First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS) Earns Sell Rating from Analysts at StockNews.com

StockNews.com started coverage on shares of First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS - Free Report) in a report released on Monday. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the bank's stock.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on FBMS. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on First Bancshares from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Janney Montgomery Scott downgraded shares of 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 assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $37.17.

First Bancshares Stock Performance

FBMS stock traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $34.57. 146,488 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 186,188. First Bancshares has a 52 week low of $22.96 and a 52 week high of $39.08. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $35.51 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $31.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.08 billion, a PE ratio of 15.64 and a beta of 0.93.

First Bancshares Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th were paid a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.89%. First Bancshares's dividend payout ratio is currently 45.25%.

Institutional Trading of First Bancshares

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Principal Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of First Bancshares in the third quarter worth approximately $846,000. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC purchased a new position in First Bancshares in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $56,256,000. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of First Bancshares by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 675,448 shares of the bank's stock worth $21,706,000 after buying an additional 12,567 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC lifted its holdings in shares of First Bancshares by 48.1% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 86,748 shares of the bank's stock worth $2,787,000 after acquiring an additional 28,184 shares during the last quarter. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new position in First Bancshares in the third quarter worth $421,000. 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.