First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS) Coverage Initiated by Analysts at StockNews.com

Equities research analysts at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS) in a note issued to investors on Tuesday. The firm set a “sell” rating on the bank’s stock.

A number of other analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Janney Montgomery Scott cut shares of First Bancshares from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price objective on shares of First Bancshares from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $37.17.

First Bancshares Stock Down 0.0 %

FBMS opened at $35.00 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.09 billion, a PE ratio of 15.84 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.84. First Bancshares has a fifty-two week low of $22.96 and a fifty-two week high of $39.08. The business has a 50-day moving average of $35.81 and a 200-day moving average of $32.32.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Bancshares

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in First Bancshares by 9.6% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 190,928 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $4,960,000 after buying an additional 16,777 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its position in First Bancshares by 6.4% during the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 48,372 shares of the bank’s stock worth $1,257,000 after acquiring an additional 2,904 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in First Bancshares by 1.8% during the second quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 72,262 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $1,877,000 after acquiring an additional 1,300 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System acquired a new stake in shares of First Bancshares in the second quarter valued at about $216,000. Finally, Quest Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of First Bancshares in the second quarter worth about $89,000. Institutional investors 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.