First Business Financial Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:FBIZ) Short Interest Up 13.6% in January

First Business Financial Services, Inc. (NASDAQ:FBIZ) saw a large increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 24,200 shares, an increase of 13.6% from the December 31st total of 21,300 shares. Approximately 0.3% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 27,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.9 days.

First Business Financial Services Trading Up 1.6 %

Shares of First Business Financial Services stock traded up $0.82 on Monday, reaching $52.48. 33,972 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 28,700. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $47.48 and its two-hundred day moving average is $45.48. The company has a market capitalization of $435.62 million, a P/E ratio of 10.04 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 1.08 and a current ratio of 1.09. First Business Financial Services has a 52 week low of $32.56 and a 52 week high of $53.79.

First Business Financial Services (NASDAQ:FBIZ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The financial services provider reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.27 by $0.16. First Business Financial Services had a net margin of 16.86% and a return on equity of 14.33%. Sell-side analysts predict that First Business Financial Services will post 5.24 EPS for the current fiscal year.

First Business Financial Services Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 14th will be given a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.21%. This is a positive change from First Business Financial Services’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. First Business Financial Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 19.16%.

Insider Transactions at First Business Financial Services

In other news, CEO Corey A. Chambas sold 40,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.81, for a total transaction of $1,952,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 112,750 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,503,327.50. This represents a 26.19 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director William Kent Lorenz sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.00, for a total value of $49,000.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 8,341 shares in the company, valued at approximately $408,709. This trade represents a 10.71 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 6.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of First Business Financial Services

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. R Squared Ltd bought a new stake in First Business Financial Services during the 4th quarter worth approximately $49,000. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in First Business Financial Services during the third quarter worth $125,000. Squarepoint Ops LLC bought a new stake in First Business Financial Services during the second quarter worth $204,000. ERn Financial LLC purchased a new stake in First Business Financial Services in the 3rd quarter valued at $210,000. Finally, Creative Planning bought a new position in First Business Financial Services during the 3rd quarter valued at $216,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.07% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

FBIZ has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Raymond James upped their target price on First Business Financial Services from $52.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on First Business Financial Services from $56.00 to $53.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, October 29th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on shares of First Business Financial Services from $58.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of First Business Financial Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, First Business Financial Services currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $56.25.

First Business Financial Services Company Profile

First Business Financial Services, Inc operates as the bank holding company for First Business Bank that provides commercial banking products and services for small and medium-sized businesses, business owners, executives, professionals, and high net worth individuals in Wisconsin, Kansas, and Missouri.