First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS) Reaches New 1-Year High - Should You Buy?

The First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FBMS - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $34.93 and last traded at $34.91, with a volume of 25632 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $33.99.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on FBMS shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of First Bancshares from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $31.00 to $40.00 in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of First Bancshares in a report on Monday. They set a "sell" rating for the company. Janney Montgomery Scott lowered First Bancshares from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, Hovde Group increased their target price on First Bancshares from $29.00 to $32.50 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research note on Monday, July 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $35.50.

First Bancshares Trading Up 0.4 %

The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. The business's fifty day moving average is $32.60 and its 200 day moving average is $28.77. The stock has a market cap of $1.07 billion, a PE ratio of 13.54 and a beta of 0.92.

First Bancshares Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.93%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 8th. First Bancshares's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.68%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Bancshares

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. FCG Investment Co purchased a new stake in shares of First Bancshares in the first quarter valued at about $679,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in First Bancshares by 49.0% during the 1st quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 21,006 shares of the bank's stock valued at $540,000 after buying an additional 6,904 shares during the last quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP raised its holdings in shares of First Bancshares by 47.0% in the first quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP now owns 24,549 shares of the bank's stock worth $637,000 after acquiring an additional 7,846 shares during the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP raised its holdings in shares of First Bancshares by 652.7% in the first quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 7,474 shares of the bank's stock worth $194,000 after acquiring an additional 6,481 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in shares of First Bancshares by 8.1% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 82,076 shares of the bank's stock valued at $2,130,000 after acquiring an additional 6,125 shares during the last quarter. 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.