Vinva Investment Management Ltd Purchases 3,881 Shares of Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI)

Vinva Investment Management Ltd lifted its position in shares of Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE:FI) by 15.6% during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 28,777 shares of the business services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,881 shares during the quarter. Vinva Investment Management Ltd’s holdings in Fiserv were worth $5,936,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Generali Asset Management SPA SGR bought a new position in shares of Fiserv during the 4th quarter worth $9,440,000. Evoke Wealth LLC grew its position in shares of Fiserv by 7.5% during the 4th quarter. Evoke Wealth LLC now owns 9,362 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,923,000 after buying an additional 654 shares in the last quarter. Horizon Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Fiserv by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 7,906 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $1,624,000 after buying an additional 77 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Fiserv by 6.7% during the fourth quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 62,805 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $12,901,000 after purchasing an additional 3,919 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its position in Fiserv by 22.4% during the fourth quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 233,329 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $48,201,000 after purchasing an additional 42,706 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.98% of the company’s stock.

Fiserv Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of FI opened at $216.77 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 1.06. Fiserv, Inc. has a one year low of $145.98 and a one year high of $238.59. The stock has a market capitalization of $121.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.22, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.93. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $219.47 and a 200 day moving average price of $205.48.

Fiserv (NYSE:FI) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The business services provider reported $2.51 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.48 by $0.03. Fiserv had a return on equity of 17.93% and a net margin of 15.31%. Equities research analysts forecast that Fiserv, Inc. will post 10.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Fiserv announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback plan on Thursday, February 20th that authorizes the company to repurchase 60,000,000 shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the business services provider to repurchase shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are often an indication that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on FI shares. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Fiserv from $208.00 to $231.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 3rd. Barclays lifted their target price on Fiserv from $235.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on Fiserv from $238.00 to $260.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. StockNews.com downgraded Fiserv from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Fiserv from $240.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-one have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $239.83.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Fiserv news, COO Guy Chiarello sold 45,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $235.55, for a total value of $10,599,750.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 227,711 shares in the company, valued at $53,637,326.05. This represents a 16.50 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.75% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Fiserv Company Profile

Fiserv, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides payments and financial services technology services in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. It operates through Merchant Acceptance, Financial Technology, and Payments and Network segments.