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Should you hold on to your First Financial position?

April 17, 2024  By
Every cloud has a silver lining, and this could be the case for investors holding onto their First Financial stock. As a prominent player in the Banks - Regional industry, First Financial has a market capitalization of $415.9M and employs 861 full-time staff. Despite a challenging environment marked by a quarterly earnings growth loss of 23%, the company has managed to maintain a steady day typical price of $35.27. First Financial's return on assets stands at 1.23%, a figure that is crucial in evaluating the efficiency of the company's management in deploying assets to generate earnings. Moreover, the company has a robust net interest income of $167.3M, indicating a healthy margin between the interest income generated, which is $228.4M, and the amount of interest paid out. However, investors should be aware of the negative price action indicator of -0.33, which could signal potential downward pressure on the stock. On the brighter side, the company offers a dividend yield of 2.56%, providing a steady income stream for investors. The estimated analyst target price for the stock is $41.5, suggesting potential upside from the current price. In conclusion, while First Financial has faced some headwinds, its solid financials and potential for growth make it a stock worth retaining in your portfolio. As always, investors are advised to conduct their own thorough research before making any investment decisions. First Financial's Days Sales Outstanding is expected to slightly decrease in the coming years. The company's current Book Value Per Share is projected to rise to 46.44, while its Enterprise Value is anticipated to fall to approximately $214.5 million. With growing investor interest in the banking sector, it's worthwhile to focus on First Financial. We will examine whether the company can further reduce net losses this year. This article will discuss key factors influencing First Financial's products and services, and how these may affect the company's investment outlook in May.
Published over six months ago
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Reviewed by Raphi Shpitalnik

Investing in First Financial Stock (THFF.US) from a product viewpoint presents a mixed bag. The company, operating in the Banks - Regional sector, has a substantial enterprise value of 520.1M and a healthy revenue per share of 16.98. However, it's worth noting that the Jensen Alpha, a risk-adjusted performance measure, stands at a loss of 0.19, indicating underperformance when compared to the expected return. Additionally, the company's income before tax is at 72.5M, which, while substantial, may not be enough to offset the potential risks associated with the negative market risk adjusted performance of -0.12.

Main Points

Institutional investors own over 75% of First Financial's shares. This institutional ownership includes mutual funds, pension funds, insurance companies, investment firms, and foundations, among other large entities that manage money on behalf of others. For our latest analysis of First Financial, including its current ownership structure, please refer to our ownership diagnostics.
The performance of First Financial in the marketplace will significantly impact your decision to invest in its stock. Revenue growth, profitability, competitive positioning, management quality, and industry trends can influence First Financial's stock prices. When investing in First Financial, there are several factors to consider and potential outcomes to expect. As a company performs well, its stock price may increase, allowing investors to benefit from price appreciation. However, First Stock can experience significant price fluctuations due to market conditions, economic factors, industry trends, or company-specific news. This is why investing in stocks such as First Financial carries risks, including the potential for capital loss. Stock prices can decline, and investors may incur losses if they sell shares at a lower price than their initial investment.

How important is First Financial's Liquidity

First Financial financial leverage refers to using borrowed capital as a funding source to finance First Financial ongoing operations. It is usually used to expand the firm's asset base and generate returns on borrowed capital. First Financial financial leverage is typically calculated by taking the company's all interest-bearing debt and dividing it by total capital. So the higher the debt-to-capital ratio (i.e., financial leverage), the riskier the company. Financial leverage can amplify the potential profits to First Financial's owners, but it also increases the potential losses and risk of financial distress, including bankruptcy, if the firm cannot cover its debt costs. The degree of First Financial's financial leverage can be measured in several ways, including by ratios such as the debt-to-equity ratio (total debt / total equity), equity multiplier (total assets / total equity), or the debt ratio (total debt / total assets). Please check the breakdown between First Financial's total debt and its cash.

How is First allocating its cash?

To perform a cash flow analysis of First Financial, investors first need to understand how to read the cash flow statement. A cash flow statement shows the amount of cash First Financial is receiving and how much cash it distributes out in a given period. The First Financial cash flow statement breaks down these inflows and outflows into different buckets, including operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities.

What is driving First Financial Investor Appetite?

The market capitalization of First Financial is $415.86 Million. The majority of First Financial outstanding shares are owned by other corporate entities. These outside corporations are usually referred to as non-private investors looking to obtain positions in First Financial to benefit from reduced commissions. Consequently, institutional investors are subject to a different set of regulations than regular investors in First Financial. Please pay attention to any change in the institutional holdings of First Financial as this could imply that something significant has changed or is about to change at the company. Note, that even with substantial debt, if the true value of the firm is larger than the current market value, you may still be able to generate positive returns on investment in this company at some point.
 2021 2022 2023 2024 (projected)
Interest Expense8.8M18.3M9.4M9.0M
Depreciation And Amortization6.2M6.1M6.5M4.1M

Ownership Breakdown

Retail Investors
20.94%
Institutions
75.01%
Retail Investors20.94
Insiders4.05
Institutions75.01
As the old adage goes, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket," but when it comes to First Financial stock, it might be worth keeping a few in there. With a five-year return of 2.47% and a low beta of 0.51, this stock offers a stable investment opportunity in the volatile world of finance. Despite a quarterly revenue growth showing a loss of 19%, the company's net income from continuing operations stands at a robust $60.7M, indicating a strong financial backbone. Furthermore, the EPS estimate for the next year is a promising $5.33, suggesting potential for growth. Given these factors, retaining your First Financial stock could indeed be a profitable move. .

Our First analysis implies possible reversion in May

First Financial's mean deviation currently stands at 1.33, indicating potential stock price volatility. This statistical measure suggests a possible reversion in the company's stock price in May. Investors should monitor this situation closely for strategic positioning opportunities. However, it's essential to consider other market factors and financial indicators before making investment decisions. First Financial shows low volatility with a skewness of -0.74 and kurtosis of 2.61. Understanding market volatility trends can help investors time the market. Using volatility indicators correctly allows traders to measure First Financial's stock risk against market volatility during bullish and bearish trends.
The increased volatility in bear markets can directly affect First Financial's stock price, causing investor stress as share values drop. This often prompts investors to rebalance their portfolios by purchasing different financial instruments as prices fall. Despite the recent 1 percent drop in First Financial's stock, the company's valuation real value stands at $39.21, which is higher than its current market value of $35.2. This suggests that the stock is undervalued and could present a buying opportunity. Analysts' target prices range from $37.77 to $46.07, with an average target price of $41.5, indicating potential upside. However, with three analysts recommending a 'Hold', investors should carefully consider their risk tolerance and investment objectives before making a decision. The company's fiscal year ends in December, providing ample time for potential market adjustments. .

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Editorial Staff

Vlad Skutelnik is a Macroaxis Contributor. Vlad covers stocks, funds, cryptocurrencies, and ETFs that are traded in North America, focusing primarily on fundamentals, valuation and market volatility. He has many years of experience in fintech, predictive investment analytics, and risk management. View Profile
This story should be regarded as informational only and should not be considered a solicitation to sell or buy any financial products. Macroaxis does not express any opinion as to the present or future value of any investments referred to in this post. This post may not be reproduced without the consent of Macroaxis LLC. Macroaxis LLC and Vlad Skutelnik do not own shares of First Financial. Please refer to our Terms of Use for any information regarding our disclosure principles.

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