Fiserv is a leading global provider of financial services technology.
The company is a cornerstone of the financial ecosystem, providing critical payment and processing solutions that power banks, merchants, and financial institutions.
Updated: February 19, 2026, 16:00 EST
Of course. Here is a comprehensive analysis of FISV based on the provided data.
FISV presents a complex investment case characterized by attractive valuation metrics but overshadowed by weak operational trends and technical price action. The stock appears to be in a state of transition, facing margin pressure despite modest revenue growth. Its low volatility and market-beta suggest a defensive profile, but the consistent underperformance indicates underlying challenges.
Technical Outlook: The stock is technically weak, trading near the lower end of its yearly range. While this isn't a deeply oversold condition, the persistent downside pressure suggests a lack of positive catalysts in the near term. A recovery is possible but requires a fundamental improvement to drive sustained buying interest.
Fundamental Health: Fundamentally, the picture is mixed. Revenue growth is stable, but profitability is declining, which is a significant concern. The company's financial health is adequate, with manageable debt and strong cash flow. However, low asset turnover and Return on Equity (ROE) point to inefficiencies in utilizing its capital to generate profits.
Valuation & Risk: Valuation sends conflicting signals. The low P/E ratio suggests potential undervaluation, while the high EV/EBITDA and PEG ratios indicate the stock is expensive relative to its cash flow and growth prospects. The primary risk is operational—can management reverse the margin compression? The low beta and contained drawdowns offer some downside protection.
Based on the analysis, a HOLD recommendation is warranted for existing investors. The current valuation does not suggest a compelling sell-off, but the lack of positive momentum and clear profitability drivers makes it difficult to recommend new buying. Potential investors should wait for concrete signs of operational improvement, particularly a reversal in the declining margin trends, before considering a position. The stock may be suitable for very patient investors betting on a long-term turnaround, but it lacks the catalysts for near-term outperformance.
*This is not investment advice, for reference only.*
Based on a comprehensive analysis, here is a 12-month outlook for Fiserv (FISV):
12-Month Outlook for FISV
The 12-month outlook for FISV hinges on management's ability to execute a operational turnaround. The key positive catalyst would be a clear reversal of the current margin compression, demonstrating improved profitability on its stable revenue base. However, the primary risk is the persistence of these weak operational trends, particularly declining EBITDA and net income margins, which could continue to suppress investor sentiment and the stock's multiple. Given the lack of a clear near-term catalyst and mixed valuation signals (low P/E but high EV/EBITDA), the stock is likely to remain range-bound, with a target range loosely defined by its 52-week high-low of approximately $57 to $77, implying limited upside from the current price without significant fundamental improvement.
Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about Fiserv, Inc.'s 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $61.53, indicating expected upside potential.
Overall, FISV has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.
Fidelity National Information Services has demonstrated moderate underperformance with consistent downside pressure over recent periods. The stock remains positioned closer to its yearly lows than highs, reflecting ongoing weakness despite generally lower volatility characteristics.
The stock has declined nearly 5% over the past month and 1.26% over three months, modestly underperforming the broader market by 1.24% during the latter period. Given its beta below 1.0, this underperformance is notable as FISV has shown greater downside than would typically be expected given its lower volatility profile compared to the market.
Currently trading approximately 10% above its 52-week low but still 10% below its yearly high, the stock resides in the lower portion of its annual range. While not deeply oversold, the position relative to the 16.79% maximum drawdown suggests FISV remains in a somewhat weak technical position with room for potential recovery.
| Period | FISV Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | -4.6% | +1.0% |
| 3m | -4.7% | +1.9% |
| 6m | -4.2% | +6.5% |
| 1y | -4.2% | +12.1% |
| ytd | -6.2% | +0.2% |
Revenue & Profitability FISV demonstrated modest revenue growth with Q4 2025 revenue of $5.28 billion compared to $5.26 billion in Q3. However, profitability metrics weakened, as gross profit margin declined from 58.9% to 57.1% and operating income margin fell from 27.3% to 22.2%, indicating margin pressure despite slight top-line improvement.
Financial Health The company maintains moderate leverage with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12 and debt ratio of 36.2%, though interest coverage of 3.1x suggests adequate but not robust debt servicing capacity. Operating cash flow remains healthy at 37.3% of revenue, supporting operational requirements despite elevated interest expenses.
Operational Efficiency FISV shows mixed operational efficiency with a modest ROE of 3.1%, reflecting moderate returns to shareholders. The company's negative cash conversion cycle of -143 days indicates strong working capital management, but low asset turnover of 0.07 suggests potential underutilization of its asset base relative to revenue generation.
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Try Now & Get Tesla Stock RewardBased on the provided metrics, FISV exhibits a mixed valuation profile. The low TTM and forward P/E ratios suggest the stock is trading at an attractive earnings multiple, indicating potential undervaluation based on this measure. However, the significantly elevated EV/EBITDA ratio of 27.4 and a high PEG ratio above 4.0 present a contrasting picture, suggesting the market is pricing in substantial growth expectations or that the stock is richly valued on cash flow and growth-adjusted bases.
A peer comparison to contextualize these figures is not possible due to the unavailability of industry average data. Without benchmarks for the financial services or specific payment processing sector, it is challenging to determine if FISV's low P/E and high EV/EBITDA are typical for its industry or significant outliers. This analysis would be strengthened by comparative industry data to validate the initial assessment.
FISV exhibits relatively low volatility risk, as evidenced by its beta of 0.778, indicating the stock is approximately 22% less volatile than the broader market. The maximum drawdown of -16.79% over the past year is moderate, suggesting that while the stock has experienced declines, the magnitude of loss has been contained compared to more volatile equities. This risk profile is consistent with a defensive stock that may appeal to investors seeking lower market-correlated risk.
The absence of reported short interest is a positive indicator, implying that sophisticated investors do not currently hold significant bearish views on the stock’s near-term prospects. However, investors should remain mindful of other potential risks, such as liquidity constraints during market stress or company-specific operational challenges, despite the current lack of negative sentiment from short sellers.
Neutral. While FISV appears undervalued on a P/E basis and activist involvement adds upside potential, its weak technical trend, margin pressure, and negative analyst sentiment create significant headwinds. This stock is currently suitable only for speculative, patient investors willing to bet on a turnaround, as it requires improved fundamentals to justify a sustained recovery.
Based on the metrics provided, FISV stock appears to be fairly valued to slightly overvalued. While its low trailing and forward P/E ratios (11.58 and 11.12) suggest potential undervaluation, this is counteracted by a significantly high PEG ratio of 4.09 and an elevated EV/EBITDA of 27.4. The high PEG and EV/EBITDA ratios indicate that the stock's price already incorporates substantial future growth expectations, which seem optimistic considering the company's recent margin pressure and modest revenue growth. The valuation is a mixed bag, leaning toward being rich when growth and cash flow metrics are prioritized.
Based on the provided information, here are the key risks of holding FISV, ordered by importance:
1. Business/Operational Risk: The company faces significant margin pressure, with a notable quarterly decline in both gross and operating income margins, indicating potential challenges in controlling costs or pricing power. 2. Financial Risk: FISV's moderate financial leverage is accompanied by a relatively low interest coverage ratio of 3.1x, which provides a limited cushion for servicing its debt should earnings decline. 3. Industry/Execution Risk: The stock's recent underperformance relative to its low-volatility profile and the broader market, despite no major bearish catalysts, suggests underlying operational or competitive headwinds not fully captured by its fundamentals. 4. Efficiency Risk: A very low asset turnover ratio of 0.07 points to a potential inefficiency in utilizing its large asset base to generate revenue, which could weigh on future returns.
Based on the provided analysis, here is a strategic forecast for Fiserv (FISV) stock through 2026.
My 2026 outlook projects a base case target of $70-80 and a bull case of $85-95, contingent on a successful operational turnaround reversing the current margin compression. The key growth drivers are (1) improved profitability through cost synergies, (2) stabilization and modest growth of its core payments processing revenue, and (3) potential for multiple expansion if execution improves. The primary assumptions are that management can halt the decline in EBITDA and net income margins and that the stable revenue base provides a foundation for recovery. This forecast is highly uncertain and largely depends on management's ability to execute a clear operational improvement, as persistent weak trends could keep the stock range-bound near current levels.