Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT) rose 2.58% at the open after its Rocket Mortgage unit said it will become the first U.S. mortgage lender to use VantageScore 4.0 as its preferred credit scoring model for all eligible loans. During the fourth quarter of 2026, it will default to the model for mortgages delivered to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, VA home loans and other eligible products. The company said roughly four months of testing showed that VantageScore helped more clients qualify while lowering credit-scoring costs. Rocket Mortgage obtained 1.4 million credit reports using both VantageScore and FICO so far this year, and said borrowers who saved money with VantageScore reduced their closing costs by an average of $1,600. VantageScore 4.0 can incorporate rent and utility payments when those records are included in a consumer's credit file, potentially helping some consumers with thin credit histories. Investment-property and second-home mortgages, home equity loans, FHA loans, jumbo loans and some other products will continue using FICO scores for now, while Rocket Pro will offer brokers both models. CEO Jay Bray credited FHFA Director Pulte with encouraging the use of multiple scoring models.