Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) Shares Acquired by Ashton Thomas Securities LLC

Ashton Thomas Securities LLC boosted its stake in Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) by 2.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 27,867 shares of the business services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 608 shares during the period. Fiserv accounts for about 1.6% of Ashton Thomas Securities LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 13th biggest position. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC’s holdings in Fiserv were worth $5,723,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

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

Insider Activity at Fiserv

In related news, COO Guy Chiarello sold 45,000 shares of Fiserv stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $235.55, for a total transaction 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 trade represents a 16.50 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.75% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Fiserv Stock Performance

Shares of Fiserv stock opened at $221.90 on Tuesday. Fiserv, Inc. has a 12 month low of $145.98 and a 12 month high of $238.59. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86. The company has a market capitalization of $124.55 billion, a PE ratio of 41.17, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.93. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $220.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is $206.81.

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 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%. On average, research analysts predict that Fiserv, Inc. will post 10.23 EPS for the current year.

Fiserv announced that its board has authorized a stock buyback program on Thursday, February 20th that permits the company to buyback 60,000,000 shares. This buyback authorization permits the business services provider to purchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have weighed in on FI. Susquehanna upped their target price on Fiserv from $230.00 to $270.00 and gave the company a “positive” rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Fiserv from $240.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Fiserv from $230.00 to $233.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 14th. Stephens increased their price target on shares of Fiserv from $255.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Fiserv from $255.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average 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.