First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF) Shares Sold by Valeo Financial Advisors LLC

Valeo Financial Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in shares of First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF) by 6.3% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 24,415 shares of the bank’s stock after selling 1,639 shares during the quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC’s holdings in First Financial were worth $1,128,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Versant Capital Management Inc acquired a new stake in shares of First Financial during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of First Financial during the fourth quarter worth about $73,000. FMR LLC boosted its stake in shares of First Financial by 420.3% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,918 shares of the bank’s stock worth $172,000 after buying an additional 3,165 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC acquired a new stake in shares of First Financial during the third quarter worth about $230,000. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of First Financial during the third quarter worth about $279,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.74% of the company’s stock.

First Financial Trading Down 0.3 %

NASDAQ THFF opened at $51.97 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $613.77 million, a P/E ratio of 12.99 and a beta of 0.51. First Financial Co. has a 52-week low of $34.58 and a 52-week high of $53.60. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $47.92 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.72. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05.

First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The bank reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.29 by $0.08. First Financial had a net margin of 15.37% and a return on equity of 8.77%. Equities research analysts expect that First Financial Co. will post 5.41 EPS for the current year.

First Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 3rd were issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 3rd. This is a boost from First Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.93%. First Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling at First Financial

In other First Financial news, insider Mark Allen Franklin acquired 1,100 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 12th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $52.53 per share, with a total value of $57,783.00. Following the purchase, the insider now directly owns 9,845 shares in the company, valued at approximately $517,157.85. This trade represents a 12.58 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Over the last three months, insiders purchased 1,196 shares of company stock valued at $62,696. Corporate insiders own 3.69% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued a “market perform” rating and set a $55.00 price target (up from $52.00) on shares of First Financial in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Raymond James raised shares of First Financial from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $54.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, December 19th.

About First Financial

First Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides various financial services. The company offers non-interest-bearing demand, interest-bearing demand, savings, time, and other time deposits. It also provides commercial loans primarily to expand a business or finance asset purchases; residential real estate and residential real estate construction loans; and home equity loans and lines, secured loans, and cash/CD secured and unsecured loans.