Fiserv Inc. (NASDAQ:FISV) is one of the worst AI stocks to invest in according to Reddit. On February 2, Northcoast analyst Kartik Mehta downgraded Fiserv from Buy to Neutral. In other news, on January 28, ServiceNow and Fiserv announced an expanded commitment to accelerate AI-driven transformation within financial services. Fiserv will scale its use of ServiceNow Now Assist for Financial Services Operations and IT Service Management to enhance operations across its IT and customer service environments. T ...

Core Thesis - Fiserv, Inc. is undergoing a significant reevaluation following its Q3 2025 report, which revealed that previous growth figures were misleading, leading to a stock price drop of approximately 50% [3] Business Segments - Fiserv operates in three segments: Merchant Solutions, Financial Solutions, and Corporate and Other. Merchant Solutions saw only an 8% growth in GPV, trailing competitors due to market saturation and increased competition [4] - Financial Solutions reported a 3% organic revenue decline and margin compression as banks postponed license renewals and new fintech entrants gained market share [4] - The Corporate and Other segment is negatively impacting profitability, primarily due to First Data amortization, and is now targeted for divestiture to free up capital [4] Leadership Changes - Former CEO Frank Bisignano focused on short-term EPS growth through leveraged buybacks and deferred investments, which created operational gaps. The new CEO, Michael Lyons, is implementing a reset by prioritizing investment and improving corporate culture [5] - Lyons has refreshed the board with experienced banking and fintech professionals to guide the company through its transformation [5] Strategic Plan - The "One Fiserv" strategic plan focuses on five key areas: client-first mindset, scaling Clover as a comprehensive SMB platform, developing embedded finance and stablecoin platforms, achieving operational excellence through AI, and disciplined capital allocation [6] - Despite resetting short-term guidance, Fiserv's cash generation capabilities, high-margin segments, and comprehensive transformation plan present a potential opportunity for value recovery, making it a complex risk/reward proposition for investors [6]

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is identified as the greatest investment opportunity of the current era, with a strong emphasis on the urgent need for energy to support its growth [1][2][3] Investment Opportunity - A specific company is highlighted as a potential investment opportunity, possessing critical energy infrastructure assets that are essential for meeting the increasing energy demands of AI data centers [3][7] - This company is not a chipmaker or cloud platform but is positioned to benefit significantly from the anticipated surge in electricity demand driven by AI technologies [3][6] Energy Demand and Infrastructure - AI technologies, particularly large language models like ChatGPT, are extremely energy-intensive, with data centers consuming as much energy as small cities [2] - The company in focus is involved in nuclear energy infrastructure and is capable of executing large-scale engineering, procurement, and construction projects across various energy sectors, including oil, gas, and renewables [7][8] Financial Position - The company is noted for being debt-free and holding a substantial cash reserve, which is approximately one-third of its market capitalization, positioning it favorably compared to other energy firms burdened with debt [8] - It is trading at less than 7 times earnings, indicating a potentially undervalued investment opportunity in the context of its critical role in the energy sector [10] Market Trends - The company is expected to benefit from the onshoring trend driven by tariffs, as well as the surge in U.S. LNG exports under the current administration's energy policies [5][14] - There is a growing recognition on Wall Street of this company's potential, as it quietly capitalizes on multiple favorable market trends without the high valuations typical of many tech stocks [8][9] Future Outlook - The influx of talent into the AI sector is expected to drive continuous innovation and advancements, making investments in AI and related infrastructure increasingly attractive [12] - The overall narrative suggests that investing in this company represents a strategic move to capitalize on the intersection of AI and energy, with the potential for significant returns in the near future [15][19]

With a market cap of $32.5 billion, Fiserv, Inc. (FISV) is a global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions. The company operates through two segments: Merchant Solutions and Financial Solutions, offering services such as merchant acquiring, digital commerce, mobile payments, fraud protection, card processing, and digital banking solutions. Shares of the IT giant have underperformed the broader market over the past year and in 2026. FISV stock has declined 74.5% over the past 52 ...

Fiserv, Inc. ( FISV ) will be releasing its results on the morning of February 10. Existing shareholders would be forgiven for feeling a little uneasy heading into the release. The market has beenAnalyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alph ...

Core Viewpoint - Analysts project that Fiserv (FISV) will report quarterly earnings of $1.90 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 24.3%, with revenues expected to reach $4.95 billion, a slight increase of 0.9% from the same quarter last year [1]. Earnings Estimates - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised 3.3% lower over the past 30 days, indicating a collective reevaluation by analysts [2]. - Revisions to earnings estimates are crucial indicators for predicting investor actions regarding the stock, with empirical research showing a strong correlation between earnings estimate trends and short-term stock price performance [3]. Revenue Projections - Analysts predict 'Adjusted Revenue- Financial' will be $2.36 billion, a year-over-year decline of 1.5% [5]. - 'Adjusted Revenue- Merchant' is expected to reach $2.55 billion, indicating a year-over-year increase of 2.2% [5]. - 'Revenue- Product' is projected at $999.56 million, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 0.9% [5]. - The consensus estimate for 'Revenue- Processing and services' stands at $4.27 billion, showing a change of +0.1% from the prior-year quarter [6]. - 'Revenue- Corporate and Other' is expected to be $341.38 million, indicating a year-over-year decline of 2.7% [6]. - 'Adjusted Revenue- Financial Solutions- Banking' is projected at $611.10 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 3% [6]. - 'Adjusted Revenue- Financial Solutions- Issuing' is expected to reach $798.45 million, indicating a year-over-year increase of 0.3% [7]. - 'Adjusted Revenue- Merchant Solutions- Processing' is projected at $254.48 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 2.5% [7]. - 'Adjusted Revenue- Merchant Solutions- Enterprise' is expected to be $628.65 million, indicating a year-over-year increase of 4.8% [7]. - 'Adjusted Revenue- Merchant Solutions- Small Business' is projected at $1.69 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 3% [8]. - 'Adjusted Revenue- Financial Solutions- Digital Payments' is expected to be $926.25 million, indicating a year-over-year decline of 5% [8]. Operating Income - Analysts estimate 'Operating income- Merchant Solutions' will reach $833.87 million, down from $979.00 million reported in the same quarter last year [9]. Stock Performance - Fiserv shares have shown a return of -13.1% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.5% change, and the stock holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it will mirror overall market performance in the near future [10].

Core Insights - Fiserv's Small Business Index for January 2026 indicates a decline in small business sales due to seasonal shifts and harsh winter storms, with the index dropping 1 point to 143 [1] - Year-over-year sales increased by 0.7%, while month-over-month sales decreased by 0.5% [1] Consumer Behavior - Consumer foot traffic experienced a significant year-over-year decline of 2.0%, the sharpest since mid-2022, and a month-over-month drop of 0.8% [2] - Discretionary spending softened, with discretionary sales falling 0.4% year-over-year and 0.7% month-over-month, influenced by a 2.4% year-over-year decline in foot traffic [3] Sector Performance - Essential sales remained stable year-over-year, growing by 2.2%, but were flat month-over-month [3] - Professional and Administrative Services showed growth, with Administrative and Support Services increasing by 1.1% month-over-month, and Tax Preparation Services growing by 9.3% year-over-year and 5.6% month-over-month [4] - Small business retail sales were flat year-over-year and month-over-month, with core retail categories (grocery, clothing, furniture) growing by 1.5% year-over-year, while non-core retail categories declined by 2.7% [5] Restaurant and Service Sector Trends - Restaurant sales fell by 1.8% year-over-year, primarily due to a 3.6% decline in foot traffic, with limited-service restaurants experiencing the largest sales drop of 3.4% year-over-year [6] - Average ticket sizes in restaurants increased by 1.6% year-over-year, providing only a partial offset to the decline in sales [6] Impact of Winter Storms - The report highlights the impact of Winter Storm Fern on various regions and business types across the U.S., affecting consumer behavior and sales trends [7]

This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter. Companies like Stripe and Affirm Holdings, which have applied for federal and state banking charters in recent months, are looking for greater control and greater flexibility, in addition to cost savings, according to analysts and consultants who follow the payments industry.  Other companies pursuing state and federal charters include PayPal, Revolut, Fiserv and ...

Core Insights - The Invesco NASDAQ Next Gen 100 ETF (QQQJ) is highlighted as a notable option for investors seeking exposure to promising tech stocks, despite the common focus on larger ETFs like QQQ and QQQM [1] - QQQJ, with a market capitalization of $883.64 million, primarily includes mid-cap and smaller large-cap stocks, featuring an average market cap of $23.88 billion across its 107 holdings [1] Group 1: ETF Overview - QQQJ has been operational for five years and serves as a proving ground for stocks aspiring to enter the Nasdaq-100 Index [1] - The ETF's holdings include companies that Morningstar identifies as top tech names, such as Fiserv and Akamai Technologies [1] Group 2: Notable Holdings - Fiserv (FISV), a key holding in QQQJ, is recognized for its core processing and complementary services for US banks, with shares considered 47% undervalued relative to a fair value estimate of $126 [1] - Akamai Technologies (AKAM) is another significant holding, noted for its investments in cloud computing and edge computing, with a strong network presence that positions it well against major competitors [1]

Core Insights - Fiserv has experienced significant stock decline following a disappointing earnings report, losing nearly half its value in one day last October and currently trading at a low P/E ratio of 10 [1][6] Company Overview - Fiserv is a leading global payment processing company with over $21 billion in trailing-12-month revenue, typically showing healthy growth [2] - The company has faced recent challenges, including a third-quarter report that fell below expectations and a reduction in full-year guidance [2] Financial Performance - In the latest earnings report, Fiserv's earnings per share (EPS) were $2.04, which was $0.60 lower than Wall Street expectations, and sales declined 1% to $4.92 billion, missing the expected $5.36 billion [3] - Management has revised full-year EPS guidance to $8.55, down from a previous range of $10.15 to $10.30, and revenue growth is now forecasted at 3.5% to 4%, significantly lower than the prior guidance of 10% [3] Legal Issues - Fiserv is currently facing a lawsuit from shareholders alleging misleading claims regarding its Clover payment platform, claiming the company inflated comparable sales growth by switching clients from other platforms [4] Market Position - Despite the challenges, Fiserv remains a leader in the payment processing industry with a strong software-as-a-service (SaaS) model that relies on recurring revenue, serving thousands of clients and millions of merchants [6] - The company is highly profitable, which may indicate that the current low stock price could represent a buying opportunity rather than a value trap [6] Strategic Initiatives - CEO Mike Lyons has initiated the One Fiserv Action Plan, focusing on long-term client service and operational excellence, and plans to enhance the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in its platform [7] - An enhanced partnership with ServiceNow has been announced as part of this strategic plan [7] Investor Outlook - It may take time for Fiserv to regain investor trust and for the stock to recover to previous highs, but the current price may warrant a second look from investors [8]