First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS) Reaches New 12-Month High - Still a Buy?

Shares of The First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FBMS - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $39.15 and last traded at $39.03, with a volume of 31206 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $38.89.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have issued reports on FBMS shares. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of First Bancshares in a report on Sunday. They set a "sell" rating on the stock. Janney Montgomery Scott downgraded shares of First Bancshares from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on shares of First Bancshares from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $38.75.

First Bancshares Stock Down 2.5 %

The business's fifty day moving average price is $36.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $34.30. 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 $1.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.26 and a beta of 0.94.

First Bancshares Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 10th will be paid a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 10th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.68%. First Bancshares's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 40.98%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. SG Americas Securities LLC increased its holdings in shares of First Bancshares by 54.3% during the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 19,133 shares of the bank's stock valued at $615,000 after acquiring an additional 6,731 shares in the last quarter. CWM LLC grew its position in First Bancshares by 73.2% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,960 shares of the bank's stock worth $95,000 after purchasing an additional 1,251 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its stake in First Bancshares by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 16,751 shares of the bank's stock valued at $530,000 after purchasing an additional 1,711 shares in the last quarter. Olympiad Research LP purchased a new position in shares of First Bancshares in the third quarter worth $997,000. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of First Bancshares during the third quarter worth $846,000. 69.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.