Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) Receives Average Recommendation of "Buy" from Analysts

Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI - Get Free Report) has received a consensus rating of "Buy" from the twenty-five brokerages that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, twenty-one have issued a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $239.83.

Several analysts have recently weighed in on FI shares. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Fiserv from $233.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Fiserv from $255.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Oppenheimer boosted their price objective on Fiserv from $214.00 to $239.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Citigroup upped their target price on Fiserv from $230.00 to $233.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 14th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on Fiserv from $238.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, COO Guy Chiarello sold 45,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $235.55, for a total value of $10,599,750.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 227,711 shares of the company's stock, valued at $53,637,326.05. This trade represents a 16.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.75% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Soros Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Fiserv by 71.7% in the third quarter. Soros Capital Management LLC now owns 54,797 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $9,844,000 after purchasing an additional 22,884 shares during the last quarter. Czech National Bank boosted its position in shares of Fiserv by 5.2% during the fourth quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 123,353 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $25,339,000 after buying an additional 6,072 shares during the period. Chiron Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Fiserv in the third quarter valued at approximately $4,709,000. Trust Co. of Vermont boosted its holdings in shares of Fiserv by 170.4% in the fourth quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 6,839 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,405,000 after purchasing an additional 4,310 shares during the period. Finally, Cardano Risk Management B.V. acquired a new position in shares of Fiserv in the 4th quarter valued at $97,254,000. 90.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Fiserv Price Performance

NYSE:FI opened at $218.04 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $122.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.06. Fiserv has a 52 week low of $145.98 and a 52 week high of $238.59. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $218.31 and its 200 day simple moving average is $203.37.

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Fiserv (NYSE:FI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The business services provider reported $2.51 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.48 by $0.03. Fiserv had a net margin of 15.31% and a return on equity of 17.93%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Fiserv will post 10.23 earnings per share for the current year.

Fiserv declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase program on Thursday, February 20th that permits the company to repurchase 60,000,000 outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the business services provider to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are usually a sign that the company's board believes its stock is undervalued.

Fiserv Company Profile

Fiserv, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides payments and financial services technology services in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. It operates through Merchant Acceptance, Financial Technology, and Payments and Network segments.

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