Fidelity National Information Services (FIS)

What is Fidelity National Information Services (FIS)?

It’s a US technology business that provides innovative financial technology (fintech) solutions to banks and other organizations.

Key Takeaways

FIS history can be traced back to 1968, when it was launched as Systematics Inc.
Insurer Fidelity National Financial bought the business in 2003 and renamed it FIS.
The company offers more than 500 financial technology solutions to organizations.
Its stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker: FIS.
FIS recently sold a majority stake in Worldpay to GTCR, a private equity firm.

History of FIS

FIS’s history can be traced back more than half a century to 1968 when it was founded as Systematics Inc. It was then acquired by ALLTEL Information Services before being bought by insurance giant Fidelity National Financial in 2003.

The company was subsequently renamed Fidelity Information Services. Since then, it has taken over several other financial technology firms.

For example, its acquisition of SunGard in 2015 enabled it to provide record-keeping and other services to investment firms.

Similarly, its purchase of Worldpay in 2019 enabled it to provide payment processing services for a wider variety of businesses, particularly in the US and UK.

However, it recently announced it had sold a majority stake in Worldpay to GTCR, a private equity firm. This means FIS will become more focused on its legacy operations.

What Does Fidelity National Information Services Do?

The most accurate Fidelity National Information Services definition is that it provides more than 500 financial technology solutions to banks and other businesses.

Its products and services help organizations run banking operations, make and take payments, manage cash flow and capital, and enhance trading and investing.

The company has stated: “We help our clients use technology in innovative ways to solve business-critical challenges and deliver superior experiences for their customers.”

The industries it has served include:

Financial institutions
Securities & investments
Corporations
Insurance companies
Entrepreneurs
Retailers
Restaurateurs
Utility providers
Healthcare firms

Products and Services

FIS offers more than 500 solutions that are used by a wide variety of banks, financial institutions, and businesses around the world.

The solutions it provides include:

Advanced integrated banking

Building omnichannel operations in digital and physical channels.

Banking operations

Driving operational efficiencies and customer satisfaction.

Wealth and asset management

Strengthening client relationships and accelerating front office operations.

Payment provision

Enabling payments to be taken, made, and managed in different ways.

Data insights

Providing clients with the opportunity to make increasingly data-driven decisions.

Change of Focus With the Worldpay Deal

FIS announced in early February 2024 that it was selling a majority stake in Worldpay, the payment provider business, to GTCR, a private equity firm.

The deal, which saw GTCR take a 55% stake, was valued at $18.5 billion. FIS will continue its involvement in the business as a minority stakeholder.

Stephanie Ferris, Chief Executive Officer and President of FIS, said: “With this strategic milestone, we are simplifying our business and driving greater focus on delivering innovative, next-generation financial technology and software solutions to our clients.”

The move comes five years after FIS bought Worldpay, which provides payment processing services to global businesses, in a deal worth $43 billion.

According to Brett Horn, senior equity analyst at Morningstar, FIS decided to undo the deal as it “struggled with operational issues” within the Worldpay business.

“Following the sale, FIS will return to being primarily a bank tech provider,” he wrote. “This business, while lower growth, is very predictable and stable.”

FIS Controversies

Unfortunately, FIS has experienced some challenges over the years.

Back in 2007, it was revealed that 8.5 million customer records had been stolen from Certegy Check Services, which was part of FIS. It included checking account and credit card records.

In 2011, the company revealed it had incurred a loss of around $13 million due to “unauthorized activities involving one client and 22 prepaid card accounts” on its Sunrise platform.

In a statement, it declared: “The company has taken steps to further enhance security and continues to work with Federal law enforcement officials on this matter.”

FIS Pros and Cons

FIS has decades of experience and has established itself as a leading player in the global fintech arena.

It expects to generate revenue of up to $2.49 billion in the second quarter of 2024 and just over $10 billion for the full year, according to its recent guidance.

Pros

Bank technology business is very stable
Growth predicted in electronic payments
Healthy operating margins generated

Cons

Customer base skewed toward large banks
Bank technology tied to a mature industry
Increasingly competitive marketplace

The company has also returned to a focus on its legacy operations after the sale of its majority interest in Worldpay, according to Brett Horn, senior equity analyst at Morningstar.

“We think the new FIS will be a more stable operation with lower long-term growth prospects,” he wrote in an update. “The first quarter marked a fairly strong start to this new direction.”

Horn has an $80 fair value estimate on the company and currently sees the shares as being ‘modestly undervalued’.

The company is rated as a ‘moderate buy’, according to the views of 22 Wall Street analysts compiled by MarketBeat.

While 14 see it as a ‘buy’ and one a ‘strong buy’, seven have ‘hold’ recommendations in place. The consensus is its stock price could rise almost 3% to $79.32 over the coming year.

Separately, as far as employees are concerned, 70% would recommend FIS to their friends, according to the conclusion of more than 100,000 reviews on Glassdoor.

The Bottom Line

Fidelity National Information Services meaning is that it’s a financial technology company that provides solutions to banks and other organizations.

The company, whose history can be traced back to the late 1960s, has constantly developed its products and embraced a wider variety of sectors.

However, the decision to sell a majority stake in Worldpay, a favored payment provider for many businesses, will see FIS focus more on legacy bank operations.