On Tuesday, CFRA upgraded shares of Fiserv (NYSE:FI) from Buy to Strong Buy, adjusting the price target upward to $235 from the previous $200. The revision follows Fiserv's impressive third-quarter performance, which showcased strength across its principal business areas. The company's adjusted revenue reached $4.88 billion, marking a 7% year-over-year increase and a 15% organic growth. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were reported at $2.30, slightly surpassing the consensus by $0.04.
The analyst from CFRA highlighted that Fiserv's top-line growth was predominantly driven by its Merchant Solutions segment, which saw a revenue increase of 9% year-over-year, and a notable 24% organic growth. Within this segment, Clover, Fiserv's integrated point-of-sale system, experienced a significant revenue jump of 28%. The Financial Solutions segment also contributed positively with a 5% revenue increase, and a 6% organic growth, attributed to the innovative and digital solutions that continue to gain traction among clients.
Setting the new price target of $235 reflects a 23.0x multiple on the firm's projected 2025 EPS, which is a larger risk premium compared to the 18.5x average of its peers. This adjustment is based on Fiserv's superior growth prospects and its history of consistent earnings power, as the company is on the path to achieve its 39th consecutive year of double-digit adjusted EPS growth.
CFRA also raised its EPS forecasts for 2024 and 2025 by $0.07 each, to $8.82 and $10.20, respectively. The upward revision in outlook underscores CFRA's confidence in Fiserv's strategic execution abilities, including initiatives and partnerships such as those with DoorDash (NASDAQ:DASH) and Walmart (NYSE:WMT). The firm also suggests that potential interest rate cuts could further stimulate consumer buying behavior, benefitting Fiserv.
In other recent news, Fiserv displayed a robust financial performance in its third quarter of 2024. The company reported a 17% year-over-year increase in adjusted earnings per share (EPS) to $2.30, and a 7% growth in adjusted revenue to $4.9 billion. The Merchant Solutions segment saw a remarkable 24% organic revenue growth, prompting Fiserv to raise its full-year guidance for organic revenue growth to 16%-17% and adjusted EPS to $8.73-$8.80.
Furthermore, Fiserv announced a partnership with DoorDash, initiated a proof of concept with Walmart, and expanded its Clover offerings with the new Clover Sport. The company also returned $1.3 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and authorized an additional 24 million share repurchase.
InvestingPro Insights
Recent data from InvestingPro adds weight to CFRA's bullish outlook on Fiserv (NYSE:FI). The company's market capitalization stands at an impressive $114.85 billion, reflecting its significant presence in the financial services industry. Fiserv's revenue for the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 reached $19.78 billion, with a solid revenue growth of 7.2% over the same period. This aligns with the strong performance highlighted in CFRA's analysis.
InvestingPro Tips indicate that Fiserv is trading at a low P/E ratio relative to its near-term earnings growth, with a PEG ratio of 0.72 as of Q2 2024. This suggests the stock may be undervalued considering its growth prospects, supporting CFRA's decision to upgrade the stock to Strong Buy. Additionally, Fiserv has shown a strong return over the last three months, with a price total return of 24.3%, and is trading near its 52-week high, further validating the positive sentiment.
For investors seeking a deeper understanding of Fiserv's potential, InvestingPro offers 12 additional tips, providing a comprehensive view of the company's financial health and market position.
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