First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) Sets New 52-Week High - Still a Buy?

First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $53.44 and last traded at $52.03, with a volume of 134131 shares. The stock had previously closed at $52.02.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on THFF shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated a "market perform" rating and set a $55.00 price objective (up from $52.00) on shares of First Financial in a research 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 objective on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 19th.

First Financial Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The business's 50-day moving average is $47.87 and its two-hundred day moving average is $45.67. The company has a market capitalization of $613.77 million, a P/E ratio of 12.99 and a beta of 0.51.

First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The bank reported $1.37 earnings per share 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%. As a group, analysts predict that First Financial Co. will post 5.41 earnings per share for the current year.

First Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Friday, January 3rd were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This is a positive change from First Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 3rd. First Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 51.00%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, insider Mark Allen Franklin acquired 1,100 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $52.53 per share, with a total value of $57,783.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 9,845 shares in the company, valued at approximately $517,157.85. The trade was a 12.58 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Over the last 90 days, insiders have purchased 1,196 shares of company stock valued at $62,696. Company insiders own 3.69% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Financial

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Versant Capital Management Inc purchased a new position in shares of First Financial in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new position in shares of First Financial in the fourth quarter worth about $39,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new position in shares of First Financial in the fourth quarter worth about $73,000. FMR LLC increased its stake in shares of First Financial by 420.3% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,918 shares of the bank's stock worth $172,000 after purchasing an additional 3,165 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ieq Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of First Financial in the fourth quarter worth about $205,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.74% of the company's stock.

First Financial Company Profile

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.