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First Advantage (FA)
NASDAQ:FA
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First Advantage (FA) AI Stock Analysis

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FA

First Advantage

(NASDAQ:FA)

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Neutral 51 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:51Neutral
Price Target:
$13.50
▼(-2.32% Downside)
First Advantage's overall score is driven by strong revenue growth and positive cash flow management. However, negative profitability metrics and bearish technical indicators weigh heavily. The earnings call provided some optimism with successful acquisition integration and improved retention, but sector-specific challenges and a flat hiring environment remain concerns.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
Consistent revenue growth indicates strong market demand and effective business strategies, supporting long-term financial health.
Customer Retention
High retention rates reflect customer satisfaction and loyalty, enhancing revenue stability and reducing acquisition costs.
Successful Acquisition Integration
Effective integration of acquisitions can lead to cost synergies and expanded capabilities, strengthening competitive position.
Negative Factors
Profitability Concerns
Negative profitability metrics indicate challenges in cost management and efficiency, potentially impacting long-term viability.
Flat Hiring Environment
A flat hiring environment can limit growth opportunities in employment screening services, affecting revenue potential.
Healthcare Sector Challenges
Sector-specific challenges in healthcare can hinder growth in a key market, impacting overall business performance.

First Advantage (FA) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

First Advantage Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionFirst Advantage Corporation provides technology solutions for screening, verifications, safety, and compliance related to human capital worldwide. It offers pre-onboarding products and solutions, such as criminal background checks, drug/health screening, extended workforce screening, FBI channeling, identity checks and biometric fraud mitigation tools, education/work history verification, driver records and compliance, healthcare credentials, executive screening, and other screening products. The company also provides post-onboarding solutions, including criminal records monitoring, healthcare sanctions, motor vehicle records, social media screening, and global sanctions and licenses; and fleet/vehicle compliance, hiring tax credits and incentives, resident/tenant screening, and investigative research. Its products and solutions are used by personnel in recruiting, human resources, risk, compliance, vendor management, safety, and/or security in global enterprises, mid-sized, and small companies. The company was formerly known as Fastball Intermediate, Inc. and changed its name to First Advantage Corporation in March 2021. First Advantage Corporation was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
How the Company Makes MoneyFirst Advantage generates revenue primarily through its background screening services, which are offered on a subscription and pay-per-use basis. The company's key revenue streams include fees charged for individual background checks, bundled screening packages, and ongoing screening programs for large enterprises. Additionally, FA has established significant partnerships with various technology and data providers, enhancing its service offerings and operational efficiency. The company also benefits from cross-selling opportunities by providing ancillary services, such as drug testing and occupational health services, to existing clients, further contributing to its earnings.

First Advantage Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 06, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Feb 26, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call portrayed a company performing well despite a challenging macroeconomic environment. Key achievements include strong revenue growth, successful integration of a major acquisition, and improved customer retention. However, challenges in the health care sector and a flat hiring environment present hurdles.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Profitable Growth and Strong Retention
First Advantage reported a revenue increase of approximately 4% year-over-year on a pro forma basis and achieved adjusted EBITDA margins of 29%. The company also improved its retention rate to 97%, up from 96% in Q2.
Successful Integration of Sterling Acquisition
The integration of Sterling is progressing ahead of schedule, delivering strategic and financial benefits. Synergies achieved have exceeded the original goal, with $52 million actioned so far.
Strong New Logo and Upsell/Cross-Sell Performance
The company has experienced success with 17 enterprise bookings in Q3 and 75 in the last 12 months, with each having over $500,000 of expected annual contract value.
Narrowed Full Year Guidance with Strong Expectations
Full year 2025 guidance ranges have been narrowed, with refined midpoints at or above the original guidance midpoint. Revenue projected between $1.535 billion to $1.570 billion.
Negative Updates
Challenges in Health Care Vertical
The health care segment saw a slight decline due to uncertainty with Medicare and Medicaid funding, affecting nonprofit hospital networks.
Consistently Flat Hiring Environment
The macroeconomic environment remains challenging with hiring consistently flat, contributing to slightly negative base growth.
Impact of Government Shutdown
The government shutdown has affected operational items like the E-Verify platform, causing some delays in processing I-9 verifications.
Company Guidance
During the First Advantage Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company provided updated guidance, reflecting confidence in its performance and strategic direction. The company narrowed its full-year 2025 revenue guidance to between $1.535 billion and $1.570 billion, with expectations of achieving an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 28%, which marks a significant expansion from the previous year's pro forma results. Notably, First Advantage reported a 4% year-over-year revenue growth on a pro forma basis for Q3, driven by strong upsell, cross-sell, and new logo acquisitions. Retention rates improved to 97% from 96% in Q2, highlighting the effectiveness of their customer-centric approach. The company's adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was $118.5 million, with a margin of 29%, exceeding expectations. Additionally, First Advantage reported a 15.4% increase in adjusted diluted EPS to $0.30, supported by effective cost management and synergy realization from the Sterling acquisition. Looking ahead, the company anticipates continued productivity and growth momentum, with Q4 revenue growth projected at around 6% year-over-year, despite a slightly negative base growth outlook due to macroeconomic conditions.

First Advantage Financial Statement Overview

Summary
First Advantage shows strong revenue growth and a stable balance sheet with low leverage. However, profitability is a concern with negative margins and return on equity. Cash flow management is positive, but operational efficiency needs improvement.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
First Advantage shows a mixed performance in its income statement. The company has experienced significant revenue growth, particularly in the TTM period, indicating a positive trajectory. However, profitability metrics such as net profit margin and EBIT margin are negative, reflecting challenges in converting revenue growth into profit. The gross profit margin has declined over time, suggesting increased cost pressures or pricing challenges.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet of First Advantage reveals a stable equity position with a low debt-to-equity ratio in the TTM period, indicating reduced leverage risk. However, the return on equity is negative, highlighting inefficiencies in generating returns for shareholders. The equity ratio remains healthy, suggesting a solid capital structure.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash flow analysis shows improvement in free cash flow growth and a strong free cash flow to net income ratio, indicating effective cash management. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is low, suggesting potential issues in converting accounting profits into cash. Overall, cash flow stability is a positive aspect for the company.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue1.46B860.21M763.76M810.02M712.29M509.15M
Gross Profit670.56M411.29M376.98M401.10M360.13M248.60M
EBITDA254.84M83.15M210.99M232.52M195.13M135.11M
Net Income-138.66M-110.27M37.29M64.60M16.05M-84.02M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets3.86B3.92B1.63B1.89B1.89B1.76B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments216.85M168.69M213.77M393.61M293.58M154.24M
Total Debt2.12B2.16B567.74M569.49M554.85M787.97M
Total Liabilities2.55B2.62B723.92M759.21M754.34M969.42M
Stockholders Equity1.30B1.31B906.73M1.13B1.13B794.27M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow28.45M26.48M135.12M184.24M124.88M34.53M
Operating Cash Flow43.52M28.20M162.82M212.77M148.68M52.24M
Investing Cash Flow-1.67B-1.65B-66.85M-48.60M-72.43M-17.61M
Financing Cash Flow1.53B1.58B-273.56M-59.15M63.85M36.68M

First Advantage Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price13.82
Price Trends
50DMA
14.07
Negative
100DMA
15.42
Negative
200DMA
15.68
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.15
Negative
RSI
53.87
Neutral
STOCH
85.91
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FA, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 13.82 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 13.09, below the 50-day MA of 14.07, and below the 200-day MA of 15.68, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.15 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 53.87 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 85.91 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for FA.

First Advantage Risk Analysis

First Advantage disclosed 45 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. First Advantage reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

First Advantage Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
68
Neutral
$2.99B21.546.93%0.90%0.20%2.72%
66
Neutral
$2.63B23.356.32%2.47%4.27%-24.06%
66
Neutral
$2.67B32.267.44%59.19%-35.47%
66
Neutral
$1.65B74.8416.96%7.17%-5.86%
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
59
Neutral
$1.20B290.343.13%-3.40%-51.58%
51
Neutral
$2.24B-14.05-12.48%93.41%-2515.85%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
FA
First Advantage
13.82
-5.41
-28.13%
ABM
ABM Industries
42.98
-12.96
-23.17%
CBZ
CBIZ
49.00
-33.58
-40.66%
UNF
UniFirst
171.85
-27.57
-13.83%
BV
BrightView Holdings
12.63
-4.47
-26.14%
LZ
LegalZoom
9.31
1.38
17.40%

First Advantage Corporate Events

First Advantage Shines Amid Challenges in Earnings Call
Nov 9, 2025

The recent earnings call for First Advantage Corporation painted a picture of a company navigating a challenging macroeconomic landscape with commendable success. The sentiment was largely positive, highlighting significant revenue growth, effective integration of a major acquisition, and improved customer retention. However, the company faces challenges in the health care sector and a stagnant hiring environment.

First Advantage Reports Strong Q3 2025 Results
Nov 7, 2025

First Advantage Corporation is a prominent player in the HR technology sector, offering global software and data solutions for employment background screening and digital identity verification. The company, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, leverages AI and proprietary technology to serve over 80,000 organizations worldwide.

First Advantage Corp’s Earnings Call Highlights Strong Growth
Aug 13, 2025

First Advantage Corporation’s recent earnings call painted a picture of robust financial health, underscored by strong revenue growth and successful strategic initiatives. The sentiment was largely positive, buoyed by the successful integration of the Sterling acquisition and high customer retention rates. However, macroeconomic uncertainties and a decline in base revenue performance tempered the outlook. Despite challenges in certain sectors, the company’s strategic initiatives and enterprise deals offer a promising path forward.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Nov 13, 2025