Fiserv stock sinks 42% as forecast cut, leadership shake-up spook investors

Core Insights - Fiserv's shares dropped nearly 42%, marking a record single-day decline after reporting disappointing earnings and cutting its growth forecast for the second consecutive quarter, with analysts labeling the results as "shockingly bad" [1][2][3] Financial Performance - The earnings report revealed significant struggles in Fiserv's core payments and merchant business, attributed to intense competition and a slowdown in consumer spending [2][4] - If current losses persist, approximately $29 billion will be wiped from Fiserv's market capitalization [3] Management Changes - Fiserv announced a major overhaul in its senior leadership, including the appointment of a new finance chief and two co-presidents, which raises concerns about internal challenges or strategic shifts [2][3] Market Reaction - The disappointing results led to a sell-off in fintech stocks, with notable declines in FIS (down 8.8%), Global Payments (down 6.7%), Block (down 3%), and Jack Henry (down 4%) [5] - At least two brokerages downgraded Fiserv's stock rating following the earnings report [6] Investor Sentiment - Analysts expressed that the "abysmal" third-quarter results and outlook would further dampen investor appetite, especially given the broader economic headwinds affecting consumer spending [4][5]