FAIR ISAAC CORP. $60.30 - New York symbol FICO

FAIR ISAAC CORP. $60.30 (New York symbol FICO; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (415-472-2211; www.fairisaac.com; Shares outstanding: 34.3 million; Market cap: $2.1 billion; Dividend yield: 0.1%) makes FICO Scores, the computer program that dominates the market for software that businesses use to evaluate customer creditworthiness. The company is also profiting by selling software that helps credit card issuers control fraud and analyze cardholders’ spending patterns.

In its fiscal 2014 second quarter, which ended March 31, 2014, Fair Isaac’s earnings per share rose 15.7% from a year ago, to $0.59 from $0.51.

Revenue gained 3.4%, to $185.5 million from $179.3 million. The company saw stronger sales of its credit-scoring software and customized programs for analyzing large amounts of a business’s data. However, sales at its main Applications division (62% of the total) fell 1.4% on weaker licensing revenue from software that detects bank fraud.

Fair Isaac continues to spend around 10% of its revenue on research. That lets it keep producing innovative products that help it stay ahead of its competitors.

The company’s balance sheet is sound: it holds cash of $108.2 million, or $3.10 a share. Its long-term debt of $447.0 million is a manageable 21% of its market cap.

For all of fiscal 2014, Fair Isaac expects to earn $2.50 to $2.60 a share. The stock trades at a high 23.6 times the midpoint of that range. As well, the banking industry accounts for 75% of the company’s revenue, and slowing mortgage demand could hurt sales of its credit-scoring software.

Fair Isaac is now a hold.

A professional investment analyst for more than 30 years, Pat has developed a stock-selection technique that has proven reliable in both bull and bear markets. His proprietary ValuVesting System™ focuses on stocks that provide exceptional quality at relatively low prices. Many savvy investors and industry leaders consider it the most powerful stock-picking method ever created.