Brokerages Set The First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FBMS) Price Target at $37.17

Shares of The First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FBMS) have received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the four brokerages that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $37.17.

Several research analysts have weighed in on FBMS shares. StockNews.com assumed coverage on First Bancshares in a research report on Wednesday. They issued a “sell” rating on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their price objective on First Bancshares from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott lowered shares of First Bancshares from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th.

First Bancshares Trading Down 3.0 %

First Bancshares stock opened at $33.21 on Tuesday. First Bancshares has a 12 month low of $22.96 and a 12 month high of $39.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The stock has a market cap of $1.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.03 and a beta of 0.94. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $35.93 and its 200-day simple moving average is $32.83.

First Bancshares Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, November 8th were issued a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.01%. First Bancshares’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.25%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Bancshares

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in First Bancshares by 9.6% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 190,928 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $4,960,000 after buying an additional 16,777 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers grew its position in shares of First Bancshares by 6.4% in the second quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 48,372 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $1,257,000 after purchasing an additional 2,904 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of First Bancshares by 1.8% in the second quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 72,262 shares of the bank’s stock worth $1,877,000 after purchasing an additional 1,300 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System bought a new position in shares of First Bancshares in the second quarter worth about $216,000. Finally, Quest Partners LLC bought a new stake in First Bancshares during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $89,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.95% of the company’s stock.

About First Bancshares

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.