StockNews.com Begins Coverage on First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS)

StockNews.com started coverage on shares of First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS) in a research note published on Tuesday. The firm issued a sell rating on the bank’s stock.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Hovde Group raised their price objective on shares of First Bancshares from $29.00 to $32.50 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, July 29th. Janney Montgomery Scott downgraded shares of First Bancshares from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised shares of First Bancshares from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their target price for the company from $31.00 to $40.00 in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $35.50.

First Bancshares Stock Up 2.4 %

Shares of NASDAQ FBMS opened at $33.58 on Tuesday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $32.61 and a 200 day simple moving average of $29.01. The firm has a market cap of $1.05 billion, a PE ratio of 14.99 and a beta of 0.91. First Bancshares has a 1 year low of $22.96 and a 1 year high of $34.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.82.

First Bancshares Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.98%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 8th. First Bancshares’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 45.25%.

Institutional Trading of First Bancshares

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of First Bancshares during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $36,000. CWM LLC grew its position in shares of First Bancshares by 3,387.8% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,709 shares of the bank’s stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 1,660 shares during the period. Quest Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of First Bancshares during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $89,000. EntryPoint Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of First Bancshares during the 1st quarter worth approximately $103,000. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP grew its position in shares of First Bancshares by 652.7% during the 1st quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 7,474 shares of the bank’s stock worth $194,000 after buying an additional 6,481 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.95% of the company’s stock.

About First Bancshares

The First Bancshares, Inc operates as the bank holding company for The First Bank that provides general commercial and retail banking services. The company operates through three segments: Commercial/Retail Bank, Mortgage Banking Division, and Holding Company. It offers deposit services, including checking, NOW, and savings accounts; other time deposits, such as daily money market accounts and longer-term certificates of deposit; and individual retirement and health savings accounts.