Middleton & Co. Inc. MA Lowers Position in Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI)

Middleton & Co. Inc. MA trimmed its stake in shares of Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) by 1.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 53,227 shares of the business services provider’s stock after selling 996 shares during the period. Fiserv accounts for 1.2% of Middleton & Co. Inc. MA’s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Middleton & Co. Inc. MA’s holdings in Fiserv were worth $10,934,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of FI. Jacobi Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Fiserv by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC now owns 11,104 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $2,281,000 after buying an additional 44 shares in the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Fiserv by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 23,253 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $4,777,000 after purchasing an additional 555 shares in the last quarter. Williamson Legacy Group LLC increased its position in Fiserv by 2.7% in the fourth quarter. Williamson Legacy Group LLC now owns 6,020 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,237,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Fiserv during the fourth quarter valued at $349,000. Finally, WR Wealth Planners LLC lifted its position in Fiserv by 542.6% during the fourth quarter. WR Wealth Planners LLC now owns 4,151 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $853,000 after purchasing an additional 3,505 shares during the last quarter. 90.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Fiserv Price Performance

Shares of FI stock opened at $235.67 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $132.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 43.72, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.94. 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 stock’s 50-day moving average is $216.68 and its 200 day moving average is $200.81. Fiserv, Inc. has a 1-year low of $145.98 and a 1-year high of $237.99.

Fiserv (NYSE:FI) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The business services provider reported $2.51 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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%. Research analysts predict that Fiserv, Inc. will post 10.23 earnings per share 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 repurchase 60,000,000 shares. This repurchase authorization permits the business services provider to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company’s leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Transactions at Fiserv

In related news, COO Guy Chiarello sold 45,000 shares of Fiserv stock in a transaction that occurred 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 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 position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.75% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Fiserv from $235.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Compass Point started coverage on Fiserv in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. They set a “buy” rating and a $278.00 target price on the stock. Susquehanna raised their price target on Fiserv from $230.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a “positive” rating in a research report on Monday, February 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of Fiserv from $208.00 to $231.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Fiserv from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company 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.