Middlefield Banc (NASDAQ:MBCN) Shares Cross Below Fifty Day Moving Average - Here's Why

Middlefield Banc Corp. (NASDAQ:MBCN - Get Free Report) passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $27.19 and traded as low as $26.24. Middlefield Banc shares last traded at $26.24, with a volume of 4,430 shares traded.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on MBCN shares. Hovde Group decreased their price target on shares of Middlefield Banc from $28.00 to $25.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on shares of Middlefield Banc from $30.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Middlefield Banc from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th.

Middlefield Banc Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 0.97. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $26.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $27.83. The firm has a market capitalization of $202.23 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.05 and a beta of 0.70.

Middlefield Banc (NASDAQ:MBCN - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 23rd. The bank reported $0.60 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.46 by $0.14. Middlefield Banc had a net margin of 14.31% and a return on equity of 7.47%. Sell-side analysts predict that Middlefield Banc Corp. will post 1.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Middlefield Banc Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $0.21 per share. This is a positive change from Middlefield Banc's previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.35%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. Middlefield Banc's payout ratio is 41.67%.

Institutional Trading of Middlefield Banc

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. FMR LLC boosted its position in Middlefield Banc by 104.2% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,117 shares of the bank's stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 570 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its position in Middlefield Banc by 122.4% in the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,319 shares of the bank's stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 726 shares in the last quarter. YHB Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Middlefield Banc in the third quarter valued at about $225,000. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its position in Middlefield Banc by 29.4% in the fourth quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 10,174 shares of the bank's stock valued at $285,000 after buying an additional 2,310 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in Middlefield Banc by 127.7% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 12,180 shares of the bank's stock valued at $351,000 after buying an additional 6,832 shares in the last quarter. 31.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Middlefield Banc

Middlefield Banc Corp. operates as the bank holding company for The Middlefield Banking Company that provides various commercial banking services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals, small business owners, and retail customers in northeastern and central Ohio. It offers checking, savings, negotiable order of withdrawal accounts, money market accounts, time certificates of deposit, commercial loans, real estate loans, various consumer loans, safe deposit facilities, and travelers' checks.