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Fiserv Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 lowered. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell 4% in quarter: Adjusted revenue was $4.96 billion, down 4%, and organic revenue fell 5%. Adjusted revenue for the first half was $9.64 billion, down 3%, with organic revenue down 4%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS down 26% in quarter: Adjusted net income was $982 million, against $1,364 million a year earlier. Adjusted EPS for the first half was $3.63, down 21%. Source
  • Organic revenue guidance lowered: Organic revenue growth for 2026 is now (1%) to 0%, from 1% to 3% previously. The company cited the adjustment as part of updating the 2026 view. Source
  • Adjusted EPS guidance lowered: Adjusted EPS for 2026 is now $7.20 to $7.40, from $8.00 to $8.30 previously. Source
  • Financial revenue fell 8%: Financial Solutions revenue was $2.36 billion, and operating income was $912 million against $1,244 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating margin down year over year: GAAP operating margin was 19.2% against 30.7%, and adjusted operating margin was 31.8% against 39.6%. First-half GAAP operating margin was 18.7% against 29.0%. Source
  • Volumes, transactions and accounts grew: Paul Todd, Chief Financial Officer, cited growth in overall volumes, transactions and accounts, with recurring revenue growth, as highlighting the underlying performance of the business. Source
  • Free cash flow down to $1.36B: Operating cash flow was $2.08 billion against $2.31 billion for the first half. Capital expenditures rose to $956 million from $814 million. Source

“Our business continues to be supported by volume growth and strong positions in attractive markets,”

Takis Georgakopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of Fiserv

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic revenue growth Source2026 full year(1%) to 0%Lowered from 1% to 3%
Adjusted earnings per share Source2026 full year$7.20 to $7.40Lowered from $8.00 to $8.30
GAAP revenue growth Source2026 full year(1.5%) to (0.5%)Lowered from 1% to 3%

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: 2026 organic revenue growth is now (1%) to 0%, from 1% to 3% in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Guidance lowered: 2026 adjusted EPS is now $7.20 to $7.40, from $8.00 to $8.30 in the first-quarter release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Expected 2026 amortization of acquired intangible assets is the same as the first-quarter release estimate, relatively consistent with 2025. Source
  • New: The company completed formation of the MoneyPass Group joint venture in August. The company will keep a minority ownership interest in the joint venture. Source
  • New: Takis Georgakopoulos is named as Chief Executive Officer in this release. The first-quarter release had named Mike Lyons in that role. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue fell 4% in quarter: Adjusted revenue was $4.96 billion, down 4%, and organic revenue fell 5%. Adjusted revenue for the first half was $9.64 billion, down 3%, with organic revenue down 4%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS down 26% in quarter: Adjusted net income was $982 million, against $1,364 million a year earlier. Adjusted EPS for the first half was $3.63, down 21%. Source
  • GAAP EPS fell on One Fiserv costs: GAAP diluted EPS was $1.17, down 37%. The company said the quarter included One Fiserv transformation expenses, which it excludes from adjusted results. Source

Full-year 2026 guidance

  • Organic revenue guidance lowered: Organic revenue growth for 2026 is now (1%) to 0%, from 1% to 3% previously. The company cited the adjustment as part of updating the 2026 view. Source
  • Adjusted EPS guidance lowered: Adjusted EPS for 2026 is now $7.20 to $7.40, from $8.00 to $8.30 previously. Source
  • GAAP revenue growth range lowered: GAAP revenue growth for 2026 is (1.5%) to (0.5%), with postage reimbursements at 0%. The first-quarter release showed 1% to 3% for the 2026 revenue line. Source

“While we are adjusting our 2026 outlook, we are reiterating our expected medium-term growth rates.”

Paul Todd, Chief Financial Officer of Fiserv

Merchant and Financial segments

  • Merchant revenue down 1%: Merchant Solutions operating income was $781 million against $914 million a year earlier. Organic revenue for the segment fell 1%. Source
  • Financial revenue fell 8%: Financial Solutions revenue was $2.36 billion, and operating income was $912 million against $1,244 million a year earlier. Source
  • Segment margins fell in both: Merchant operating margin was 30.0% against 34.6%. Financial operating margin was 38.7% against 48.7%. Adjusted and GAAP segment figures are identical. Source

Costs and margins

  • Operating margin down year over year: GAAP operating margin was 19.2% against 30.7%, and adjusted operating margin was 31.8% against 39.6%. First-half GAAP operating margin was 18.7% against 29.0%. Source
  • Processing and service costs rose: Cost of processing and services was $1,706 million against $1,412 million. Selling, general and administrative expense was $1,888 million against $1,711 million. Source
  • Acquisition amortization excluded from adjusted results: Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets was $315 million in the quarter. The company also excluded $187 million of One Fiserv transformation expenses and $40 million of severance. Source

“Our recurring revenue base is durable, client demand for our strategic platforms remains strong, and we are improving execution, enhancing our technology and are committed to long-term shareholder value.”

Takis Georgakopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of Fiserv

Demand and volumes

  • Volumes, transactions and accounts grew: Paul Todd, Chief Financial Officer, cited growth in overall volumes, transactions and accounts, with recurring revenue growth, as highlighting the underlying performance of the business. Source
  • Recurring revenue described as durable: The CEO described the recurring revenue base as durable and said client demand for strategic platforms remains high. Source
  • Postage reimbursements excluded from revenue: Postage reimbursements of $329 million in the quarter were excluded from adjusted revenue and from organic revenue, compared with $320 million a year earlier. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Free cash flow down to $1.36B: Operating cash flow was $2.08 billion against $2.31 billion for the first half. Capital expenditures rose to $956 million from $814 million. Source
  • Share repurchases totaled $300 million: The company bought back 1.7 million shares for $100 million in the second quarter. In the first quarter it had bought back 3.3 million shares for $200 million. Source
  • Euro senior notes priced at 4.0%: The company completed a public offering of euro senior notes in 4-year and 8-year tenors. The weighted average coupon was 4.0%. Source
  • Notes retired with gain booked: Senior notes due March 2027 and July 2049 were partly retired through a cash tender offer and open market repurchase in June and July. The company recorded a $154 million gain on early debt extinguishment. Source

Strategy and investment

  • One Fiserv transformation described: The company describes the One Fiserv transformation as a multi-year effort built on AI-enabled operational excellence, including process reengineering and technology modernization. Source
  • Merger costs include retention awards: Merger and integration costs were $23 million in the quarter, including $9 million of third-party professional fees and $12 million of retention awards. Source
  • Adjusted results focus on operations: The company excludes these items from adjusted results to focus on factors management considers pertinent to operations and to the allocation of resources. Source

People and leadership

  • CEO transition cost in 2025: The 2025 CEO transition included $40 million of former CEO share-based compensation and related payroll taxes, which the company excluded from adjusted results. Source
  • Retention awards in transformation costs: Transformation expenses included $48 million of incremental compensation in the quarter, primarily retention cash awards and restricted stock units granted to certain employees. Source
  • Successor CEO replacement award: A $12 million cash replacement award was paid to the successor CEO appointed in 2025, and the company excluded it from adjusted results. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The CFO said the company is reiterating its expected medium-term growth rates. The release gives no figures for them. Source
  • Met: The first-quarter release said results were in line with the expectations management shared in February.
  • Not stated: The first-quarter release said significant work remained on the One Fiserv action plan, and that management was encouraged by progress.

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.