First Advantage (FA)
Runs identity, background, health, and compliance checks across the workforce lifecycle.
Something off on this page? Send us feedback.
Sells configurable background screening, identity and credential verification, drug and health testing, employment-eligibility workflows, and continuous monitoring to employers. Most revenue comes from pre-onboarding activity in the United States, so results depend on customer hiring volumes, regulated access to personal data, and the continuing integration of Sterling.
Provides identity verification, criminal background checks, credential and work-history verification, drug and health screening, fingerprinting, employment-eligibility workflows, and continuous workforce monitoring. Configurable platforms connect with applicant-tracking and human-capital systems, combining proprietary records with primary-source and third-party data to deliver screening results quickly.
Operates through First Advantage Americas, First Advantage International, and Sterling, the acquired global screening business. Revenue is concentrated in the United States, with a smaller presence across Europe, India, Asia Pacific, Canada, and Latin America. Execution rests on data access, workflow integration, turnaround time, and Sterling platform integration. Demand follows customer hiring and onboarding volumes, while background-reporting and privacy rules govern how personal data is collected, checked, and delivered.
Company facts
Target rangeAs of Sep 22, 2026
Latest analyst notes
| Date | Firm | Action | Prior | Current |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7, 2026 | RBC Capital | Reiterate | Rating: —Target: $21 | Target: $24 |
| Aug 7, 2026 | Barclays | Reiterate | Rating: —Target: $15 | Target: $30 |
| Aug 6, 2026 | Needham | Upgrade | Target: — | Target: $28 |
| Aug 3, 2026 | RBC Capital | Reiterate | Rating: —Target: — | Target: $21 |
| May 8, 2026 | Stifel Nicolaus | Target | Target: $21 | Target: $18 |
EPSReportedEstimate
RevenueReportedEstimate
Balance sheet, Jun 30, 2026Cash & short-term investments $237.9M · Total debt $2.04B · Total assets $3.75B · Shareholders' equity $1.29B
- Revenue
- $448.8M
- Operating income
- $57.0M
- Net income
- $16.9M
| Institutions | ≈ 116.04% | 199.05M shares | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 180 holders · as of Jun 30, 2026 · largest filers plus last quarter's tail | |||
| Insiders | 44.95% | 77.11M shares | |
| 11 holders · as of Sep 18, 2026 | |||
| Adds to | 160.99% | ||
171.54M company shares as of Sep 22, 2026 · institutions as of Jun 30, 2026 · holders as of their latest filing
This quarter's institutional total failed a plausibility check; shown: the largest filers plus last quarter's remainder.
These groups come from separate filings that can overlap, so they add to 160.99%; nothing is left for Other.
Top shareholders13F · 13D/G · Form 4
| Holder | Stake | Shares | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
Silver Lake Group, L.L.C.Institution | 52.21% | 89.56M | as of Jun 30, 2026 |
V. (gp) L.l.c. SltaInsiderdirector, 10 percent owner | 42.57% | 73.03M | filed Aug 14, 2026 |
Price T Rowe Associates Inc /MD/Institution | 9.16% | 15.71M | as of Jun 30, 2026 |
BlackRock, Inc.Institution | 7.03% | 12.06M | as of Jun 30, 2026 |
Capital World InvestorsInstitution | 6.23% | 10.69M | as of Jun 30, 2026 |
Insider tradesForm 4
| Date | Insider | Role | Shares | Avg price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2026 | V. (gp) L.l.c. Slta | director, 10 percent owner: | −12,500,000 | $22.02 |
| Jun 8, 2026 | James Lindsey Clark | director | −4,921 | $15.69 |
| May 12, 2026 | Bret T. Jardine | officer: Chief Legal Officer | −682 | $16.12 |
| May 7, 2026 | Joelle M. Smith | officer: President | −23,334 | $15.00 |
| Mar 5, 2026 | Bret T. Jardine | officer: Chief Legal Officer | −600 | $12.09 |
- ADP
Direct HCM rival in background checks and drug screening
- Equifax
Workforce-data rival in verifications and I-9 compliance
- RELX (ADR)
Identity, watchlist, and public-records risk data rival
- TransUnion
Screening-data rival in tenant checks and credit risk reports
- Paychex
SMB HCM channel rival for embedded employee screening
CompareAfter hours
| Company | Price | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Advantage | $20.34 | −0.05% | $3.51B | 139.4 | 14.9 | 2.1 | +14.9% |
| ADP | $269.64 | +0.00% | $107.90B | 24.7 | 22.0 | 4.9 | +6.8% |
| Equifax | $159.78 | −0.05% | $18.64B | 27.9 | 17.5 | 2.9 | +10.6% |
| RELX (ADR) | $33.07 | +0.26% | $58.33B | 20.2 | — | 4.5 | +1.0% |
| TransUnion | $71.87 | −0.08% | $13.68B | 18.8 | 13.9 | 2.8 | +14.9% |
| Paychex | $114.90 | +0.31% | $40.91B | 23.6 | 19.2 | 6.3 | +12.5% |
| Median | 23.6 | 18.4 | 4.5 | +10.6% |