16. Experian Plc
Turning Insights into Income
A global leader in credit reporting, Experian Plc leverages vast amounts of data to assist businesses and consumers with financial decisions, all while headquartered in Dublin. It operates in the financial services industry – specifically the credit reporting and data analytics sector – as one of the “Big Three” credit agencies alongside Equifax and TransUnion, providing services across 32 countries.
Experian’s primary income comes from collecting, analysing, and selling data through two main segments: Business-to-Business and Consumer Services. Its Business-to-Business arm offers credit reports, fraud prevention tools, and decision analytics to companies, helping them assess lending risks or target marketing campaigns. For example, a bank might pay Experian for a detailed credit report on a loan applicant to ensure safer lending decisions. The Consumer Services segment provides individuals with access to their credit scores, reports, and identity theft protection tools, often through subscriptions like Experian Boost, which helps users improve their scores by including utility payments. In 2024, Experian reported a trailing 12-month revenue of $7.3 billion, with about a quarter of its income from outside North America and the UK, particularly in Latin America and Asia.
The company also earns through its Marketing Services, which use data to help firms target customers more effectively. However, Experian faces challenges – a January 2025 lawsuit from the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau alleges it violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act by mishandling consumer disputes, potentially leading to fines and reputational damage. Additionally, a 2021 data breach in Brazil linked to its subsidiary Serasa Experian exposed 220 million people’s information, raising ongoing concerns about data security.
Employing 22,500 people, Experian is listed on the London Stock Exchange as part of the FTSE 100. Its focus on AI and fintech innovation – like expanding its Hyderabad Global Innovation Centre in 2025 – keeps it competitive, but regulatory scrutiny and cybersecurity risks remain hurdles in a data-driven world.
Experian is a large business – but that’s no barrier to it delivering strong returns. It’s one of the few genuinely world-leading, technology-adjacent companies listed in the UK, and the largest constituent of the credit-reporting Big Three.
It often appears expensive – a reflection of its dependability and its near-ubiquity in quality and growth-focused portfolios across UK, European, developed market and global mandates.
The main reason not to produce a Deep Dive on Experian is simple: it’s too well known. The business is thoroughly understood by the investment community, making it difficult to offer any unique insights. It’s a truly great British company – just not one that requires further investigation by Wonder Stocks.
