First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF) Short Interest Down 18.1% in January

First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of January. As of January 31st, there was short interest totalling 48,100 shares, a decline of 18.1% from the January 15th total of 58,700 shares. Currently, 0.4% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 55,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.9 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

THFF has been the subject of several recent research reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $55.00 target price (up from $52.00) on shares of First Financial in a 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 target price for the company in a report on Thursday, December 19th.

First Financial Price Performance

NASDAQ:THFF opened at $51.97 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The firm has a market cap of $613.77 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.99 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $47.87 and a 200-day moving average price of $45.67. First Financial has a 1-year low of $34.58 and a 1-year high of $53.60.

First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The bank reported $1.37 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.08. First Financial had a net margin of 15.37% and a return on equity of 8.77%. Equities research analysts forecast that First Financial will post 5.41 EPS for the current year.

First Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 3rd were given a dividend of $0.51 per share. This is a boost from First Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 3rd. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.93%. First Financial’s payout ratio is presently 51.00%.

Insider Buying and Selling at First Financial

In other First Financial news, insider Mark Allen Franklin acquired 1,100 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 12th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $52.53 per share, for a total transaction of $57,783.00. Following the purchase, 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 Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In the last ninety days, insiders acquired 1,196 shares of company stock worth $62,696. Company insiders own 3.69% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Versant Capital Management Inc acquired a new position in shares of First Financial during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in First Financial in the fourth quarter valued at about $39,000. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in First Financial in the fourth quarter valued at about $73,000. FMR LLC lifted its position in First Financial by 420.3% in the third 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. Finally, Ieq Capital LLC acquired a new position in First Financial in the fourth quarter valued at about $205,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.74% of the company’s stock.

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.