First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) Sets New 12-Month High – Time to Buy?

Shares of First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF) reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The stock traded as high as $51.32 and last traded at $51.32, with a volume of 5954 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $49.83.

First Financial Trading Up 1.0 %

The company has a 50 day moving average of $45.02 and a two-hundred day moving average of $41.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $591.33 million, a PE ratio of 13.43 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79.

First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 22nd. The bank reported $0.74 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.91 by ($0.17). First Financial had a net margin of 14.86% and a return on equity of 8.10%. The company had revenue of $82.92 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $57.95 million. Sell-side analysts predict that First Financial Co. will post 3.92 EPS for the current year.

First Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 1st were paid a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 1st. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.59%. First Financial’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.78%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Financial

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in First Financial by 0.6% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 729,676 shares of the bank’s stock worth $26,910,000 after buying an additional 4,662 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of First Financial by 15.6% during the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 302,323 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $11,150,000 after acquiring an additional 40,726 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of First Financial by 1.8% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 273,544 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $11,997,000 after purchasing an additional 4,743 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. increased its position in First Financial by 19.5% during the second quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 190,126 shares of the bank’s stock worth $7,012,000 after purchasing an additional 30,986 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in First Financial by 6.5% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 127,791 shares of the bank’s stock worth $4,713,000 after purchasing an additional 7,828 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.74% of the company’s stock.

First Financial Company Profile

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.