Fiserv Attracts Activist Investor Jana Partners
Feb 17 (Reuters) – Activist investor Jana Partners has recently acquired a less than 1% stake in Fiserv, a leading payments company, by purchasing 2.2 million shares, as per a filing released on Tuesday.
Jana Partners is reportedly urging Fiserv to take action to boost its struggling share price, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by the Wall Street Journal.
It is unclear whether Jana intends to seek board representation at Fiserv, as per the report. The firm’s 13-F filing compares its holdings as of September 30, 2025, with those as of December 31, 2025.
Following the news of Jana’s investment, Fiserv’s stock surged by 6.9% on Tuesday, closing at $63.45 per share. The company’s stock had experienced a significant decline of over 67% in 2025 and has further dropped by nearly 12% year-to-date. With a market capitalization of $31.93 billion, based on the latest closing price, Fiserv remains a significant player in the industry, as per LSEG data.
Jana Partners has not yet responded to requests for comments from Reuters. The firm believes that Fiserv is well-positioned to benefit from the current favorable spending environment for banks.
The activist investor is advocating for Fiserv to accelerate the expansion of its core banking business and to conduct a strategic review that may involve divesting non-core operations, according to reports.
In response to the recent developments, Fiserv stated, “During the past several months, we have engaged with many of our shareholders, including Jana Partners. We value shareholder perspectives as we drive progress through our One Fiserv action plan.”
The One Fiserv action plan, unveiled late last year, aims to prioritize client focus and leverage the company’s strengths. Jana is said to be supportive of this strategy, as reported by the Journal.
Fiserv’s CEO Mike Lyons acknowledged the current performance challenges, stating, “Our current performance is not where we want it to be nor where our stakeholders expect it to be.” He has emphasized the need to enhance forecasting accuracy and reduce reliance on short-term growth initiatives following an extensive review conducted last year.
Looking ahead, Fiserv anticipates 2026 to be a transitional year as it invests in key strategic areas to address gaps and enhance client service.
(Reporting by Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru and Abigail Summerville in New York; Editing by Leroy Leo and Daniel Wallis)
