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Fiserv Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • GAAP revenue up 1% in quarter: GAAP revenue was $5.28 billion in the quarter, up 1%, with Merchant Solutions up 2% and Financial Solutions down 2%. Full-year GAAP revenue rose 4% to $21.19 billion. Source
  • Organic revenue flat in quarter: Organic revenue was flat in the fourth quarter. For the full year organic revenue rose 4%, with Merchant up 6% and Financial up 2%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS down 21% in quarter: Adjusted EPS was $1.99 in the quarter, down 21%, and $8.64 for the full year, down 2%. GAAP EPS was $1.51 in the quarter, down 8%, and $6.34 for the year, up 18%. Source
  • Merchant margin fell, revenue rose: Merchant Solutions revenue was $2.54 billion in the quarter, up 2%. GAAP operating margin was 32.1% against 39.2% a year earlier; the full-year margin was 34.5% against 37.0%. Source
  • Financial margin and revenue declined: Financial Solutions revenue was $2.36 billion in the quarter, down 2%. GAAP operating margin was 42.2% against 51.7%; the full-year margin was 45.3% against 47.3%. Source
  • Operating margin fell on the quarter: GAAP operating margin was 24.4% in the quarter against 31.8%, and 27.5% for the year against 28.7%. Adjusted operating margin was 34.9% against 42.9% in the quarter. Source
  • Free cash flow fell to $4.44 billion: Free cash flow was $4.44 billion for the year against $5.23 billion. Operating cash flow was $6.06 billion against $6.63 billion, and capital expenditures were $1.76 billion against $1.57 billion. Source

“During the fourth quarter, which marked the first full quarter executing the One Fiserv plan, the team took decisive steps and achieved several meaningful milestones and client wins, while also delivering performance in line with our expectations,”

Mike Lyons, Chief Executive Officer of Fiserv

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic revenue growth Source2026 full year1% to 3%New
Adjusted earnings per share Source2026 full year$8.00 to $8.30New
Organic revenue bridge items Source2026 full yearCurrency impact 0.5%; acquisition adjustments (0.5)%; divestiture adjustments - %New
Amortization of acquired intangible assets Source2026 full yearrelatively consistent with the 2025 amountNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: 2026 guidance was issued: organic revenue growth of 1% to 3% and adjusted EPS of $8.00 to $8.30. The previous release gave 2025 guidance only. Source
  • New: The StoneCastle Cash Management acquisition was completed in December 2025. The previous release had said it was expected to close by the first quarter of 2026. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • GAAP revenue up 1% in quarter: GAAP revenue was $5.28 billion in the quarter, up 1%, with Merchant Solutions up 2% and Financial Solutions down 2%. Full-year GAAP revenue rose 4% to $21.19 billion. Source
  • Organic revenue flat in quarter: Organic revenue was flat in the fourth quarter. For the full year organic revenue rose 4%, with Merchant up 6% and Financial up 2%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS down 21% in quarter: Adjusted EPS was $1.99 in the quarter, down 21%, and $8.64 for the full year, down 2%. GAAP EPS was $1.51 in the quarter, down 8%, and $6.34 for the year, up 18%. Source
  • Quarter included an investment gain: A $68 million gain on the sale of an equity security in the fourth quarter is excluded from adjusted results. The 2024 full year included a $595 million non-cash impairment charge. Source

Merchant and Financial segments

  • Merchant margin fell, revenue rose: Merchant Solutions revenue was $2.54 billion in the quarter, up 2%. GAAP operating margin was 32.1% against 39.2% a year earlier; the full-year margin was 34.5% against 37.0%. Source
  • Financial margin and revenue declined: Financial Solutions revenue was $2.36 billion in the quarter, down 2%. GAAP operating margin was 42.2% against 51.7%; the full-year margin was 45.3% against 47.3%. Source
  • Full-year organic growth by segment: Full-year organic revenue growth was 6% in Merchant Solutions and 2% in Financial Solutions, against 4% for the company as a whole. Source

“We are increasingly confident in our ability to create sustainable value by executing on the pillars that have long distinguished Fiserv.”

Mike Lyons, Chief Executive Officer of Fiserv

Products and customers

  • Product revenue rose, processing flat: Product revenue was $1,027 million in the quarter against $991 million, and $4,314 million for the year against $3,819 million. Processing and services revenue was $4,257 million against $4,260 million. Source
  • Postage reimbursements excluded from adjusted revenue: Postage reimbursements of $384 million in the quarter and $1,389 million for the year are removed to reach adjusted revenue, which was $4.90 billion in the quarter. Source
  • Currency and acquisitions shaped reported growth: Currency added $44 million to quarterly adjusted revenue and $230 million for the year. Acquisitions added $62 million in the quarter and $194 million for the year, excluded from organic growth. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Operating margin fell on the quarter: GAAP operating margin was 24.4% in the quarter against 31.8%, and 27.5% for the year against 28.7%. Adjusted operating margin was 34.9% against 42.9% in the quarter. Source
  • Processing costs rose in quarter: Cost of processing and services was $1,515 million in the quarter against $1,320 million a year earlier, and $5,802 million for the year against $5,363 million. Source
  • SG&A expense increased: Selling, general and administrative expense was $1,728 million in the quarter against $1,564 million, and $6,883 million for the year against $6,564 million. Source
  • Adjusted operating income declined: Adjusted operating income was $1,709 million in the quarter against $2,105 million, and $7,398 million for the full year against $7,537 million. Source

“Our focus on disciplined investment and efficiency supports our outlook for improving financial performance as we progress through 2026.”

Paul Todd, Chief Financial Officer of Fiserv

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Free cash flow fell to $4.44 billion: Free cash flow was $4.44 billion for the year against $5.23 billion. Operating cash flow was $6.06 billion against $6.63 billion, and capital expenditures were $1.76 billion against $1.57 billion. Source
  • Buybacks of $5.6 billion for the year: The company repurchased 3.1 million shares for $200 million in the quarter and 32.2 million shares for $5.6 billion in the full year. Source
  • Long-term debt rose to $27.76 billion: Long-term debt was $27.76 billion at December 31, 2025, against $23.73 billion a year earlier. Payments for acquisitions of businesses were $820 million for the year. Source
  • Diluted share count fell: Diluted shares used for EPS were 537.0 million in the quarter, against 571.4 million a year earlier, and 549.0 million for the year, against 582.1 million. Source

Transformation and leadership costs

  • Transformation program tied to AI: One Fiserv transformation expenses were $73 million in the quarter and $86 million for the year, excluded from adjusted results. They relate to AI-enabled operational transformation work. Source
  • CEO transition pay excluded from adjusted: Incremental executive compensation of $52 million for the year covers $40 million of former CEO share-based pay and related payroll taxes, plus a $12 million cash replacement award for the new CEO. Source
  • Integration spend included legal settlements: Merger and integration costs for 2025 included $25 million of legal and other settlements for the full year, alongside third-party professional service fees. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 February 2026

  • Investor Day scheduled for May 2026: Investor Day is scheduled for May 14, 2026 in New York City. Source

Risks management discussed

  • External: Argentine peso devaluation in April 2025 produced a one-day foreign exchange loss, excluded from adjusted results at $39 million for the full year. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: The CFO said fourth quarter results and 2026 guidance are in line with the October outline. Source
  • Met: The CEO said the team achieved several meaningful milestones and client wins in the quarter under the One Fiserv plan. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.