FICOFinancialsFinancial Software / Credit Scoring·Sep 3, 2026·6 min read

[FICO] FICO Thesis 2026: Mortgage Direct License and Software Expansion Redefine Revenue Mix

Fair Isaac Corp FY25 (Sep year-end) revenue $1.99B (+16%); op income $925M (+26%); NI $652M (+27%); EPS $26.54 (+30%). Q4 revenue $516M (+14%). Scores segment +25% Q4 / +27% FY; mortgage origination revenue +52% Q4 (55% of B2B revenue Q4). Software +3% FY; Platform ARR $263M (+16% / 35% of total ARR); non-platform ARR $484M consistent. Total ARR $747M. FICO Mortgage Direct License (MDL) program with Xactus live. FICO Score 10 T: institutions representing $313B+ annualized mortgage originations signed. FICO FFM (Focused Foundation Model) launched. Enterprise fraud solution + FICO Marketplace launched. AWS collaboration. FY26 guide: revenue $2.35B (+18%); GAAP EPS $33.47 (+26%); non-GAAP EPS $38.17 (+28%).

FICO 2025-26: Revenue $2.35B (+18%), Mortgage Direct License Live

FY25 (Sep year-end) revenue $1.99B (+16%); op income $925M (+26%); NI $652M (+27%); EPS $26.54 (+30%). Q4 revenue $516M (+14%). Scores +27% FY (Mortgage origination +52% Q4 / +110% Q1). Software +3% FY; Platform ARR +16%. Mortgage Direct License with Xactus live. FICO FFM (Foundation Model) + FICO Marketplace. FY26: revenue $2.35B (+18%); GAAP EPS $33.47 (+26%); non-GAAP EPS $38.17 (+28%).

Key takeaways

  • Mortgage origination revenue +52% Q4 / +110% Q1. The growth engine — Mortgage Direct License (MDL) program with Xactus live; FICO Score 10 T adoption accelerating; institutions representing $313B+ in annualized mortgage originations + $1.52T in eligible portfolios under servicing have signed up.
  • FY26 revenue $2.35B (+18%); non-GAAP EPS $38.17 (+28%). Strongest growth among major financial software companies. Conservative guide given macro environment + timing complexities in pricing model adoption.
  • FICO FFM (Focused Foundation Model) launched. Enterprise fraud solution + FICO platform v2 + FICO Marketplace. Improved accuracy + cost efficiencies vs conventional GenAI. Strategic AWS collaboration.
  • Software ARR +4% to $747M; Platform ARR +16% to $263M (35% of total Q4 ARR). Platform momentum compounding; non-platform $484M consistent. NRR 103%-105%.
  • $1.4B+ FY25 buyback (vs $822M FY24, +72%). Aggressive capital return; $0.5B+ in Q3 alone. Debt $3.1B (+37% YoY) reflects buyback funding.

Business

Fair Isaac Corporation is the global leader in credit scoring + decision-management software. Two reportable segments + AI / platform expansion:

  • Scores (~58% of revenue, fastest growing). FICO Score 8/9/10/10T + B2B (mortgage, auto, credit card, personal loan) + B2C (myFICO). Q4 +25% / FY +27%. B2B mortgage origination revenue Q4 +52%; FY mortgage origination 55% of B2B revenue.
  • Software (~42%). On-premises + SaaS + professional services. FICO platform + applications. FY +3%. Platform ARR $263M / +16%; non-platform $484M consistent.

Strategic moves FY25:

  • FICO Mortgage Direct License (MDL) program with Xactus launched
  • FICO Score 10 T: 18% more defaulters identified in critical deciles vs Vantage 4
  • FICO FFM (Focused Foundation Model) for financial services launched
  • Enterprise fraud solution on FICO platform launched
  • FICO Marketplace launched
  • Strategic AWS collaboration
  • FICO Score 10 BNPL + FICO Score 10 T BNPL launched
  • FICO Score Mortgage Simulator penetration via Xactus
  • Kenya-specific FICO score in partnership with TransUnion
  • FICO World conference Q3
  • $1.4B+ buyback executed FY25

FY25 financial performance (Sep year-end)

Metric (FY)2022202320242025
Revenue ($B)1.381.511.721.99
Revenue YoYn/a+10%+14%+16%
Op income ($M)542643734925
Op margin39.4%42.5%42.7%46.5%
Net income ($M)374429513652
Diluted EPS ($)14.1816.9320.4526.54
FCF ($M)503465607770
Capex ($M)-6-4-26-9
Total debt ($B)1.911.902.243.07
Buyback ($B)-1.10-0.41-0.82-1.41

The earnings progression: revenue 4-yr CAGR ~13%; op margin 39.4% → 46.5% (+710bp); EPS $14.18 → $26.54 (+87% over 3 yrs). Pure software economics with structural pricing power.

Capital allocation

  • Capex: $-9M FY25 (0.5% of revenue, asset-light).
  • Dividends: $0 (no dividend).
  • Buybacks: $-1.41B FY25 (+72% YoY).
  • M&A: Strategic AWS collaboration.
  • Debt: $3.07B (+37% YoY) — buyback funding.
  • FCF: $770M (+27%).

The capital return story is dominant — $1.4B+ buyback at high returns on capital reflects mgmt confidence in valuation + earnings trajectory.

FY26 outlook (per Q4 FY25 call, 2025-11-05)

FY26 frameworkDetail
Revenue$2.35B (+18%)
GAAP net income$795M (+22%)
GAAP EPS$33.47 (+26%)
Non-GAAP net income$907M (+24%)
Non-GAAP EPS$38.17 (+28%)
Software ARR targetContinued mid-to-high single digit
Platform ARRContinued 15%+ growth

Conservative guide given timing complexities in pricing model adoption — particularly performance-based pricing in MDL program (mortgage process timeline introduces lag).

Key risks

  • Macro / mortgage origination volumes. Interest rate fluctuations impact mortgage originations. MDL program + FICO Score 10 T penetration depend on volume environment.
  • Pricing model adoption timing. Performance-based pricing model (MDL program) has potential time lags due to mortgage process timeline; could spill into subsequent fiscal years.
  • Competition / regulatory. VantageScore competition intensifying; regulator engagement uncertain.
  • Industry transition. Transition to FICO Score 10 T affects pricing dynamics + lender choice.
  • Software momentum. Platform ARR growth +16% — durability of growth important.
  • Macro environment. Q4 mentioned macro uncertainty as guide rationale.

Bottom line

FICO FY25 (Sep year-end) is the structural compounding year: revenue +16%, op margin 46.5% (+380bp), EPS +30%, FCF +27%. Mortgage Direct License + FICO Score 10 T + FICO FFM + Marketplace all launched. FY26 guide of $2.35B revenue (+18%) + $38.17 non-GAAP EPS (+28%) reflects continued acceleration. Risks are mortgage volumes + pricing model timing + competition. Highest-quality financial software compounder with monopoly-like pricing power.

Citations

  • Fair Isaac Corp. FY25 (Sep '25) Form 10-K (filed November 2025, SEC EDGAR).
  • FICO Q4 FY25 earnings call, 2025-11-05 — FY revenue $1.99B (+16%); Scores +27%; mortgage origination +52% Q4; Software ARR $747M (Platform +16%); FICO Direct License live with Xactus; FY26 guide ($2.35B revenue, $38.17 non-GAAP EPS).
  • FICO Q3 FY25 earnings call, 2025-07-31 — Scores +34%; mortgage origination +53%; FICO Score 10 BNPL launched; AWS collaboration.
  • FICO Q2 FY25 earnings call, 2025-04-29 — Scores +25%; mortgage origination +48% (54% of B2B); FICO Score Mortgage Simulator via Exactus.
  • FICO Q1 FY25 earnings call, 2025-02-04 — Scores +23%; mortgage origination +110%; FICO Score 10 T strong adoption ($261B annualized originations).
  • Internal financial_statements view (consolidated annual + cash flow + capital structure).
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