First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF) Short Interest Down 18.1% in January

First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF) saw a large decline in short interest in January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 48,100 shares, a decline of 18.1% from the January 15th total of 58,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 55,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.9 days. Approximately 0.4% of the shares of the stock are short sold.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Mark Allen Franklin acquired 1,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 12th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $52.53 per share, with a total value of $57,783.00. Following the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 9,845 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $517,157.85. The trade was a 12.58 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In the last three months, insiders have acquired 1,196 shares of company stock valued at $62,696. Corporate insiders own 3.69% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in First Financial by 10.7% during the 3rd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 230,332 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $10,100,000 after purchasing an additional 22,287 shares during the period. Barclays PLC boosted its holdings in shares of First Financial by 62.1% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 37,457 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $1,643,000 after buying an additional 14,349 shares in the last quarter. Creative Planning boosted its holdings in shares of First Financial by 57.1% in the 3rd quarter. Creative Planning now owns 47,665 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $2,090,000 after buying an additional 17,322 shares in the last quarter. Dean Investment Associates LLC acquired a new stake in First Financial in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,856,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in First Financial by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 273,544 shares of the bank’s stock worth $11,997,000 after purchasing an additional 4,743 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.74% of the company’s stock.

First Financial Trading Down 0.3 %

THFF stock opened at $51.97 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $613.77 million, a PE ratio of 12.99 and a beta of 0.51. First Financial has a 12 month low of $34.58 and a 12 month high of $53.60. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $47.87 and its 200 day moving average is $45.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.79.

First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The bank reported $1.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.08. First Financial had a net margin of 15.37% and a return on equity of 8.77%. On average, research analysts anticipate that First Financial will post 5.41 EPS for the current year.

First Financial Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 3rd were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This is an increase from First Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 3rd. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.93%. First Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods restated a “market perform” rating and set a $55.00 price target (up previously from $52.00) on shares of First Financial in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Raymond James raised shares of First Financial from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $54.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 19th.

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.