Middlefield Banc (NASDAQ:MBCN) Share Price Crosses Below Fifty Day Moving Average – Time to Sell?

Shares of Middlefield Banc Corp. (NASDAQ:MBCN) passed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $26.04 and traded as low as $25.49. Middlefield Banc shares last traded at $25.65, with a volume of 6,923 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Middlefield Banc from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on Middlefield Banc from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Hovde Group lowered their price target on Middlefield Banc from $28.00 to $25.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 27th.

Middlefield Banc Stock Down 1.8 %

The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $207.02 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.36 and a beta of 0.69. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $26.04 and a 200-day moving average of $28.01.

Middlefield Banc (NASDAQ:MBCN) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The bank reported $0.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.46 by $0.14. Middlefield Banc had a return on equity of 7.47% and a net margin of 14.31%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Middlefield Banc Corp. will post 1.96 EPS for the current year.

Middlefield Banc Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $0.21 dividend. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.27%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This is a boost from Middlefield Banc’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. Middlefield Banc’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 43.75%.

Institutional Trading of Middlefield Banc

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of Middlefield Banc by 104.2% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,117 shares of the bank’s stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 570 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its position in shares of Middlefield Banc by 122.4% in the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,319 shares of the bank’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 726 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in shares of Middlefield Banc by 29.4% in the fourth quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 10,174 shares of the bank’s stock worth $285,000 after buying an additional 2,310 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in shares of Middlefield Banc by 127.7% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 12,180 shares of the bank’s stock worth $351,000 after buying an additional 6,832 shares during the period. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN boosted its position in shares of Middlefield Banc by 11.2% in the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 15,220 shares of the bank’s stock worth $427,000 after buying an additional 1,536 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 31.72% of the company’s stock.

Middlefield Banc Company Profile

Middlefield Banc Corp. operates as the bank holding company for The Middlefield Banking Company that provides various commercial banking services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, small business owners, and retail customers in northeastern and central Ohio. It offers checking, savings, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, money market accounts, time certificates of deposit, commercial loans, real estate loans, various consumer loans, safe deposit facilities, and travelers' checks.