BNP Paribas Financial Markets Trims Stock Holdings in The First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FBMS)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets trimmed its stake in shares of The First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FBMS - Free Report) by 63.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,860 shares of the bank's stock after selling 18,874 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets' holdings in First Bancshares were worth $349,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of First Bancshares during the 2nd quarter worth about $36,000. CWM LLC raised its holdings in 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 purchased a new position in First Bancshares during the 2nd quarter valued at about $89,000. FMR LLC boosted its position in First Bancshares by 50.8% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,194 shares of the bank's stock worth $103,000 after purchasing an additional 1,076 shares during the period. Finally, Entropy Technologies LP acquired a new position in shares of First Bancshares in the third quarter valued at $203,000. 69.95% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. StockNews.com started coverage on First Bancshares in a research note on Sunday. They issued a "sell" rating on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on First Bancshares from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott cut First Bancshares from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, October 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, First Bancshares has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $37.17.

First Bancshares Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ FBMS traded down $0.12 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $36.17. 66,128 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 184,415. The First Bancshares, Inc. has a one year low of $22.96 and a one year high of $39.08. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $35.15 and a two-hundred day moving average of $31.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.37 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.84.

First Bancshares Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.76%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. First Bancshares's dividend payout ratio is presently 45.25%.

First Bancshares Company Profile

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.