Is First Financial Stock a Good Investment?

First Financial Investment Advice

  FFBC
To provide specific investment advice or recommendations on First Financial Bancorp stock, we recommend investors consider the following general factors when evaluating First Financial Bancorp. This will help you to make an informed decision on whether to include First Financial in one of your diversified portfolios:
  • Examine First Financial's financial health by looking at its balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. Analyze key financial ratios, such as Price-to-Earnings (P/E), Price-to-Sales (P/S), and Price-to-Book (P/B), to determine whether the stock is fairly valued or over/undervalued.
  • Research First Financial's leadership team and their track record. Good management can help First Financial navigate difficult times and make strategic decisions that benefit shareholders and increases its net worth.
  • Consider the overall health of the Regional Banks space and any emerging trends that could impact First Financial's business and its evolving consumer preferences.
  • Compare First Financial's performance and market position to its competitors. Analyze how First Financial is positioned in terms of product offerings, innovation, and market share.
  • Check if First Financial pays a dividend and its dividend yield and payout ratio.
  • Review what financial analysts are saying about First Financial's stock and their price targets. However, remember that analysts' opinions can vary, and their predictions may not always be accurate.
It's important to note that investing in First Financial Bancorp stock, carries risks, and you should carefully consider your investment goals and risk tolerance before making any investment decisions. Also, remember that it's important for investors to have a long-term perspective and a well-diversified portfolio to manage the impact of stock market volatility on their investments. Below is a detailed guide on how to decide if First Financial Bancorp is a good investment.
 
Sell
 
Buy
Strong Hold
Our investment recommendation module complements current analysts and expert consensus on First Financial. It analyzes the firm potential to grow using all fundamental, technical, and market related data available at the time. To make sure First Financial is not overpriced, please confirm all First Financial Bancorp fundamentals, including its price to earning, gross profit, cash per share, as well as the relationship between the price to sales and net income . Given that First Financial Bancorp has a number of shares shorted of 1.16 M, we urge you to verify First Financial Bancorp market performance and probability of bankruptcy to ensure the company can sustain itself in the current economic cycle given your prevailing risk tolerance and investing horizon.

Market Performance

Very WeakDetails

Volatility

Very steadyDetails

Hype Condition

Low keyDetails

Current Valuation

UndervaluedDetails

Odds Of Distress

LowDetails

Economic Sensitivity

Almost mirrors the marketDetails

Investor Sentiment

AlarmedDetails

Analyst Consensus

BuyDetails

Financial Strenth (F Score)

StrongDetails

Financial Leverage

Not RatedDetails

Reporting Quality (M-Score)

Unlikely ManipulatorDetails

Examine First Financial Stock

Researching First Financial's stock involves analyzing various aspects of the company and its industry to make an informed investment decision. The key areas to focus on are fundamentals, business model and competitive advantage. It is also important to analyze trends in revenue, net income, and cash flow, as well as key financial ratios, such as price-to-earnings (P/E), price-to-sales (P/S), and debt-to-equity (D/E). About 82.0% of the company shares are owned by institutional investors. The company has price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 0.86. Some equities with similar Price to Book (P/B) outperform the market in the long run. First Financial Bancorp has Price/Earnings To Growth (PEG) ratio of 1.71. The entity last dividend was issued on the 3rd of March 2025. The firm had 105:100 split on the 7th of March 2001.
To determine if First Financial is a good investment, evaluating the company's potential for future growth is also very important. This may include expanding into new markets, launching new products or services, or improving operational efficiency. Companies with strong growth prospects can be more attractive investments. This aspect of the research should be conducted in the context of the overall market and industry in which the company operates and should include an analysis of growth potential, competitive landscape, and any regulatory or economic factors that could impact the business. Some of the essential points regarding First Financial's research are outlined below:
First Financial generated a negative expected return over the last 90 days
First Financial has a strong financial position based on the latest SEC filings
Over 82.0% of the company shares are owned by institutional investors
On 17th of March 2025 First Financial paid $ 0.24 per share dividend to its current shareholders
Latest headline from news.google.com: RSI Alert First Financial Bancorp Now Oversold - Nasdaq

First Financial Quarterly Liabilities And Stockholders Equity

18.57 Billion

First Financial uses earnings reports to provide investors with an update of all three financial statements, including the income statement, the balance sheet, and the cash flow statement. Therefore, it is also crucial when considering investing in First Financial Bancorp. Every quarterly earnings report provides investors with an overview of sales, expenses, and net income for the most recent period. It also may provide a comparison to First Financial's previous reporting period. The quarterly earnings reports are usually disseminated to the public via Form 10-Q, which is a legal document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission every quarter.
18th of April 2024
Upcoming Quarterly Report
View
18th of July 2024
Next Financial Report
View
31st of March 2024
Next Fiscal Quarter End
View
23rd of January 2025
Next Fiscal Year End
View
31st of December 2023
Last Quarter Report
View
31st of December 2023
Last Financial Announcement
View
Earnings surprises can significantly impact First Financial's stock price both in the short term and over time. Negative earnings surprises usually result in a price decline. However, it has been seen that positive earnings surprises lead to an immediate rise in a stock's price and a gradual increase over time. This is why we often hear news about some companies beating earning projections. Financial analysts spend a large amount of time predicting earnings per share (EPS) along with other important future indicators. Many analysts use forecasting models, management guidance, and additional fundamental information to derive an EPS estimate. Below are the table of largest EPS Surprises First Financial's investors have experienced.
Reported
Fiscal Date
Estimated EPS
Reported EPS
Surprise
2007-01-26
2006-12-310.030.02-0.0133 
2008-10-29
2008-09-300.170.15-0.0211 
2007-04-20
2007-03-310.20.220.0210 
2013-01-29
2012-12-310.250.280.0312 
2012-01-25
2011-12-310.280.310.0310 
2011-07-28
2011-06-300.30.27-0.0310 
2010-08-03
2010-06-300.270.30.0311 
2009-01-28
2008-12-310.090.06-0.0333 

First Financial Target Price Consensus

First target price is determined by taking all analyst projections and averaging them out. There is no one specific way to measure analysts' performance other than comparing it to past results via a very sophisticated attribution analysis. First Financial's target price projections below should be used in combination with other traditional price prediction techniques such as stock price forecasting, investor sentiment analysis, technical analysis, earnings estimate, and various momentum models.
   5  Buy
Most First analysts issue ratings four times a year, at intervals of three months. Ratings are usually accompanied by a target price to help potential investors understand First stock's fair price compared to its market value. Analysts arrive at stock ratings after researching the public financial statements of First Financial Bancorp, talking to its executives and customers, or listening to those companies' conference calls.
Macroaxis Advice   Exposure   Valuation

First Financial Target Price Projection

First Financial's current and average target prices are 22.12 and 30.38, respectively. The current price of First Financial is the price at which First Financial Bancorp is currently trading. On the other hand, First Financial's target price is what analysts think the stock is worth or could sell for in the future. The more significant the discrepancy between the two prices, the more it stimulates investors to act.

Current Price

First Financial Market Quote on 7th of April 2025

Low Price21.33Odds
High Price22.32Odds

22.12

Target Price

Analyst Consensus On First Financial Target Price

Low Estimate27.64Odds
High Estimate33.72Odds

30.375

Historical Lowest Forecast  27.64 Target Price  30.38 Highest Forecast  33.72
Note that most analysts generally publish their price targets in research reports on specific companies, along with recommendations for the company's stock.Although price targets are often quoted in the financial news media, there could be a delay between the publication of the latest analyst outlook on First Financial Bancorp and the information provided on this page.

First Financial Analyst Ratings

First Financial's analyst stock recommendations are determined by taking an average estimate of all analysts we track and classifying them as Strong Buy, Buy, Hold, Strong Sell, or Sell. Ratings generally communicate what analysts sense about First Financial stock, and they use a lot of effort and time to analyze it and arrive at a rating. That suggests that analyst recommendations are the outcome of an objective and thorough examination of First Financial's financials, market performance, and future outlook by experienced professionals. First Financial's historical ratings below, therefore, can serve as a valuable tool for investors.

Know First Financial's Top Institutional Investors

Have you ever been surprised when a price of an equity instrument such as First Financial is soaring high without any particular reason? This is usually happening because many institutional investors are aggressively trading First Financial Bancorp backward and forwards among themselves. First Financial's institutional investor refers to the entity that pools money to purchase First Financial's securities or originate loans. Institutional investors include commercial and private banks, credit unions, insurance companies, pension funds, hedge funds, endowments, and mutual funds. Operating companies that invest excess capital in these types of assets may also be included in the term and may influence corporate governance by exercising voting rights in their investments.
Shares
Goldman Sachs Group Inc2024-12-31
1.3 M
First Trust Advisors L.p.2024-12-31
1.2 M
Bank Of New York Mellon Corp2024-12-31
1.1 M
Morgan Stanley - Brokerage Accounts2024-12-31
M
First Financial Bank, N.a. -tr Division2025-03-31
893.7 K
Fisher Asset Management, Llc2024-12-31
849.7 K
Bank Of America Corp2024-12-31
830.3 K
Manufacturers Life Insurance Co2024-12-31
741.5 K
Bridgeway Capital Management, Llc2024-12-31
677.3 K
Blackrock Inc2024-12-31
13.7 M
Vanguard Group Inc2024-12-31
10.9 M
Note, although First Financial's institutional investors appear to be way more sophisticated than retail investors, it remains unclear if professional active investment managers can reliably enhance risk-adjusted returns by an amount that exceeds fees and expenses.

First Financial's market capitalization trends

The company currently falls under 'Mid-Cap' category with a current market capitalization of 2.11 B.

Market Cap

2.4 Billion

First Financial's profitablity analysis

Last ReportedProjected for Next Year
Return On Tangible Assets 0.01  0.01 
Return On Capital Employed 0.06  0.06 
Return On Assets 0.01  0.01 
Return On Equity 0.09  0.13 
The company has Profit Margin (PM) of 0.3 %, which maeans that even a very small decline in it revenue will erase profits resulting in a net loss. This is way below average. Similarly, it shows Operating Margin (OM) of 0.39 %, which suggests for every 100 dollars of sales, it generated a net operating income of $0.39.
Determining First Financial's profitability involves analyzing its financial statements and using various financial metrics to determine if First Financial is a good buy. For example, gross profit margin measures First Financial's profitability after accounting for the cost of goods sold, while net profit margin measures profitability after accounting for all expenses. Other important metrics include return on assets, return on equity, and free cash flow. By reviewing multiple sources and metrics, you can gain a complete picture of First Financial's profitability and make more informed investment decisions.
Please note, the presentation of First Financial's financial position, as portrayed in its financial statements, is often influenced by management's estimates, judgments, and sometimes even manipulations. In the best case, First Financial's management is honest, while the outside auditors are strict and uncompromising. Please utilize our Beneish M Score to check the likelihood of First Financial's management manipulating its earnings.

Evaluate First Financial's management efficiency

First Financial Bancorp has return on total asset (ROA) of 0.0127 % which means that it generated a profit of $0.0127 on every $100 spent on assets. This is way below average. Similarly, it shows a return on stockholder's equity (ROE) of 0.0973 %, meaning that it created $0.0973 on every $100 dollars invested by stockholders. First Financial's management efficiency ratios could be used to measure how well First Financial manages its routine affairs as well as how well it operates its assets and liabilities. At present, First Financial's Return On Assets are projected to increase slightly based on the last few years of reporting. The current year's Return On Equity is expected to grow to 0.13, whereas Return On Capital Employed is forecasted to decline to 0.06. At present, First Financial's Non Current Assets Total are projected to increase significantly based on the last few years of reporting. The current year's Other Assets is expected to grow to about 19.5 B, whereas Non Currrent Assets Other are projected to grow to (4.6 B).
Last ReportedProjected for Next Year
Book Value Per Share 25.83  27.12 
Tangible Book Value Per Share 14.31  15.03 
Enterprise Value Over EBITDA 6.33  9.36 
Price Book Value Ratio 1.04  1.89 
Enterprise Value Multiple 6.33  9.36 
Price Fair Value 1.04  1.89 
Enterprise Value2.5 B2.6 B
First Financial's management has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, driving both financial growth and operational excellence. By analyzing current market trends and future growth opportunities, we assess the stock's true value and potential for investors.
Dividend Yield
0.0435
Forward Dividend Yield
0.0435
Forward Dividend Rate
0.96
Beta
0.843

Basic technical analysis of First Stock

As of the 7th of April, First Financial shows the Variance of 3.5, standard deviation of 1.87, and Mean Deviation of 1.27. First Financial Bancorp technical analysis allows you to utilize historical prices and volume patterns in order to determine a pattern that computes the direction of the firm's future prices.

First Financial's insider trading activities

Some recent studies suggest that insider trading raises the cost of capital for securities issuers and decreases overall economic growth. Trading by specific First Financial insiders, such as employees or executives, is commonly permitted as long as it does not rely on First Financial's material information that is not in the public domain. Local jurisdictions usually require such trading to be reported in order to monitor insider transactions. In many U.S. states, trading conducted by corporate officers, key employees, directors, or significant shareholders must be reported to the regulator or publicly disclosed, usually within a few business days of the trade. In these cases First Financial insiders are required to file a Form 4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) when buying or selling shares of their own companies.
 
Arvia Anne L six days ago
Acquisition by Arvia Anne L of 600 shares of First Financial at 24.98 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
James Shank over two weeks ago
Disposition of 7600 shares by James Shank of First Financial at 24.92 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Woods Karen B over three weeks ago
Disposition of 4064 shares by Woods Karen B of First Financial at 25.81 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
James Shank over three weeks ago
Disposition of 699 shares by James Shank of First Financial at 25.45 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Crawley Scott T over a month ago
Disposition of 573 shares by Crawley Scott T of First Financial at 27.41 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Purkrabek Knust Susan L over a month ago
Acquisition by Purkrabek Knust Susan L of 315 shares of First Financial at 23.75 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
William Harrod over three months ago
Disposition of 3154 shares by William Harrod of First Financial at 26.73 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Arvia Anne L over three months ago
Acquisition by Arvia Anne L of 558 shares of First Financial at 26.88 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Archie Brown over three months ago
Disposition of 1250 shares by Archie Brown of First Financial subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Archie Brown over three months ago
Disposition of 8500 shares by Archie Brown of First Financial subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Dennen Richard S over three months ago
Disposition of 932 shares by Dennen Richard S of First Financial at 30.0 subject to Rule 16b-3
 
Dennen Richard S over three months ago
Disposition of 5000 shares by Dennen Richard S of First Financial at 29.7577 subject to Rule 16b-3

First Financial's Outstanding Corporate Bonds

First Financial issues bonds to finance its operations. Corporate bonds make up one of the largest components of the U.S. bond market, which is considered the world's largest securities market. First Financial Bancorp uses the proceeds from bond sales for a wide variety of purposes, including financing ongoing mergers and acquisitions, buying new equipment, investing in research and development, buying back their own stock, paying dividends to shareholders, and even refinancing existing debt. Most First bonds can be classified according to their maturity, which is the date when First Financial Bancorp has to pay back the principal to investors. Maturities can be short-term, medium-term, or long-term (more than ten years). Longer-term bonds usually offer higher interest rates but may entail additional risks.

Understand First Financial's technical and predictive indicators

Using predictive indicators to make investment decisions involves analyzing First Financial's various financial and market-based factors to help forecast future trends and identify investment opportunities. Select the indicators that are most relevant to your investment strategy. Each indicator has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it's essential to combine multiple indicators to get a more comprehensive view of the market and reduce the risk of making poor decisions based on limited data.

Consider First Financial's intraday indicators

First Financial intraday indicators are useful technical analysis tools used by many experienced traders. Just like the conventional technical analysis, daily indicators help intraday investors to analyze the price movement with the timing of First Financial stock daily movement. By combining multiple daily indicators into a single trading strategy, you can limit your risk while still earning strong returns on your managed positions.

First Financial Corporate Filings

F4
2nd of April 2025
The report filed by a party regarding the acquisition or disposition of a company's common stock, as well as derivative securities such as options, warrants, and convertible securities
ViewVerify
8K
28th of March 2025
Report filed with the SEC to announce major events that shareholders should know about
ViewVerify
10K
20th of February 2025
Annual report required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of a company financial performance
ViewVerify
4th of February 2025
Other Reports
ViewVerify
First Financial time-series forecasting models is one of many First Financial's stock analysis techniques aimed to predict future share value based on previously observed values. Time-series forecasting models ae widely used for non-stationary data. Non-stationary data are called the data whose statistical properties e.g. the mean and standard deviation are not constant over time but instead, these metrics vary over time. These non-stationary First Financial's historical data is usually called time-series. Some empirical experimentation suggests that the statistical forecasting models outperform the models based exclusively on fundamental analysis to predict the direction of the market movement and maximize returns from investment trading.

First Stock media impact

Far too much social signal, news, headlines, and media speculation about First Financial that are available to investors today. That information is available publicly through First media outlets and privately through word of mouth or via First internal channels. However, regardless of the origin, that massive amount of First data is challenging to quantify into actionable patterns, especially for investors that are not very sophisticated with ever-evolving tools and techniques used in the investment management field.
A primary focus of First Financial news analysis is to determine if its current price reflects all relevant headlines and social signals impacting the current market conditions. A news analyst typically looks at the history of First Financial relative headlines and hype rather than examining external drivers such as technical or fundamental data. It is believed that price action tends to repeat itself due to investors' collective, patterned thinking related to First Financial's headlines and news coverage data. This data is often completely overlooked or insufficiently analyzed for actionable insights to drive First Financial alpha.

First Financial Sentiment by Major News Outlets

Investor sentiment, mood or attitude towards First Financial can have a significant impact on its stock price or the market as a whole. This sentiment can be positive or negative, and various factors, such as economic indicators, news events, or market trends, can influence it. When investor sentiment is positive, investors are more likely to buy stocks, increasing demand and increasing the stock price. Positive investor sentiment can be driven by good news about the company or the broader market, such as solid earnings reports or positive economic data.
Note that negative investor sentiment can cause investors to sell stocks, leading to a decrease in demand and a drop in the stock price. Negative sentiment can be driven by factors such as poor earnings reports, negative news about the company or industry, or broader economic concerns. It's important to note that investor sentiment is just one of many factors that can affect stock prices. Other factors, such as company performance, industry trends, and global economic conditions, can also play a significant role in determining the value of a stock.

First Financial Bancorp Historical Investor Sentiment

Investor biases related to First Financial's public news can be used to forecast risks associated with an investment in First. The trend in average sentiment can be used to explain how an investor holding First can time the market purely based on public headlines and social activities around First Financial Bancorp. Please note that most equities that are difficult to arbitrage are affected by market sentiment the most.
First Financial's market sentiment shows the aggregated news analyzed to detect positive and negative mentions from the text and comments. The data is normalized to provide daily scores for First Financial and other traded tickers. The bigger the bubble, the more accurate the estimated score. Higher bars for a given day show more participation in the average First Financial news discussions. The higher the estimate score, the more favorable the investor's outlook on First Financial.

First Financial Corporate Executives

Elected by the shareholders, the First Financial's board of directors comprises two types of representatives: First Financial inside directors who are chosen from within the company, and outside directors, selected externally and held independent of First. The board's role is to monitor First Financial's management team and ensure that shareholders' interests are well served. First Financial's inside directors are responsible for reviewing and approving budgets prepared by upper management to implement core corporate initiatives and projects. On the other hand, First Financial's outside directors are responsible for providing unbiased perspectives on the board's policies.
James AndersonEx CFOProfile
John GaviganCFO, Sr. VP and CFO of First Financial BankProfile
When determining whether First Financial Bancorp offers a strong return on investment in its stock, a comprehensive analysis is essential. The process typically begins with a thorough review of First Financial's financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, to assess its financial health. Key financial ratios are used to gauge profitability, efficiency, and growth potential of First Financial Bancorp Stock. Outlined below are crucial reports that will aid in making a well-informed decision on First Financial Bancorp Stock:
Check out Investing Opportunities to better understand how to build diversified portfolios, which includes a position in First Financial Bancorp. Also, note that the market value of any company could be closely tied with the direction of predictive economic indicators such as signals in bureau of labor statistics.
For information on how to trade First Stock refer to our How to Trade First Stock guide.
You can also try the Positions Ratings module to determine portfolio positions ratings based on digital equity recommendations. Macroaxis instant position ratings are based on combination of fundamental analysis and risk-adjusted market performance.
Is Regional Banks space expected to grow? Or is there an opportunity to expand the business' product line in the future? Factors like these will boost the valuation of First Financial. If investors know First will grow in the future, the company's valuation will be higher. The financial industry is built on trying to define current growth potential and future valuation accurately. All the valuation information about First Financial listed above have to be considered, but the key to understanding future value is determining which factors weigh more heavily than others.
Quarterly Earnings Growth
0.133
Dividend Share
0.94
Earnings Share
2.4
Revenue Per Share
8.009
Quarterly Revenue Growth
(0.03)
The market value of First Financial Bancorp is measured differently than its book value, which is the value of First that is recorded on the company's balance sheet. Investors also form their own opinion of First Financial's value that differs from its market value or its book value, called intrinsic value, which is First Financial's true underlying value. Investors use various methods to calculate intrinsic value and buy a stock when its market value falls below its intrinsic value. Because First Financial's market value can be influenced by many factors that don't directly affect First Financial's underlying business (such as a pandemic or basic market pessimism), market value can vary widely from intrinsic value.
In summary, please note that there is a difference between First Financial's value and its price, as these two are different measures arrived at by various means. Investors typically determine if First Financial is a good investment by looking at such factors as earnings, sales, fundamental and technical indicators, competition as well as analyst projections. However, First Financial's price is the amount at which it trades on the open market and represents the number that a seller and buyer find agreeable to each party.