Inceptionr LLC Takes Position in Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI)

Inceptionr LLC bought a new position in shares of Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 3,520 shares of the business services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $723,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Marshall Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Fiserv during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Valley National Advisers Inc. acquired a new stake in Fiserv during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Compass Financial Services Inc acquired a new stake in Fiserv during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Kennebec Savings Bank acquired a new stake in Fiserv during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, Roxbury Financial LLC purchased a new position in Fiserv in the 4th quarter worth approximately $50,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.98% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Fiserv news, COO Guy Chiarello sold 45,000 shares of the 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 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 sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.75% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Fiserv Stock Performance

Shares of FI opened at $218.04 on Friday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $218.31 and its 200 day moving average price is $202.88. Fiserv, Inc. has a 12-month low of $145.98 and a 12-month high of $238.59. The stock has a market capitalization of $122.38 billion, a PE ratio of 40.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.93. 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) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The business services provider reported $2.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.48 by $0.03. Fiserv had a return on equity of 17.93% and a net margin of 15.31%. Equities research analysts forecast that Fiserv, Inc. will post 10.23 EPS for the current year.

Fiserv announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback program on Thursday, February 20th that authorizes the company to repurchase 60,000,000 outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes 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 of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have weighed in on FI. Compass Point began coverage on Fiserv in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $278.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com cut Fiserv from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Oppenheimer upped their price target on Fiserv from $214.00 to $239.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Fiserv from $258.00 to $267.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Fiserv from $233.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Three investment 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, Fiserv presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $239.83.

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.