What I'm Watching With Fiserv to See if It Beats the Market

Fiserv stock is trading down 73% over the past year.Fiserv (FISV 0.61%) is one of the world's leading players in payments technology, but its stock has been absolutely crushed recently after the company missed some important goalposts. The stock is trading down 74% over the past year, but there are signs it might be moving back up from rock bottom. Let's see what's happening, why the market is down on Fiserv stock, and what I'll be looking for to see if it can bounce back and beat the market. Image source: Fiserv. Fiserv has been losing steam and revenue Fiserv is the financial technology infrastructure behind many more recognizable names. It says it's No. 1 in merchant acquiring, digital banking, issuer processing, and several other crucial payment services, and it's so ubiquitous that it reaches nearly 100% of U.S. households, in addition to 6 million small businesses. And because it's involved in global finance, it also reaches 100 countries worldwide. Global dominance is an amazing feature that can build confidence, but it's not a reason to assume that a company can always remain at the top. What sometimes happens is that companies become too big to skillfully guide, letting upstart competitors get into the cracks and widen them. Something similar happened to PayPal Holdings, which is still trying to get its act together. Fiserv stock had been sinking for a while, but it plummeted after the third-quarter earnings release in October, when it missed on the top and bottom lines. Management said that it had identified "competitive and client service gaps," and it was restructuring the company and launching a turnaround plan. The fourth-quarter report wasn't outstanding, but it demonstrated stability and a reset. Revenue increased 1% year over year, while earnings per share (EPS) were down 8%. This was in line with the expectations set out in October, as was the 2026 guidance. Management is expecting 1% to 3% organic revenue growth and $8.00 to $8.30 in adjusted EPS for 2026, down from $8.64 in 2025. ExpandNASDAQ: FISVFiservToday's Change(-0.61%) $-0.39Current Price$63.06Key Data PointsMarket Cap$34BDay's Range$61.82 - $64.2252wk Range$57.79 - $238.59Volume341KAvg Vol10MGross Margin73.17% Investing in Fiserv is a long-term play The company's action plan involves many steps, including developing relationships with artificial intelligence (AI) and technology partners to become more efficient and relevant and win back market share. It recently announced a deal with ServiceNow and launched a new settlement platform for digital currency called INDX. Management's update in the fourth-quarter release was that it's on track with its broad initiatives, and early feedback is positive. The market remains cautious about where this is all going, for good reason. It's too early to tell where it will land, but at the same time, Fiserv's has a huge, global business that would normally be celebrated on the market. After missing in the third quarter, it beat on EPS in the fourth quarter, while it missed just slightly on revenue. Over the next three quarters, the most important thing investors will want to see is whether Fiserv is meeting guidance and expectations, so that's what I'll be watching.Read NextFeb 17, 2026 •By Bram BerkowitzWhy Shares of Fiserv Are Rising TodayJan 31, 2026 •By Jennifer SaibilOverlooked and Undervalued: Why Fiserv Deserves AttentionJan 30, 2026 •By Courtney CarlsenFiserv Stock: Buy, Sell, or Hold in 2026?Jan 22, 2026 •By Bram Berkowitz3 Things Investors Need to Know About Fiserv in 2026Jul 7, 2023 •By Dave KovaleskiWhy Fiserv Stock Rose 12.4% in JuneApr 14, 2023 •By Anthony Di PizioNasdaq Bear Market: 1 Growth Stock to Buy, and 1 to SellAbout the AuthorJennifer Saibil has been a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering the consumer goods and financial sectors since 2019. She previously worked in the financial sector and has written for other finance publications. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Yeshiva University and a master’s degree in public administration from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service.TMFanibirdStocks MentionedFiservNASDAQ: FISV$63.06 (0.61%) $0.39*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.