in the News First Advantage refined its full year 2025 earnings guidance, with updated ranges that have midpoints at or above the original guidance midpoint.Narrative Update • Jan 07
FA: Refined 2025 Guidance And Synergies Will Support Earnings Upside
Analysts have maintained their price target for First Advantage broadly in line with prior views at about US$17.57. Small adjustments to inputs such as the discount rate and assumed future P/E reflect updated risk and valuation assumptions rather than a major change in outlook.Narrative Update • Dec 21
FA Synergy Progress And Tighter 2025 Guidance Will Support Earnings Upside
Analysts have nudged their price target on First Advantage slightly higher, from $17.43 to $17.57. They cite modest improvements in projected profitability and valuation multiples, despite slightly softer revenue growth assumptions and a lower discount rate.Analysis Article • Dec 19
Why Investors Shouldn't Be Surprised By First Advantage Corporation's (NASDAQ:FA) 25% Share Price Surge
First Advantage Corporation ( NASDAQ:FA ) shareholders are no doubt pleased to see that the share price has bounced 25...Narrative Update • Dec 07
FA Synergy Benefits And Tighter Guidance Range Will Support Stronger Earnings
Narrative Update on First Advantage Analysts have modestly lifted their price target on First Advantage to approximately $17.43. This reflects slightly lower perceived risk and marginally improved valuation assumptions, while growth and profitability forecasts remain largely unchanged.Narrative Update • Nov 23
FA: Rising Synergy Benefits Will Drive Improved Earnings Outlook
Analysts have slightly lowered their price target for First Advantage, decreasing it from $17.86 to $17.43. They cited modest reductions in projected revenue growth and profit margins as the reason for this change.Narrative Update • Nov 08
FA: Improved Margins And Synergies Will Drive Renewed Upside Momentum
Analysts have lowered their price target for First Advantage from $19.14 to $17.86. This reflects moderated expectations for revenue growth and a higher discount rate, even as improved profit margins provide some offset.Analysis Article • Jul 08
Is First Advantage (NASDAQ:FA) Using Too Much Debt?
David Iben put it well when he said, 'Volatility is not a risk we care about. What we care about is avoiding the...Analysis Article • May 16
First Advantage Corporation's (NASDAQ:FA) P/S Is Still On The Mark Following 31% Share Price Bounce
First Advantage Corporation ( NASDAQ:FA ) shareholders are no doubt pleased to see that the share price has bounced 31...Analysis Article • May 06
Are Investors Undervaluing First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA) By 46%?
Key Insights First Advantage's estimated fair value is US$27.57 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share...Analysis Article • Mar 05
Why We're Not Concerned Yet About First Advantage Corporation's (NASDAQ:FA) 27% Share Price Plunge
First Advantage Corporation ( NASDAQ:FA ) shareholders that were waiting for something to happen have been dealt a blow...Analysis Article • Jan 28
First Advantage (NASDAQ:FA) Seems To Use Debt Quite Sensibly
Some say volatility, rather than debt, is the best way to think about risk as an investor, but Warren Buffett famously...Analysis Article • Dec 23
Market Participants Recognise First Advantage Corporation's (NASDAQ:FA) Revenues
When you see that almost half of the companies in the Professional Services industry in the United States have...Seeking Alpha • Nov 26
First Advantage: Larger Scale Doesn't Mean Much If Growth Is Poor
Summary Maintain a hold rating on First Advantage due to ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties and increased leverage post-merger with STER. Despite the larger scale of the merger, the growth outlook remains unchanged, with continued poor base revenue and hiring demand. The combined entity's balance sheet is now highly leveraged, raising concerns about liquidity if the negative macro backdrop persists. Given the unchanged demand profile and higher leverage, FA's valuation is unlikely to see the upside, justifying a neutral stance. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaSeeking Alpha • Nov 12
First Advantage: Sterling Acquisition Leads To Leveraged Balance Sheet, Poor Returns
Summary First Advantage Corporation's acquisition of Sterling Check led to a leveraged balance sheet and overvalued shares, impacting capital returns negatively. The company aims to integrate Sterling, achieve cost synergies, and focus on deleveraging to improve financial stability and future growth prospects. Despite strong industry positioning, high leverage and limited capital returns make First Advantage less attractive for long-term investors. Current valuation metrics based on recent Q3 earnings indicate that First Advantage shares are not cheap, trading above historical averages, and reducing their investment appeal. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Oct 23
First Advantage (NASDAQ:FA) Has A Pretty Healthy Balance Sheet
David Iben put it well when he said, 'Volatility is not a risk we care about. What we care about is avoiding the...Analysis Article • Sep 16
Are Investors Undervaluing First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA) By 47%?
Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, First Advantage fair value estimate is US$37.15 First...
New Narrative • Sep 09
Sterling Acquisition And AI Investments Set To Skyrocket Revenue And Margins
Significant potential revenue growth from the Sterling acquisition and improved net margins through cost savings and operational efficiencies.Analysis Article • Aug 15
There May Be Some Bright Spots In First Advantage's (NASDAQ:FA) Earnings
The market was pleased with the recent earnings report from First Advantage Corporation ( NASDAQ:FA ), despite the...Analysis Article • Aug 07
With First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA) It Looks Like You'll Get What You Pay For
First Advantage Corporation's ( NASDAQ:FA ) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 74.2x might make it look like a...Analysis Article • Jun 25
Does First Advantage (NASDAQ:FA) Have A Healthy Balance Sheet?
Howard Marks put it nicely when he said that, rather than worrying about share price volatility, 'The possibility of...Analysis Article • Jun 01
Is It Too Late To Consider Buying First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA)?
While First Advantage Corporation ( NASDAQ:FA ) might not have the largest market cap around , it saw significant share...Analysis Article • May 12
First Advantage Corporation Earnings Missed Analyst Estimates: Here's What Analysts Are Forecasting Now
Shareholders might have noticed that First Advantage Corporation ( NASDAQ:FA ) filed its first-quarter result this time...Analysis Article • Apr 23
Market Participants Recognise First Advantage Corporation's (NASDAQ:FA) Earnings
First Advantage Corporation's ( NASDAQ:FA ) price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 60.3x might make it look like a...Analysis Article • Mar 30
Is There An Opportunity With First Advantage Corporation's (NASDAQ:FA) 38% Undervaluation?
Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, First Advantage fair value estimate is US$26.11 Current share...Seeking Alpha • Mar 19
Sterling Check Is An Attractive Merger Arbitrage
Summary Sterling Check is a digital identity services firm that specializes in background checks and employment verifications. The company has agreed to be acquired by First Advantage Corporation in a cash and shares deal. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024 and offers a potential 9.3% internal rate of return for investors. Read the full article on Seeking AlphaAnalysis Article • Feb 29
Why First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA) Could Be Worth Watching
First Advantage Corporation ( NASDAQ:FA ), might not be a large cap stock, but it saw a double-digit share price rise...Analysis Article • Dec 05
First Advantage Corporation (NASDAQ:FA) Shares Could Be 50% Below Their Intrinsic Value Estimate
Key Insights The projected fair value for First Advantage is US$31.52 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current...Revenue & Expenses Breakdown
Revenue & Expenses Breakdown
How First Advantage makes and spends money. Based on latest reported earnings, on an LTM basis.
Earnings and Revenue History
| Date | Revenue | Earnings | G+A Expenses | R&D Expenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 26 | 1,605 | 9 | 224 | 99 |
| 31 Dec 25 | 1,574 | -35 | 236 | 102 |
| 30 Sep 25 | 1,461 | -139 | 345 | 103 |
| 30 Jun 25 | 1,251 | -150 | 322 | 91 |
| 31 Mar 25 | 1,045 | -149 | 296 | 79 |
| 31 Dec 24 | 860 | -110 | 264 | 64 |
| 30 Sep 24 | 756 | 5 | 120 | 50 |
| 30 Jun 24 | 757 | 25 | 117 | 50 |
| 31 Mar 24 | 758 | 32 | 119 | 49 |
| 31 Dec 23 | 764 | 37 | 117 | 49 |
| 30 Sep 23 | 774 | 43 | 118 | 50 |
| 30 Jun 23 | 779 | 49 | 116 | 50 |
| 31 Mar 23 | 796 | 54 | 116 | 51 |
| 31 Dec 22 | 810 | 65 | 117 | 52 |
| 30 Sep 22 | 810 | 60 | 119 | 52 |
| 30 Jun 22 | 797 | 59 | 119 | 50 |
| 31 Mar 22 | 770 | 48 | 113 | 49 |
| 31 Dec 21 | 712 | 16 | 108 | 46 |
| 30 Sep 21 | 656 | 31 | 97 | 45 |
| 30 Jun 21 | 600 | 12 | 89 | 42 |
| 31 Mar 21 | 530 | -9 | 79 | 38 |
| 31 Dec 20 | 509 | -47 | 78 | 35 |
| 31 Dec 19 | 482 | 34 | 85 | 33 |
Quality Earnings: FA has a large one-off loss of $1.4M impacting its last 12 months of financial results to 31st March, 2026.
Growing Profit Margin: FA became profitable in the past.
Free Cash Flow vs Earnings Analysis
Past Earnings Growth Analysis
Earnings Trend: FA has become profitable over the past 5 years, growing earnings by -49.9% per year.
Accelerating Growth: FA has become profitable in the last year, making the earnings growth rate difficult to compare to its 5-year average.
Earnings vs Industry: FA has become profitable in the last year, making it difficult to compare its past year earnings growth to the Professional Services industry (6.8%).
Return on Equity
High ROE: FA's Return on Equity (0.7%) is considered low.
Return on Assets
Return on Capital Employed
Discover strong past performing companies
Company Analysis and Financial Data Status
| Data | Last Updated (UTC time) |
|---|---|
| Company Analysis | 2026/05/11 11:18 |
| End of Day Share Price | 2026/05/08 00:00 |
| Earnings | 2026/03/31 |
| Annual Earnings | 2025/12/31 |
Data Sources
The data used in our company analysis is from S&P Global Market Intelligence LLC. The following data is used in our analysis model to generate this report. Data is normalised which can introduce a delay from the source being available.
| Package | Data | Timeframe | Example US Source * |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Financials | 10 years |
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| Analyst Consensus Estimates | +3 years |
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| Market Prices | 30 years |
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| Ownership | 10 years |
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| Management | 10 years |
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| Key Developments | 10 years |
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* Example for US securities, for non-US equivalent regulatory forms and sources are used.
Unless specified all financial data is based on a yearly period but updated quarterly. This is known as Trailing Twelve Month (TTM) or Last Twelve Month (LTM) Data. Learn more.
Analysis Model and Snowflake
Details of the analysis model used to generate this report is available on our Github page, we also have guides on how to use our reports and tutorials on Youtube.
Learn about the world class team who designed and built the Simply Wall St analysis model.
Industry and Sector Metrics
Our industry and section metrics are calculated every 6 hours by Simply Wall St, details of our process are available on Github.
Analyst Sources
First Advantage Corporation is covered by 11 analysts. 9 of those analysts submitted the estimates of revenue or earnings used as inputs to our report. Analysts submissions are updated throughout the day.
| Analyst | Institution |
|---|---|
| Manav Patnaik | Barclays |
| Jeffrey Silber | BMO Capital Markets Equity Research |
| Heather Balsky | BofA Global Research |