First Western Trust Bank Reduces Position in Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI)

First Western Trust Bank trimmed its holdings in Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) by 0.8% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 33,838 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 261 shares during the quarter. Fiserv comprises approximately 0.3% of First Western Trust Bank’s portfolio, making the stock its 23rd largest holding. First Western Trust Bank’s holdings in Fiserv were worth $6,951,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Valley National Advisers Inc. acquired a new position in Fiserv during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Fiserv during the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new position in shares of Fiserv during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Campbell Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Fiserv during the fourth quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Knuff & Co LLC purchased a new position in Fiserv during the fourth quarter worth about $45,000. 90.98% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Fiserv Stock Performance

Shares of Fiserv stock opened at $216.77 on Friday. 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, Inc. has a one year low of $145.98 and a one year high of $238.59. The company has a market cap of $121.67 billion, a PE ratio of 40.22, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.93. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $223.06 and a 200-day simple moving average of $209.02.

Fiserv (NYSE:FI) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The business services provider reported $2.51 EPS for the quarter, topping 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%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Fiserv, Inc. will post 10.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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

Insider Transactions at Fiserv

In other news, COO Guy Chiarello sold 45,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $235.55, for a total value of $10,599,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 227,711 shares in the company, valued at approximately $53,637,326.05. This represents a 16.50 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.75% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

FI has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Fiserv from $230.00 to $233.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Fiserv from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $246.00 to $260.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Fiserv from $240.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Fiserv from $235.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their target price on shares of Fiserv from $214.00 to $239.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-two have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $243.64.

Fiserv 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.