Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) Given Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI - Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-six analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, twenty-one have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $222.80.

FI has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wall Street Zen began coverage on Fiserv in a research note on Sunday, March 23rd. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Stephens upped their price objective on Fiserv from $255.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Royal Bank of Canada set a $237.00 target price on Fiserv in a report on Friday, April 25th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on shares of Fiserv from $254.00 to $232.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their price objective on shares of Fiserv from $223.00 to $194.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 19th.

Fiserv Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE FI traded up $0.60 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $159.94. 8,260,650 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,096,511. The company has a market cap of $88.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.67, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.97. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $195.97 and a 200 day moving average price of $208.60. Fiserv has a 52 week low of $146.25 and a 52 week high of $238.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.07.

Fiserv (NYSE:FI - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The business services provider reported $2.14 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.08 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $4.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $4.86 billion. Fiserv had a net margin of 15.31% and a return on equity of 17.93%. Fiserv's quarterly revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.88 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Fiserv will post 10.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Fiserv announced that its board has initiated a share repurchase plan on Thursday, February 20th that permits the company to buyback 60,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization permits the business services provider to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are typically an indication that the company's management believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of FI. Barclays PLC increased its stake in shares of Fiserv by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,685,157 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $302,737,000 after purchasing an additional 48,413 shares during the last quarter. LaFleur & Godfrey LLC boosted its holdings in Fiserv by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. LaFleur & Godfrey LLC now owns 18,116 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $3,721,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC raised its holdings in Fiserv by 41.3% during the fourth quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,581 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $325,000 after buying an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Fiserv by 4.6% during the fourth quarter. Bartlett & CO. Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,755 shares of the business services provider's stock valued at $1,388,000 after buying an additional 295 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its position in shares of Fiserv by 7.0% in the fourth quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 64,287 shares of the business services provider's stock worth $13,206,000 after buying an additional 4,196 shares during the last quarter. 90.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.