Proficio Capital Partners LLC Invests $582,000 in First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF)

Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 12,610 shares of the bank's stock, valued at approximately $582,000. Proficio Capital Partners LLC owned about 0.11% of First Financial as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Versant Capital Management Inc purchased a new position in First Financial in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in shares of First Financial in the 4th quarter valued at $73,000. FMR LLC grew its position in shares of First Financial by 420.3% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,918 shares of the bank's stock valued at $172,000 after buying an additional 3,165 shares during the last quarter. Ieq Capital LLC acquired a new stake in First Financial during the 4th quarter worth $205,000. Finally, Janus Henderson Group PLC purchased a new stake in First Financial in the third quarter valued at $230,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.74% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at First Financial

In other First Financial news, Director James O. Mcdonald purchased 1,000 shares of First Financial stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $48.99 per share, with a total value of $48,990.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 9,462 shares of the company's stock, valued at $463,543.38. This represents a 11.82 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Mark Allen Franklin bought 1,100 shares of First Financial stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 12th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $52.53 per share, with a total value of $57,783.00. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 9,845 shares of the company's stock, valued at $517,157.85. This trade represents a 12.58 % increase in their position. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders bought 2,195 shares of company stock worth $111,625. Company insiders own 4.06% of the company's stock.

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First Financial Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:THFF traded down $0.48 on Thursday, reaching $48.60. The company's stock had a trading volume of 36,448 shares, compared to its average volume of 46,722. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.79. First Financial Co. has a 52-week low of $34.58 and a 52-week high of $53.60. The stock's 50-day moving average is $48.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $46.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $576.06 million, a P/E ratio of 12.15 and a beta of 0.49.

First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The bank reported $1.37 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.29 by $0.08. First Financial had a return on equity of 8.77% and a net margin of 15.37%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that First Financial Co. will post 5.41 EPS for the current year.

First Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 3rd were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 3rd. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.20%. This is an increase from First Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. First Financial's dividend payout ratio is presently 51.00%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

THFF has been the topic of several research reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed a "market perform" rating and set a $55.00 price objective (up previously from $52.00) on shares of First Financial in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Raymond James upgraded First Financial from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $54.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 19th. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott upgraded First Financial from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $58.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Monday, February 24th.

About First Financial

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.