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Upturn AI Summary - About
First Advantage Corp(FA)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for FA
10/23/2026: FA (2-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
First Advantage Corp is a significant provider of technology-enabled background screening and identity verification services for global enterprises. The company benefits from a strong, integrated platform that serves as a sticky, recurring revenue engine, particularly within large corporate hiring ecosystems. Its primary growth story revolves around the increasing corporate demand for digital trust and the potential margin improvements through scale and automated onboarding. However, the company faces risks from economic sensitivity to hiring volumes, potential integration hurdles following major acquisitions like Sterling Check, and evolving data regulatory landscapes. The stock is best suited for growth-oriented investors who can tolerate volatility, as it lacks a dividend and is sensitive to labor market cycles.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Strong fit | The company operates in a secular growth market driven by increasing demand for digital trust and verification services. |
| Momentum investor | Mixed fit | Momentum remains conditional on sustained market hiring trends and successful integration of the Sterling acquisition. |
| Value investor | Mixed fit | Valuation is often tied to growth expectations rather than traditional value metrics. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | The company focuses on reinvesting cash flow for expansion and M&A rather than paying dividends. |
| Low-risk investor | Weak fit | Exposure to labor market volatility and high debt levels from acquisitions increases risk profile. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium / high | The stock is susceptible to fluctuations based on labor market economic reports and interest rate environments. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Growth expectations are built into the share price, leaving little room for error if revenue growth slows. |
| Competition risk (HR tech consolidation) | Medium / high | The sector faces pressure from both niche AI players and large incumbents like EFX and TRU. |
| Business quality | Strong | The company maintains strong enterprise relationships and high switching costs for its platform users. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | Investors should not expect income generation from this stock. |
| Execution risk | Medium / high | Integrating major acquisitions like Sterling is operationally demanding and can distract from core service improvements. |
Price Behavior
Rolling Over
The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.
Choppy
The stock has experienced frequent reversals and pronounced short-term price swings.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -15.34% | Avg. Invested days 31 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 10/23/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Mid-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 3.64B USD | Price to earnings Ratio 151.57 | 1Y Target Price 26 |
Price to earnings Ratio 151.57 | 1Y Target Price 26 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 1.7M shares | Beta 1.14 | 52 Weeks Range 8.82 - 25.15 | Updated Date 10/23/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 8.82 - 25.15 | Updated Date 10/23/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 0.14 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Background Screening Services | Criminal history checks, professional verifications, and drug screening for corporate clients. | This is the primary revenue engine, scaling based on total hiring volume. |
| Identity Verification and Compliance | Digital identity checks and automated regulatory compliance tools. | A higher-growth segment benefiting from the shift toward digital onboarding. |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Revenue by Geography
Geography revenue - Year on Year
Valuation
Trailing PE 151.57 | Forward PE 12.9 | Enterprise Value 5.24B | Price to Sales(TTM) 2.19 |
Enterprise Value 5.24B | Price to Sales(TTM) 2.19 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 3.15 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 12.32 | Shares Outstanding 171.75M | Shares Floating 93.80M |
Shares Outstanding 171.75M | Shares Floating 93.80M | ||
Percent Insiders 2.56 | Percent Institutions 107.38 |
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
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