StockNews.com Initiates Coverage on First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS)

Stock analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday. The brokerage set a “sell” rating on the bank’s stock.

Separately, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on shares of First Bancshares from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, First Bancshares currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $38.75.

First Bancshares Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of FBMS stock opened at $35.29 on Tuesday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $36.12 and a 200-day moving average of $34.70. The stock has a market cap of $1.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.46 and a beta of 0.94. First Bancshares has a 52-week low of $22.96 and a 52-week high of $39.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.84.

Institutional Trading of First Bancshares

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of FBMS. Vestcor Inc bought a new stake in First Bancshares during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of First Bancshares during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of First Bancshares by 864.4% during the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 974 shares of the bank’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 873 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its stake in shares of First Bancshares by 50.8% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,194 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $103,000 after buying an additional 1,076 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its holdings in shares of First Bancshares by 26.0% in the fourth quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,102 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $109,000 after buying an additional 641 shares during the last quarter. 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.