FI

Small Business Sales Growth: The Fiserv Small Business Index rose to 150 in March 2025, reflecting a year-over-year sales growth of 5.5% and a month-over-month increase of 1.8%, driven by strong demand for services and increased restaurant foot traffic despite a decline in restaurant spending.

Regional Performance Trends: Small business sales grew in 44 states, with notable increases in Georgia, South Carolina, North Dakota, and North Carolina; large cities like Atlanta and Philadelphia also showed significant year-over-year sales growth.

Plans for Improvement: The new head of the Social Security Administration, Frank Bisignano, aims to enhance efficiency through artificial intelligence, addressing issues like outdated technology and website failures.

Focus on Beneficiary Services: Bisignano's strategy includes reducing error rates, ensuring timely benefits for recipients, and using AI to combat fraud and support customer service.

Nomination Progress: Frank Bisignano's nomination to lead the Social Security Administration has advanced with full Republican support, passing the Senate Finance Committee by a narrow 14 to 13 vote.

Next Steps: The full Senate will vote on Bisignano's nomination at a later date, overseeing an agency responsible for $1.6 trillion in benefits for approximately 70 million beneficiaries.

Analyst Upgrades: Several Wall Street analysts have upgraded their ratings on various companies, including Sarepta Therapeutics (from Sell to Neutral), Reinsurance Group of America (from Neutral to Overweight), and Charles Schwab (from Neutral to Buy).

Price Target Adjustments: Along with the upgrades, analysts have adjusted price targets for these stocks, with notable increases for Charles Schwab (from $85 to $102) and Fiserv (from $246 to $260).

Market Overview: The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq are all down as investors await President Trump's announcement on new tariffs, which could impact economic growth and corporate earnings. Despite positive labor market news, stock indexes remain under pressure due to tariff concerns.

Stock Movements: Major tech stocks like Tesla and Nvidia are experiencing declines, while pharmaceutical companies face losses following leadership changes in the Department of Health and Human Services. Conversely, DoorDash and Rocket Companies saw gains after positive developments.

Market Reaction to Tariff Announcement: Stocks fell sharply in after-hours trading following President Trump's announcement of new tariffs, particularly impacting Chinese imports with a total tariff rate now at 54%. The Invesco QQQ Trust and SPDR S&P 500 ETF saw significant declines after initially positive market performance earlier in the day.

Economic Indicators and Stock Movements: Positive US economic reports, including an increase in hiring and factory orders, had previously boosted stock indexes. However, fears surrounding the potential negative impact of tariffs on economic growth have kept markets under pressure, leading to mixed performances across various sectors.

Market Reaction to Tariff Announcement: Stocks fell sharply in after-hours trading following President Trump's announcement of new tariffs, with the Invesco QQQ Trust down 3.44% and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF down 2.45%, reversing earlier gains from a positive economic report.

Economic Indicators and Stock Movements: The US labor market showed stronger hiring than expected, contributing to initial stock gains, while major companies like Tesla and Amazon saw significant increases in their stock prices due to positive news, despite overall market pressures from tariff fears.

Market Performance: The S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq indexes showed slight gains today after recovering from early losses due to better-than-expected US economic data, including an increase in hiring and factory orders. However, concerns about upcoming tariffs announced by President Trump continue to pressure the markets.

Interest Rates and Stock Movements: T-notes rallied as fears of a recession prompted expectations for continued interest rate cuts by the Fed. Notable stock movements included gains for DoorDash and Caesars Entertainment, while chip makers faced declines, and nCino's shares plummeted following disappointing earnings.

FISERV INC Performance: FISERV INC (FI) has received a 100% rating from Validea's Twin Momentum Investor model, indicating strong interest based on its fundamental and price momentum metrics within the Computer Services industry.

Dashan Huang's Research: Dashan Huang, an Assistant Professor at Singapore Management University, developed the "Twin Momentum" strategy that combines price momentum with improving fundamentals to enhance market performance, identifying key variables for stock evaluation.

Copper Prices Surge: U.S. copper prices have reached record highs, closing at $5.11 per pound, driven by concerns over potential import tariffs and increased domestic demand amid tight global supply.

Market Dynamics and Future Outlook: Manufacturers are stockpiling copper in anticipation of trade restrictions, while analysts predict a potential retreat in prices later this year if tariffs negatively impact U.S. economic growth.

New Rules for Social Security Applications: The Social Security Administration announced that applicants for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income will no longer need to verify their identity in person at an office.

Telephone Claims Processing: Individuals unable to use the "my Social Security" online account can now complete their claims entirely over the phone, streamlining the application process.

Nominee's Background and Plans: Frank Bisignano, President Trump's nominee for the Social Security Administration (SSA), aims to improve customer service and reduce payment errors using artificial intelligence, despite concerns over potential privatization and workforce reductions.

Crisis at SSA: The SSA is facing significant challenges, including website crashes and claims of inefficiency, while former Labor Secretary Robert Reich argues that the agency's financial issues could be resolved by adjusting tax caps, countering criticisms from figures like Elon Musk.

Social Security Administration's Transparency Efforts: The Social Security Administration announced changes aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability, detailing its weekly operational reports and agency actions.

Operational Insights Provided: The announcement included information on call wait times and workforce figures to give the public a clearer understanding of the agency's operations.

FISERV INC Analysis: FISERV INC (FI) has received a 100% rating from Validea's Twin Momentum Investor model, indicating strong interest based on its fundamental and price momentum metrics in the Computer Services industry.

Dashan Huang's Contribution: Dashan Huang, an Assistant Professor of Finance, developed the "Twin Momentum" strategy which combines traditional price momentum with improving fundamentals to achieve market outperformance, identifying key variables that contribute to this success.

Customer Service Issues: The Social Security Administration is experiencing significant customer service challenges due to staff cuts, limited phone assistance, and the closure of local field offices.

Rising Demand for Benefits: The number of retirees claiming benefits has increased as the baby boomer generation ages, exacerbating the existing service problems.

Chevron's Workforce Reduction: Chevron Corporation plans to cut its workforce by up to 20% as part of a cost-cutting initiative aimed at saving $2 billion to $3 billion by the end of 2026, following an announcement made on February 12.

Acquisitions and Stock Performance: Fiserv, Inc. has acquired CCV to enhance growth in Europe, while UnitedHealth Group is adjusting payment models for pharmacies, with both companies seeing positive stock performance recently.

Real-time Market Intelligence: Benzinga Pro offers the fastest and most accurate stock market alerts, helping traders stay informed and make winning trades daily.

Community of Traders: Over 10,000 serious traders are part of the Benzinga Pro community, gaining access to exclusive stories and insights from Benzinga reporters.

Acquisition Announcement: Fiserv, Inc. has acquired CCV, a payment solutions provider in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, to enhance its payment solutions capabilities and accelerate the deployment of its Clover platform across Europe.

Impact on Market: The acquisition aims to optimize operational models and provide seamless payment solutions for businesses in Europe, leveraging CCV's established reputation and extensive experience in the payments sector.

Acquisition Announcement: Fiserv has acquired CCV, a payment solutions provider operating in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, to enhance its Clover platform across Europe.

Strategic Benefits: The acquisition aims to improve capabilities and innovation for a larger merchant and partner base, although financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Event Announcement: Fiserv Inc. will present at the BofA Electronic Payments Symposium on March 18, 2025, starting at 2:40 PM ET.

Webcast Access: The live webcast of the event can be accessed through Fiserv's investor relations website.