Fiserv Shares Plummet 44% After New CEO Mike Lyons Resets Guidance

Fiserv, a leading fintech payments processor, saw its shares plunge by a record 44% on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, erasing approximately $30 billion in market value. The significant drop followed the company's announcement of disappointing third-quarter results and a drastically revised full-year earnings outlook by new CEO Mike Lyons, who described the move as a "critical and necessary reset."

The company now anticipates full-year adjusted earnings per share to be between $8.50 and $8.60, a substantial reduction from its previous forecast of $10.15 to $10.30 per share. Fiserv also cut its annual revenue growth projection to 3.5% to 4%, down sharply from an earlier 10% forecast. According to the Wall Street Journal, this decision by the new CEO to pull guidance was a major factor in the market's reaction.

CEO Mike Lyons, who assumed leadership in May, attributed the revised guidance to a "rigorous analysis of the company" conducted during the third quarter. He cited several factors, including the impact of deferred investments, a recalibration of overly optimistic growth assumptions, and slowing growth within its Argentina operations. Lyons acknowledged that previous guidance had assumed other businesses would "grow significantly faster" to offset the drag from Argentina.

In response to the challenges, Lyons unveiled a strategic action plan dubbed "One Fiserv," alongside a significant overhaul of the management team and board of directors. This shake-up includes the departure of current CFO Robert Hau and two board members, with new appointments aimed at steering the company through a period of transition. Wall Street analysts reacted with a wave of downgrades, with firms like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley lowering their ratings, anticipating a multi-quarter turnaround.