Group 1 - Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) is recognized as a stock to buy by billionaire Ray Dalio's Bridgewater Associates [1] - On October 8, Fiserv launched the Roughrider coin in partnership with the Bank of North Dakota, marking North Dakota's first stablecoin [1][2] - The Roughrider coin is a stablecoin fully backed by US dollars and will be available to credit unions and banks in North Dakota starting in 2026 [1][2] Group 2 - The Roughrider coin will operate on Fiserv's digital asset platform, which was introduced in June, alongside a "white-label" stablecoin called FIUSD [2] - The platform aims to facilitate secure, efficient, and interoperable payment flows in regulated banking environments [2] - The initiative is designed to enable secure bank-to-bank transactions, support global money movement, and drive merchant adoption within North Dakota [2] Group 3 - North Dakota has become the second US state to issue a government-backed stablecoin [2] - Fiserv is a financial technology company providing digital banking, payment processing, merchant acquiring, and financial services solutions globally [2] - Key platforms of the company include Clover and Carat [2]

Core Insights - The article compiles significant research calls from Wall Street, highlighting upgrades and downgrades of various companies that investors should be aware of [1] Upgrades - BofA upgraded Sea Limited (SE) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $215, increased from $206, citing strong momentum across its businesses [2] - JPMorgan upgraded Las Vegas Sands (LVS) to Overweight from Neutral with a price target of $60, up from $56, due to a recent pullback in shares and a positive outlook for Singapore [2] - JPMorgan also upgraded PPG (PPG) to Overweight from Neutral, maintaining a price target of $112, believing that PPG's market value has decreased more than its business fundamentals [3] - Seaport Research upgraded TKO Group (TKO) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $214, becoming more constructive after recent share pullbacks [3] - Wells Fargo upgraded T-Mobile (TMUS) to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $260, up from $250, due to higher expected free cash flow growth and network leadership [4] Downgrades - Bernstein downgraded Lululemon (LULU) to Market Perform from Outperform with a price target of $190, down from $220, citing worsening underlying U.S. trends despite a near-term boost from promotions [5] - TD Cowen downgraded Molina Healthcare (MOH) to Hold from Buy, maintaining a price target of $203, due to potential medical loss ratio pressure from state budget deficits [5] - Deutsche Bank downgraded Fiserv (FI) to Hold from Buy with a price target of $122, down from $175, anticipating a lower 2025 outlook amid deteriorating fundamentals [5] - Rothschild & Co Redburn downgraded Verisk Analytics (VRSK) to Sell from Neutral with a price target of $220, indicating that downside risks are not reflected in the shares [5] - Goldman Sachs downgraded Cricut (CRCT) to Sell from Neutral with a price target of $4.75, down from $5.50, due to limited visibility into sustainable revenue growth beyond 2026 [5]

Core Insights - Vulcan Value Partners reported positive absolute performance across all strategies in Q3 2025, with the All-Cap Composite leading at 5.5% net return [1] - Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) was highlighted as a new position, with a significant decline in stock value over the past year, closing at $121.11 with a market cap of $65.83 billion [2][3] Performance Summary - Large Cap Composite returned 4.6% net of fees and expenses - Small Cap Composite returned 4.1% net - Focus Composite returned 3.7% net - Focus Plus Composite returned 3.7% net - All-Cap Composite returned 5.5% net [1] Company Analysis: Fiserv, Inc. - Fiserv operates in two segments: merchant solutions and financial solutions, providing essential products and services [3] - The company has high switching costs, aiding customer retention and revenue stability [3] - Fiserv is expected to generate over $5 billion in free cash flow this year, which is being used for share repurchases [3] - The stock has seen a significant decline since earlier in the year, but the value remains stable [3] Hedge Fund Interest - Fiserv, Inc. was held by 94 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q2 2025, an increase from 72 in the previous quarter [4] - Despite its potential, certain AI stocks are considered to offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [4]

Core Insights - Fiserv, Inc. has partnered with the Bank of North Dakota to launch the Roughrider coin, a stablecoin backed by U.S. dollars, marking it as the first state-backed stablecoin in the U.S. [1][2] - The Roughrider coin aims to enhance bank-to-bank transfers, improve global money movement, and increase merchant adoption within North Dakota [2][3] - The coin will utilize Fiserv's digital asset platform, which is designed to be efficient and interoperable with other digital currencies [3][4] Company and Industry Developments - The Roughrider coin is expected to be available to banking institutions and credit unions in North Dakota by next year [2] - Fiserv's digital asset platform, introduced earlier this year, includes a white-label stablecoin called FIUSD, which will support the Roughrider coin [3] - The initiative reflects North Dakota's commitment to modernizing its financial ecosystem and capitalizes on recent federal law changes [4]

Core Insights - Fiserv, Inc. is a leading provider of payments and financial technology services, with a market capitalization of $68.8 billion, offering solutions for customer deposit and loan accounts, digital banking, and financial management [1] - The company is expected to report a profit of $2.66 per share for Q3 2025, reflecting a 15.7% increase from the previous year [2] - Analysts project a full-year EPS of $10.21 for fiscal 2025, up 16% from $8.80 in fiscal 2024, and an EPS of $11.86 for fiscal 2026, indicating a year-over-year growth of 16.2% [3] Performance Analysis - Fiserv's stock has underperformed, declining 32.7% over the past 52 weeks, compared to a 17.4% gain in the S&P 500 Index and a 27.5% gain in the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund [4] - Following the Q2 earnings release, Fiserv shares dropped 13.9%, despite revenue increasing by 8% year-over-year to $5.5 billion and adjusted EPS growing 16% to $2.47, which beat analyst expectations [5] Analyst Sentiment - The consensus opinion on Fiserv stock is bullish, with a "Strong Buy" rating from 24 out of 34 analysts, while the average price target is $184.43, suggesting a potential upside of 45.8% from current levels [6]

Partnerships & Initiatives - Bank of North Dakota partners with Fiserv to launch state-backed 'Roughrider Coin' [1]

Core Insights - North Dakota is launching a state-backed stablecoin named Roughrider coin, fully backed by U.S. dollars, aimed at enhancing bank-to-bank transactions and global money movement [2][4] - The initiative is part of a broader strategy to modernize the financial ecosystem in North Dakota, leveraging recent federal law changes [3][4] - The Roughrider coin will be available to banks and credit unions in North Dakota starting in 2026 [2] Group 1: Stablecoin Development - The Roughrider coin is designed to facilitate faster and more secure transactions, integrating traditional finance with blockchain technology [5][6] - The stablecoin will be the first to launch on Fiserv's digital asset platform, which aims to provide efficient digital payment services [4][5] - North Dakota's approach is seen as a pioneering move among U.S. states, following Wyoming's launch of its own stablecoin [7] Group 2: Strategic Partnerships - The partnership with Fiserv allows North Dakota to utilize an existing secure blockchain infrastructure, avoiding the need to develop new systems from scratch [7] - Fiserv's COO emphasized the importance of combining traditional finance reliability with blockchain innovation for improved digital payments [5] Group 3: Regulatory and Economic Context - The North Dakota Industrial Commission supports the stablecoin initiative, highlighting its potential to enhance the state's financial sector [6] - The Roughrider coin is positioned to create a foundation for broader merchant adoption of stablecoins in the future [7]

Core Insights - North Dakota is launching a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin called "Roughrider Coin" in collaboration with Fiserv, targeting financial institutions in the state [1][2] - The stablecoin aims to enhance bank-to-bank transactions, promote global money movement, and drive merchant adoption [2] - The stablecoin market has grown significantly, reaching $293 billion, with a 70% increase over the past year, driven by regulatory developments such as the GENIUS Act [3] Company and Industry Developments - Fiserv is expanding its presence in the stablecoin sector, having launched a crypto issuance platform on Solana earlier this year [3] - North Dakota joins Wyoming in exploring cryptocurrency initiatives, with Wyoming having already introduced its Frontier Stable Token [4] - Fiserv processes over 90 billion transactions annually for 10,000 financial institutions, positioning itself as a link between traditional finance and blockchain technology [4]

Core Viewpoint - A South Florida police pension fund and a European investment firm are seeking to be lead plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit against Fiserv, alleging misleading statements regarding its Clover unit and significant financial losses due to share price declines [1][4]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit was filed in July 2024, claiming Fiserv misled investors by not disclosing the forced migration of merchants to its Clover point-of-sale product during late 2023 to mid-2024 [4]. - The complaint names Fiserv and four executives, including current CEO Michael Lyons and former CEO Frank Bisignano, as defendants [5]. - The litigation targets investors who purchased or owned Fiserv stock between July 24, 2024, and July 22, 2025 [5]. Group 2: Financial Impact - The Hollywood police pension fund reported a loss of $1.67 million due to the decline in Fiserv shares, while Ethenea Independent Investors SA claimed a loss of $5.95 million on its investment in Fiserv [2]. - Fiserv's shares have declined by 38% this year, indicating significant financial distress for the company [6]. Group 3: Legal Process - The selection of a lead shareholder plaintiff is influenced by the size of the investor's losses and the capability of their attorneys to manage the litigation, as per the 1995 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act [3]. - The pension fund for police officers in Hollywood, Florida, manages approximately $460 million, while Ethenea Independent Investors SA manages about €2.4 billion ($2.8 billion) in assets [7].

Core Insights - UnitedHealth Group, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Fiserv are attracting significant attention from major investors [1] Company Summaries - UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) is noted for its strong position in the healthcare sector, appealing to large-scale investors [1] - Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) continues to be a focal point for investment, indicating confidence in its pharmaceutical offerings [1] - Fiserv (NYSE:FI) is also receiving considerable interest from prominent investors, reflecting its importance in the financial services industry [1]