The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Fiserv, Heartland Payment Systems, Equifax, Lender Processing Services and Macy's

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Jun 01, 2012, 09:30 ET

CHICAGO, June 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include Fiserv, Inc. (Nasdaq:FISV), Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE:HPY), Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX), Lender Processing Services, Inc. (NYSE:LPS) and Macy's Inc. (NYSE:M).

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Here are highlights from Thursday's Analyst Blog:

Another Bank Chooses Fiserv

Fiserv, Inc. (Nasdaq:FISV) was chosen by Magyar Bank for its Cleartouch platform solution in a multi-product contract. These wide arrays of products are targeted to ameliorate process management at the bank, thereby directly catering to its customer satisfaction.

Till now, Magyar Bank had been utilizing the company's CheckFree RXP solutions for bill payment and transactions. With this agreement, the bank shall deploy not only Fiserv's Cleartouch platform but add a variety of products including Director for electronic content management, Branch Source Capture, Merchant Source Capture, AML Manager, Fiserv Clearing Network, Relationship Pricing, eStatements and item processing services.

Fiserv's technologically advanced solutions shall provide for pervasive document management, risk management, quick online statements, relationship management and item processing. Not only will these help in reducing time lags in the bank's interior management but also bolster improved and more efficient product solutions for its valued clientele.

In recent times, it is imperative that every organization pays heed to its customers' changing tastes and preferences so that they are assured of receiving state-of-the-art services along with the regular product offerings. This not only improves the organization's repute but allows for market share proliferation too.

Fiserv's renowned goodwill and existing relationship with Magyar Bank count a great deal in winning such a prestigious contract. Management expressed its ebullience on the occasion by stating that it appreciates the need to innovate product offerings for the benefit of its clients and considers itself capable of delivering the goods quite efficiently.

However, the company should not be complacent of such contract wins as ominous rivals are prevalent in the industry it pertains to. Big players in this regard include Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE:HPY), Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) and Lender Processing Services, Inc. (NYSE:LPS).

We currently have a long-term recommendation of 'Neutral' for Fiserv. In the short run, we have a Zacks #3 Rank for the stock, which translates into a short-term rating of 'Hold.'

May Comps Rise at Macy's

Cincinnati, Ohio-based Macy's Inc. (NYSE:M), one of the leading department store retailers in the U.S., posted strong same-store sales for the four-week period ended May 26, 2012, much better than the analyst's expectations. The increase in sales was attributable to My Macy's localization initiatives, omnichannel integration and robust online and brick and mortar sales.

The company stated that total sales of $2.02 billion for the month of May 2012, reflected an increase of 4.1% from $1.94 billion in the comparable prior-year period. Same-store sales rose 4.2% year over year for the month.

Management believes that the company gained momentum during the month on the back of successful implementation of its fundamental strategies, as well as the training of employees with a focus on customer satisfaction.

Year-to-date, Macy's sales jumped 4.3% to $8.16 billion compared with $7.83 billion in the same period last year. For the first seventeen weeks ended in 2012, Macy's same-store sales also increased 4.3% over the prior-year period.

Online sales, which include sales from macys.com and bloomingdales.com, continued to grow in May, surging 42.3% and on a year-to-date basis, online sales shot up 35.7% from the comparable period last year. The company seeks to expand both Macy's and Bloomingdale's brands online.

Macy's total sales grew 4.3% to $6.14 billion in the first-quarter 2012 from $5.89 billion in the prior-year period while same-store sales climbed 4.4%. The company currently operates approximately 840 department stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico.

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