Fiserve shares tank 40% after ‘shockingly bad' earnings as new CEO shakes up leadership, yanks forecasts

Core Insights - Fiserv's shares dropped over 40% following disappointing earnings and a lowered growth forecast for the second consecutive quarter, with analysts describing the results as "shockingly bad" [1][5][10] - The company's core payments and merchant business is under increasing pressure due to intense competition and a slowdown in consumer spending [1][12] Financial Performance - Fiserv reported third-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.04, significantly below Wall Street's estimate of $2.64, and adjusted revenue of $4.92 billion, missing expectations of $5.36 billion [13] - The company now expects annual revenue growth of 3.5% to 4%, down from a previous forecast of 10%, and adjusted profit per share is projected between $8.50 and $8.60, reduced from $10.15 to $10.30 [10] Leadership Changes - Fiserv announced a major overhaul of its senior leadership, appointing a new finance chief and two co-presidents, indicating potential internal challenges or a strategic shift [2][4] - Paul Todd has been named the new chief financial officer, succeeding Robert Hau, who will transition to a senior adviser role [18] Market Reaction - The disappointing results have negatively impacted investor sentiment, with analysts expressing concerns about the company's near-term outlook and the broader fintech sector also experiencing declines [6][7] - Fiserv's stock has lost nearly 64% of its value this year, potentially erasing around $29 billion from its market capitalization [20]