FIS reports 2023 results

“Our 2023 results and our 2024 outlook reflect the continued positive momentum of the business as we delivered on our financial commitments for the fourth consecutive quarter and successfully closed the Worldpay transaction,” said FIS CEO and President Stephanie Ferris. “I am pleased with our outperformance on our Future Forward expectations, and to announce that we are once again increasing our share repurchase goal by $500 million reflecting our confidence in the strength of the business and our ongoing commitment to returning capital to shareholders. As we turn the page to the next chapter of FIS, I look forward to providing you with a comprehensive deep-dive into FIS’ corporate strategy at our upcoming Investor Day in New York City on May 7th.”

Financial Reporting Considerations for Completed Worldpay Transaction

On July 6, 2023, the Company announced an acceleration of its previously announced separation plan to create two highly focused global companies with greater strategic flexibility. FIS signed a definitive agreement to sell a 55% stake in its Worldpay Merchant Solutions business to private equity funds managed by GTCR. The Worldpay transaction was completed on January 31, 2024.

Unless otherwise noted, all results are presented on a continuing operations basis and exclude the results of the Company’s Worldpay Merchant Solutions business that was classified as discontinued operations as of the third quarter of 2023.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2024, FIS’ 45% ownership of the Worldpay Merchant Solutions business will be reported under the “Equity method investment earnings (loss)” line of the income statement (EMI).

Capital Allocation Update

The Company remains committed to shareholder returns and is increasing its goal to repurchase at least $4.0 billion of shares by year end 2024, up from the previous goal of at least $3.5 billion, inclusive of $510 million of shares repurchased in the fourth quarter of 2023. Additionally, the Company continues to target a dividend payout ratio of 35% of adjusted net earnings, excluding equity method investment earnings (loss) (EMI).

On February 25, 2024, FIS’ Board of Directors approved a regular quarterly dividend of $0.36 per common share. The dividend is payable on March 22, 2024, to shareholders of record as of close of business on March 8, 2024.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Results

On a GAAP basis, excluding $1.2 billion of revenue classified as discontinued operations, revenue decreased 1% as compared to the prior year period to approximately $2.5 billion. GAAP net earnings attributable to common stockholders from continuing operations were $64 million or $0.11 per diluted share. Including discontinued operations, GAAP net earnings attributable to common stockholders were $251 million or $0.42 per diluted share.

On an adjusted basis, revenue was flat as compared to the prior-year period driven by 7% adjusted recurring revenue growth, offset by a 16% decline in adjusted non-recurring revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 70 basis points (bps) over the prior-year period to 42.1% primarily driven by cost efficiencies. Adjusted net earnings for continuing operations were approximately $558 million, and adjusted EPS decreased by 4% as compared to the prior-year period to $0.94 per diluted share primarily due to a $0.07 headwind associated with higher interest costs. Including discontinued operations, adjusted net earnings were approximately $985 million and adjusted EPS decreased 2% as compared to the prior-year period to $1.67 per diluted share primarily due to a $0.05 headwind associated with higher interest costs.

Full-Year 2023 Financial Results

On a GAAP basis, excluding $4.9 billion of revenue classified as discontinued operations, revenue increased 1% as compared to the prior year to approximately $9.8 billion. GAAP net earnings attributable to common stockholders from continuing operations were $503 million or $0.85 per diluted share. Including discontinued operations, GAAP net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders were $(6,654) million or $(11.26) per diluted share, including a $6.8 billion non-cash goodwill impairment charge recorded in the year related to the Merchant Solutions reporting unit.

On an adjusted basis, revenue increased 3% as compared to the prior year driven by 5% adjusted recurring revenue growth, partially offset by a 4% decline in adjusted non-recurring revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted by 40 basis points (bps) over the prior year to 40.4% as cost efficiencies were more than offset by a lower contribution from higher margin non-recurring revenue. Adjusted net earnings for continuing operations were approximately $2.0 billion, and adjusted EPS decreased by 11% as compared to the prior year to $3.37 per diluted share primarily due to a $0.49 headwind associated with higher interest costs. Including discontinued operations, adjusted net earnings were approximately $3.7 billion and adjusted EPS decreased 7% as compared to the prior year to $6.17 per diluted share primarily due to a $0.46 headwind associated with higher interest costs.

Segment Information

Banking Solutions:

Fourth quarter revenue was flat on a GAAP basis and an adjusted basis as compared to the prior-year period at $1.7 billion reflecting adjusted recurring revenue growth of 7%, offset by a 22% decrease in adjusted non-recurring revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 270 basis points as compared to the prior-year period to 44.2% primarily driven by cost efficiencies.

Full-year revenue increased by 2% on a GAAP basis and 2% on an adjusted basis as compared to the prior year to $6.7 billion reflecting adjusted recurring revenue growth of 4%, partially offset by a 6% decrease in adjusted non-recurring revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin was flat as compared to the prior year at 43.5% with Future Forward cost efficiencies being offset by a lower contribution from higher margin non-recurring revenue.

Capital Market Solutions:

Fourth quarter revenue increased by 2% on a GAAP basis and 1% on an adjusted basis as compared to the prior-year period to $755 million primarily due to adjusted recurring revenue growth of 7%, partially offset by a 10% decline in adjusted non-recurring revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted by 250 basis points over the prior-year period to 53.2% primarily due to lower contribution from higher margin non-recurring revenue.

Full-year revenue increased by 5% on a GAAP basis and 5% on an adjusted basis as compared to the prior year to $2.8 billion primarily due to adjusted recurring revenue growth of 9%, partially offset by a 7% decline in adjusted professional services revenue. Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted by 60 basis points over the prior year to 50.3% primarily due to revenue mix.

Corporate and Other:

Fourth quarter revenue decreased by 32% as compared to the prior-year period to $63 million primarily due to the divestitures of non-strategic businesses. Adjusted EBITDA loss was $92 million, including $101 million of corporate expenses.

Full-year revenue decreased by 31% as compared to the prior year to $322 million. Adjusted EBITDA loss was $345 million, including $410 million of corporate expenses.

As a result of our ongoing portfolio assessments, the Company reclassified certain non-strategic operations from Banking Solutions to Corporate and Other in the quarter ended December 31, 2023, and recast all prior-period segment information presented. Revenue during the year ended December 31, 2023, from the operations reclassified during the fourth quarter of 2023 represented approximately 1% of consolidated revenue for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Discontinued Operations (Worldpay Merchant Solutions)

Fourth quarter revenue increased by 3% on a GAAP basis and 2% on an adjusted basis as compared to the prior-year period to $1.2 billion. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 1% to $556 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted by 160 basis points as compared to the prior-year period to 45.5% primarily due to revenue mix.

Full-year revenue increased by 1% on a GAAP basis and 1% on an adjusted basis as compared to the prior year to $4.9 billion. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 2% to $2.2 billion. Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted by 160 basis points as compared to the prior year to 44.9% primarily due to revenue mix.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flows (Total Company, Including Discontinued Operations)

As of December 31, 2023, debt outstanding totaled $19.1 billion. Fourth quarter net cash provided by operating activities was $1.5 billion, and free cash flow was approximately $1.1 billion. In the quarter, the Company returned $815 million of capital to shareholders through $510 million of share repurchases and $305 million of dividends paid.

For the year, net cash provided by operating activities was $4.3 billion, and free cash flow was approximately $3.6 billion. For the year, the Company returned $1.7 billion of capital to shareholders through $510 million of share repurchases and $1.2 billion of dividends paid.

Future Forward Outperformance

As of December 31, 2023, on a continuing operations basis, the Company outperformed its expectations and achieved annualized run-rate Future Forward cash savings of over $550 million exiting the quarter, including over $370 million of operational expense savings and approximately $180 million of capital expense savings. The Company is increasing its target for operational expense savings and is reiterating its target for total cash savings exiting 2024 of $1.0 billion, of which over 75 percent represents run-rate cash savings.

First Quarter and Full-Year 2024 Outlook

The Company is introducing first quarter and full-year outlook and, for the full-year, is projecting accelerated revenue growth, expanding adjusted EBITDA margins and year-over-year adjusted EPS growth. The adjusted EPS outlook reflects 2 months of EMI contribution for the first quarter and 11 months of EMI contribution for the full-year.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2024, FIS’ 45% ownership of the Worldpay Merchant Solutions business will be reported under the “Equity method investment earnings (loss)” line of the income statement (EMI).