First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) Cut to Market Perform at Raymond James

First Financial (NASDAQ: THFF – Get a valuation) was downgraded by investment analysts Raymond James from an “outperforming” rating to a “market performing” rating in a research report released Thursday, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have a $50.00 price target on the bank’s stock. Raymond James’ price target would suggest a potential upside of 12.71% from the stock’s previous close.

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded First Financial from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a Monday, June 27 report.

NASDAQ: THFF opened at $44.36 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $551.04 million, a P/E ratio of 9.38 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a current ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a debt ratio of 0.03. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $44.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $44.57. First Financial has a 12-month low of $37.69 and a 12-month high of $47.10.

First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF – Get Rating) last reported quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 26. The bank reported earnings per share of $1.67 for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.59. First Financial had a return on equity of 11.57% and a net margin of 30.36%. The company posted revenue of $51.55 million for the quarter, versus analyst estimates of $47.60 million. Research analysts expect First Financial to post an EPS of 5.17 for the current fiscal year.

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quadrant Capital Group LLC increased its stake in First Financial by 795.3% in the first quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 573 shares of the bank valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 509 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in First Financial in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Amalgamated Bank acquired a new stake in First Financial in the first quarter worth $60,000. Simplex Trading LLC acquired a new stake in First Financial in the first quarter worth $74,000. Finally, Ensign Peak Advisors Inc acquired a new stake in First Financial in the first quarter worth $96,000. 67.22% of the shares are currently held by institutional investors.

About First Financial (Get an assessment)

First Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides various financial services. It offers non-interest-bearing demand, interest-bearing demand, savings, term and other term deposits. The company 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 spreads, secured loans, and secured and unsecured cash/CD loans.

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