1208 ET - Consumer lending was strong in the fourth quarter, BMO Capital Markets analysts say in a research note, and that strength likely benefited credit bureaus and scoring companies such as Equifax, Fair Isaac and TransUnion. The analysts caution, however, that momentum may not carry cleanly into the coming year. "Our main concern on the 2026 guidance is lender affordability and the extent to which this could meaningfully reduce industry volumes as lenders pull less credit," they write. As a result, they are keeping estimates for the year conservative, rather than flowing through upside from the recent quarter, despite bullish commentary on the lending environment. (connor.hart@wsj.com)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 15, 2026 12:08 ET (17:08 GMT)

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