Fiserv Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) reported its first-quarter 2021 results, revealing flat GAAP revenue of $3.76 billion compared to the previous year. Notably, GAAP earnings per share decreased by 21% to $0.45, while operating margin dropped to 12.6%. In contrast, adjusted revenue grew by 2% to $3.56 billion, with internal revenue growth at 4%. The company anticipates a 9% to 12% increase in internal revenue growth for 2021 and adjusted earnings per share between $5.35 and $5.50. Fiserv's commitment to innovation remains strong as it prepares for the upcoming acquisition of Pineapple Payments and a significant alliance in Brazil.

Positive

• Adjusted revenue increased 2% to $3.56 billion.
• Internal revenue growth was 4%, with 8% growth in the Acceptance segment.
• Adjusted earnings per share rose 18% to $1.17.
• Free cash flow increased 8% to $821 million.
• Sales results surged 42% compared to the previous year.
• The company repurchased 5.2 million shares for $612 million.
• Expecting internal revenue growth of 9% to 12% for 2021.

Negative

• GAAP revenue was flat compared to the prior year.
• GAAP earnings per share decreased 21% to $0.45.
• Operating margin declined to 12.6% from 16.7%.

Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions, today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2021.

First Quarter 2021 GAAP Results

GAAP revenue for the company was flat at $3.76 billion in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the prior year period, with Acceptance segment revenue flat with the prior year period, 3% growth in the Fintech segment and 1% growth in the Payments segment. GAAP revenue in the first quarter of 2020 included revenue within Corporate and Other associated with the divested Investment Services business.

GAAP earnings per share was $0.45 in the first quarter of 2021, a decrease of 21% compared to the prior year period. GAAP operating margin was 12.6% in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 16.7% in the prior year period. GAAP earnings per share and operating margin in the first quarter of 2020 included a gain from the sale of a 60% interest of the company's Investment Services business, along with higher merger and integration costs associated with the acquisition of First Data Corporation ("First Data").

Net cash provided by operating activities increased 7% to $952 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the prior year period.

"Fiserv delivered another strong quarter as the pandemic hit its one-year anniversary late in the first quarter," said Frank Bisignano, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fiserv. "The focus on driving innovation while supporting our clients and associates continues to lead to strong operating results as the global economy begins to recover."

First Quarter 2021 Non-GAAP Results and Additional Information

• Adjusted revenue of $3.56 billion increased 2% in the quarter compared to the prior year period.
• Internal revenue growth was 4% in the quarter, with 8% growth in the Acceptance segment and 2% growth in each of the Fintech and Payments segments.
• Adjusted earnings per share of $1.17 increased 18% in the quarter compared to the prior year period.
• Free cash flow of $821 million increased 8% in the quarter compared to the prior year period.
• Adjusted operating margin of 31.4% increased 360 basis points in the quarter compared to the prior year period.
• Sales results increased 42% in the quarter compared to the prior year period.
• The company repurchased 5.2 million shares of common stock for $612 million in the quarter.
• In March 2021, the company announced that it had entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire Pineapple Payments, a leading independent sales organization focused on integrated payments. The company expects the transaction to close during the second quarter of 2021, subject to customary approvals and closing conditions.
• In April 2021, Fiserv signed a 20-year exclusive alliance agreement with Caixa Econômical Federal, one of the largest banks in Brazil, for merchant acquiring services.

Outlook for 2021

Fiserv now expects internal revenue growth of 9% to 12% and adjusted earnings per share in a range of $5.35 to $5.50, representing growth of 21% to 24%, for 2021.

"Our momentum has continued into 2021," said Bisignano. "With a strong first quarter, we are raising the lower end of our outlook for both internal revenue growth and adjusted earnings per share, as we see broad economic conditions improve and our ongoing focus on serving clients leads to growth."

Earnings Conference Call

The company will discuss its first quarter 2021 results in a live webcast at 7 a.m. CT on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. The webcast, along with supplemental financial information, can be accessed on the investor relations section of the Fiserv website at investors.fiserv.com. A replay will be available approximately one hour after the conclusion of the live webcast.

About Fiserv

Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) aspires to move money and information in a way that moves the world. As a global leader in payments and financial technology, the company helps clients achieve best-in-class results through a commitment to innovation and excellence in areas including account processing and digital banking solutions; card issuer processing and network services; payments; e-commerce; merchant acquiring and processing; and the Clover^® cloud-based point-of-sale solution. Fiserv is a member of the S&P 500^® Index and the FORTUNE^® 500, and is among FORTUNE World's Most Admired Companies^®. Visit fiserv.com and follow on social media for more information and the latest company news.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In this news release, the company supplements its reporting of information determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), such as revenue, operating income, operating margin, net income attributable to Fiserv, earnings per share and net cash provided by operating activities, with "adjusted revenue," "internal revenue," "internal revenue growth," "adjusted operating income," "adjusted operating margin," "adjusted net income," "adjusted earnings per share," and "free cash flow." Management believes that adjustments for certain non-cash or other items and the exclusion of certain pass-through revenue and expenses should enhance shareholders' ability to evaluate the company's performance, as such measures provide additional insights into the factors and trends affecting its business. Therefore, the company excludes these items from its GAAP financial measures to calculate these unaudited non-GAAP measures. The corresponding reconciliations of these unaudited non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are included in this news release, except for forward-looking measures where a reconciliation to the corresponding GAAP measures is not available due to the variability, complexity and limited visibility of the non-cash and other items described below that are excluded from the non-GAAP outlook measures. See page 14 for additional information regarding the company's forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures.

Examples of non-cash or other items may include, but are not limited to, non-cash deferred revenue adjustments arising from acquisitions; non-cash intangible asset amortization expense associated with acquisitions; non-cash impairment charges and restructuring costs; severance costs; net charges associated with debt financing activities; merger and integration costs; gains or losses from the sale of businesses; and certain discrete tax benefits and expenses. The company excludes these items to more clearly focus on the factors management believes are pertinent to the company's operations, and management uses this information to make operating decisions, including the allocation of resources to the company's various businesses.

The company adjusts its non-GAAP results to exclude amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets as such amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency and are significantly impacted by the timing and/or size of acquisitions. Management believes that the adjustment of acquisition-related intangible asset amortization supplements GAAP information with a measure that can be used to assess the comparability of operating performance. Although the company excludes amortization from acquisition-related intangible assets from its non-GAAP expenses, management believes that it is important for investors to understand that such intangible assets were recorded as part of purchase accounting and contribute to revenue generation.

Management believes internal revenue growth is useful because it presents adjusted revenue growth including deferred revenue purchase accounting adjustments and excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations, acquisitions, dispositions and the company's Output Solutions postage reimbursements. Management believes free cash flow is useful to measure the funds generated in a given period that are available for debt service requirements and strategic capital decisions. Management believes this supplemental information enhances shareholders' ability to evaluate and understand the company's core business performance.

These unaudited non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, revenue, operating income, operating margin, net income attributable to Fiserv, earnings per share and net cash provided by operating activities or any other amount determined in accordance with GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding anticipated internal revenue growth, adjusted earnings per share, adjusted earnings per share growth and other statements regarding our future financial performance. Statements can generally be identified as forward-looking because they include words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “could,” “should,” or words of similar meaning. Statements that describe the company's future plans, objectives or goals are also forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially include, among others, the following, many of which are, and will be, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic: the duration and intensity of the COVID-19 pandemic, including how quickly the global economy recovers from the impact of the pandemic; governmental and private sector responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of such responses on the company; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company's employees, clients, vendors, operations and sales; the possibility that the company may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies from the acquisition of First Data within the expected time frames; the possibility that the integration of First Data may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; profitability following the transaction may be lower than expected, including due to unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the transaction; operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers) may be greater than expected following the transaction; unforeseen risks relating to the company's liabilities or those of First Data may exist; the company's ability to meet expectations regarding the accounting and tax treatments of the transaction; the company's ability to compete effectively against new and existing competitors and to continue to introduce competitive new products and services on a timely, cost-effective basis; changes in customer demand for the company's products and services; the ability of the company's technology to keep pace with a rapidly evolving marketplace; the successful management of the company's merchant alliance program which involves several alliances not under its sole control; the impact of a security breach or operational failure on the company's business including disruptions caused by other participants in the global financial system; the failure of the company's vendors and merchants to satisfy their obligations; the successful management of credit and fraud risks in the company's business and merchant alliances; changes in local, regional, national and international economic or political conditions and the impact they may have on the company and its customers; the effect of proposed and enacted legislative and regulatory actions affecting the company or the financial services industry as a whole; the company's ability to comply with government regulations and applicable card association and network rules; the protection and validity of intellectual property rights; the outcome of pending and future litigation and governmental proceedings; the company's ability to successfully identify, complete and integrate acquisitions, and to realize the anticipated benefits associated with the same; the impact of the company's strategic initiatives; the company's ability to attract and retain key personnel; volatility and disruptions in financial markets that may impact the company's ability to access preferred sources of financing and the terms on which the company is able to obtain financing or increase its costs of borrowing; adverse impacts from currency exchange rates or currency controls; changes in corporate tax and interest rates; and other factors included in “Risk Factors” in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and in other documents that the company files with the SEC, which are available at http://www.sec.gov. You should consider these factors carefully in evaluating forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release.

Fiserv, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(In millions, except per share amounts, unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021				2020
Revenue
Processing and services	$	3,054			$	3,075
Product	701

FAQ

What were Fiserv's first-quarter 2021 earnings results?

Fiserv reported flat GAAP revenue of $3.76 billion and a GAAP EPS of $0.45, a 21% decrease from the prior year.

What is Fiserv's outlook for 2021 regarding revenue growth?

Fiserv expects internal revenue growth of 9% to 12% and adjusted EPS between $5.35 and $5.50 for 2021.

How did Fiserv's non-GAAP results perform in Q1 2021?

In Q1 2021, adjusted revenue rose 2% to $3.56 billion, and adjusted EPS increased 18% to $1.17.

What major acquisitions or agreements has Fiserv announced recently?

Fiserv announced a definitive merger agreement to acquire Pineapple Payments and signed a 20-year exclusive agreement with Caixa Econômica Federal for merchant acquiring services.