First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF) Short Interest Up 23.0% in February

First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 55,600 shares, a growth of 23.0% from the February 13th total of 45,200 shares. Currently, 0.5% of the company’s stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 55,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.0 days.

First Financial Stock Up 0.1 %

THFF traded up $0.04 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $49.70. 9,387 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 46,102. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $49.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $46.94. First Financial has a twelve month low of $34.58 and a twelve month high of $53.60. The stock has a market cap of $589.03 million, a P/E ratio of 12.41 and a beta of 0.49.

First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The bank reported $1.37 earnings per share 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 analysts expect that First Financial will post 5.41 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at First Financial

In other First Financial news, Director James O. Mcdonald purchased 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $48.99 per share, with a total value of $48,990.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 9,462 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $463,543.38. The trade was a 11.82 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Mark Allen Franklin acquired 1,100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 transaction, the insider now owns 9,845 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $517,157.85. This represents a 12.58 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders bought 2,195 shares of company stock valued at $111,625 over the last three months. Company insiders own 3.69% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Financial

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Kennedy Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of First Financial during the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,855,000. Dean Investment Associates LLC acquired a new stake in First Financial during the 3rd quarter valued at $2,856,000. Millennium Management LLC boosted its position in First Financial by 231.4% during the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 86,972 shares of the bank’s stock worth $4,017,000 after purchasing an additional 60,732 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in shares of First Financial by 10.7% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 230,332 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $10,100,000 after purchasing an additional 22,287 shares during the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in shares of First Financial by 9.2% in the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 235,412 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $10,874,000 after purchasing an additional 19,867 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.74% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Raymond James upgraded shares of 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. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and issued a $55.00 target price (up previously from $52.00) on shares of First Financial in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott raised First Financial from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $58.00 price target for the company in a research report on Monday, February 24th.

First Financial Company Profile

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.