LVZ Inc. Reduces Position in Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI)

LVZ Inc. reduced its holdings in Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) by 7.6% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 3,280 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 270 shares during the period. LVZ Inc.’s holdings in Fiserv were worth $674,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Fiserv in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Fiserv in the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new stake in Fiserv during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Kennebec Savings Bank purchased a new position in Fiserv during the third quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC acquired a new position in Fiserv in the 4th quarter valued at about $50,000. 90.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Fiserv Price Performance

FI stock opened at $223.82 on Wednesday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $217.59 and its two-hundred day moving average is $202.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $125.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.94. Fiserv, Inc. has a 1 year low of $145.98 and a 1 year high of $238.59.

Fiserv (NYSE:FI) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The business services provider reported $2.51 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.48 by $0.03. Fiserv had a net margin of 15.31% and a return on equity of 17.93%. Analysts anticipate that Fiserv, Inc. will post 10.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Fiserv declared that its board has approved a share repurchase plan on Thursday, February 20th that allows the company to repurchase 60,000,000 outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the business services provider to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Activity

In other Fiserv news, COO Guy Chiarello sold 45,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on 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 sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 227,711 shares in the company, 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 at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.75% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

FI has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Fiserv from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Susquehanna lifted their target price on Fiserv from $230.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Barclays upped their price target on Fiserv from $235.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Fiserv from $258.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn raised shares of Fiserv from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $239.83.

About Fiserv

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.