Fiserv reports first quarter 2017 results
BROOKFIELD, WI (April 26, 2017) — Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV), a leading global provider of financial services technology solutions, today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2017.
First Quarter 2017 GAAP Results
GAAP revenue for the company increased 5 percent in the first quarter to $1.39 billion, driven by 6 percent growth in the Payments segment and 4 percent growth in the Financial segment, compared to the first quarter of 2016.
GAAP earnings per share was $1.13 in the first quarter compared with $1.27 in the prior year period. GAAP earnings per share included net investment gains of $0.08 per share and $0.39 per share in the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively, driven by the sales of a subsidiary business and a business interest at StoneRiver Group, L.P. (“StoneRiver“), a joint venture in which the company owns a 49% interest. GAAP earnings per share in the first quarter of 2017 included a benefit related to the adoption of the new accounting standard for excess tax benefits from share-based compensation awards.
GAAP operating margin was 26.2 percent in the first quarter, increasing 70 basis points compared to the first quarter of 2016.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $463 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared with $509 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 9 percent. Net cash provided by operating activities included cash distributions from StoneRiver of $31 million and $140 million in the first quarter of 2017 and 2016, respectively.
“We are off to a good start to the year producing strong financial results across the company,” said Jeffery Yabuki, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fiserv. “Our business model continues to deliver revenue acceleration, strong sales growth and excellent free cash flow.”
First Quarter 2017 Non-GAAP Results and Additional Information
- Adjusted revenue increased 5 percent in the quarter to $1.32 billion compared to the prior year period.
- Internal revenue growth for the company in the quarter was 4 percent, with 5 percent growth in the Payments segment and 4 percent growth in the Financial segment.
- Adjusted earnings per share increased 18 percent in the quarter to $1.25 compared to the prior year period.
- Adjusted operating margin expanded 60 basis points to 32.5 percent in the quarter compared to the prior year period.
- Free cash flow increased 23 percent in the quarter to $366 million compared to the prior year period. A cash distribution from StoneRiver of $31 million in the quarter related to the sale of a subsidiary business has been excluded from the company’s free cash flow results.
- Sales performance increased 30 percent in the quarter compared to the prior year period.
- The company repurchased 3.4 million shares of common stock for $389 million in the first quarter and had 17.0 million remaining shares authorized for repurchase as of March 31, 2017.
Outlook for 2017
Fiserv continues to expect 2017 internal revenue growth in a range of 4 to 5 percent and adjusted earnings per share in a range of $5.03 to $5.17, which represents growth of 14 to 17 percent over $4.43 in 2016.
“Continuing market momentum combined with our strong start to the year provides increased confidence that we will achieve our 2017 financial objectives,” said Yabuki.
Earnings Conference Call
The company will discuss its first quarter 2017 results on a conference call and webcast at 4 p.m. CT on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. To register for the event, go to Fiserv.com and click on the Q1 Earnings webcast link. Supplemental materials will be available in the “Investor Relations” section of the website.
About Fiserv
Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) enables clients worldwide to create and deliver financial services experiences that are in step with the way people live and work today. For more than 30 years, Fiserv has been a trusted leader in financial services technology, helping clients achieve best-in-class results by driving quality and innovation in payments, processing services, risk and compliance, customer and channel management, and insights and optimization. Fiserv is a member of the FORTUNE® 500 and has been named among the FORTUNE World’s Most Admired Companies® for four consecutive years, ranking first in its category for innovation in 2016 and 2017. For more information, visit Fiserv.com.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In this earnings release, the company supplements its reporting of information determined in accordance with GAAP, such as revenue, operating income, operating margin, net income, earnings per share and net cash provided by operating activities, with “adjusted 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 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 GAAP revenue, operating income, operating margin, net income, earnings per share and net cash provided by operating activities to calculate these non-GAAP measures. The corresponding reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are included in this earnings release, except for forward-looking measures where a reconciliation to the corresponding GAAP measures is not available due to the variability, complexity and low visibility of the non-cash and other items described below that are excluded from the non-GAAP outlook measures. See page 11 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, gains or losses from unconsolidated affiliates, severance costs, merger and integration costs related to acquisitions, and certain costs associated with the achievement of the company’s operational effectiveness objectives. The company excludes these items to more clearly focus on the factors management believes are pertinent to its operations, and management uses this information to make operating decisions, including the allocation of resources to the company’s various businesses.
Internal revenue growth and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures and are described on page 10. Management believes internal revenue growth is useful because it presents revenue growth excluding the effects of acquisitions and dispositions and the impact of postage reimbursements in the company’s Output Solutions business, and including deferred revenue purchase accounting adjustments. 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 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, earnings per share and net cash provided by operating activities or any other amount determined in accordance with GAAP.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press 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 and adjusted earnings per share growth. 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 may affect the company’s results include, among others: pricing and other actions by competitors; the capacity of the company’s technology to keep pace with a rapidly evolving marketplace; the impact of market and economic conditions on the financial services industry; the impact of a security breach or operational failure on the company’s business; the effect of legislative and regulatory actions in the United States and internationally; the company’s ability to comply with government regulations; 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; and other factors included in the company’s filings with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and in other documents that the company files with the SEC. 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 press release.
About Fiserv
Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE: FI), a Fortune 500 company, 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 and business management platform. Fiserv is a member of the S&P 500® Index and has been recognized as one of Fortune® World’s Most Admired Companies™ for 9 of the last 10 years. Visit fiserv.com and follow on social media for more information and the latest company news.
