Seeking Alpha's Quant Ratings Strikes Again

Core Insights - Amazon (AMZN) reported strong earnings driven by AWS, while Apple (AAPL) saw a rise due to a positive forecast despite lower iPhone and China sales [2] - Retail candy prices are up 10.8% year-over-year as retailers discount ahead of Halloween [3] - Fiserv (FI) shares plummeted 44% after disappointing earnings and guidance, leading to a significant reassessment by analysts [4][5] Company Performance - Fiserv's third-quarter results missed expectations, prompting a drastic cut in guidance and raising concerns about management stability [5] - The departure of former CEO Frank Bisignano and the challenges faced by current CEO Mike Lyons have contributed to investor fears [5][6] - Fiserv's total long-term debt stands at $25.6 billion, comparable to its current market cap, raising red flags about its financial health [7] Market Reactions - Analysts have reacted swiftly to Fiserv's performance, with many downgrading their ratings following the earnings report [4][8] - Seeking Alpha's Quant ratings had previously indicated a Sell signal for Fiserv, which proved prescient as the stock price fell from around $140 to $65 [8]