First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) Upgraded by Janney Montgomery Scott to Buy Rating

Janney Montgomery Scott upgraded shares of First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report released on Monday morning, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has $58.00 price objective on the bank’s stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Raymond James upgraded First Financial from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $54.00 target price for the company in a report on Thursday, December 19th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated a “market perform” rating and set a $55.00 price objective (up previously from $52.00) on shares of First Financial in a research report on Thursday, February 6th.

First Financial Stock Performance

NASDAQ:THFF opened at $50.92 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The company has a market cap of $601.26 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.73 and a beta of 0.51. First Financial has a 1 year low of $34.58 and a 1 year high of $53.60. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $48.10 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $46.16.

First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The bank reported $1.37 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.29 by $0.08. First Financial had a net margin of 15.37% and a return on equity of 8.77%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that First Financial will post 5.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

First Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 3rd were issued a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.01%. This is an increase from First Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 3rd. First Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 51.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Mark Allen Franklin purchased 1,100 shares of First Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 12th. The shares were bought at an average price of $52.53 per share, with a total value of $57,783.00. Following the purchase, the insider now directly owns 9,845 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $517,157.85. This represents a 12.58 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In the last three months, insiders acquired 1,196 shares of company stock valued at $62,696. Insiders own 3.69% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Financial

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its holdings in shares of First Financial by 8.8% in the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 24,719 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $1,142,000 after purchasing an additional 1,989 shares during the period. Two Sigma Advisers LP raised its position in First Financial by 31.8% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 34,399 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $1,589,000 after purchasing an additional 8,300 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP raised its position in First Financial by 17.5% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 34,122 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $1,576,000 after purchasing an additional 5,079 shares in the last quarter. Man Group plc lifted its holdings in shares of First Financial by 9.2% in the 4th quarter. Man Group plc now owns 47,994 shares of the bank’s stock worth $2,217,000 after buying an additional 4,057 shares during the period. Finally, Occudo Quantitative Strategies LP bought a new position in shares of First Financial during the 4th quarter worth $261,000. 72.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About First Financial

First Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides various financial services. The company offers non-interest-bearing demand, interest-bearing demand, savings, time, and other time deposits. It also provides commercial loans primarily to expand a business or finance asset purchases; residential real estate and residential real estate construction loans; and home equity loans and lines, secured loans, and cash/CD secured and unsecured loans.