FICO Stock Jumps as Company Announces Overhaul of Credit Score Pricing
NEW YORK – October 2, 2025 – Shares of Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) surged today after the company announced a important restructuring of its credit score business, offering lenders a choice of both pricing and distribution models. The move, lauded by analysts as perhaps improving FICO’s economics and disrupting the conventional role of credit bureaus, sent the stock higher in afternoon trading.
For decades, credit bureaus have acted as the sole distributors of FICO scores, applying a roughly 100% markup. This new scheme allows lenders too bypass that system, potentially lowering costs and increasing competition in the credit scoring market. The change impacts lenders, consumers, and the credit bureaus themselves, signaling a potential shift in the $130 billion credit reporting industry.
Raymond James analyst Patrick O’shaughnessy reiterated an outperform rating for Fair Isaac, stating the new pricing scheme “will improve FICO’s economics and…ultimately disintermediate credit bureaus from their current ~100% mark-up on the FICO score.” The declaration follows months of scrutiny from regulators concerned about rising credit score costs.
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte welcomed the move on X (formerly Twitter), calling it an effort to “generate Creative Solutions to help the American consumer.” Pulte had previously criticized Fair Isaac in late july, labeling the company a “monopoly” and accusing it of unfair price hikes. He urged credit bureaus to follow suit,stating,”I encourage the Credit Bureau’s to also take similar creative and constructive actions to make our markets safer,stronger,and more competitive.”
