Marks Group Wealth Management Inc Reduces Stock Position in First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF)

Marks Group Wealth Management Inc trimmed its holdings in First Financial Co. (NASDAQ:THFF) by 2.6% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 23,684 shares of the bank’s stock after selling 625 shares during the period. Marks Group Wealth Management Inc’s holdings in First Financial were worth $1,094,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of THFF. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new position in shares of First Financial in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. R Squared Ltd purchased a new stake in First Financial during the 4th quarter worth about $73,000. FMR LLC boosted its stake in First Financial by 420.3% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,918 shares of the bank’s stock worth $172,000 after purchasing an additional 3,165 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC purchased a new position in First Financial during the 3rd quarter valued at about $230,000. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of First Financial during the third quarter valued at about $279,000. Institutional investors own 72.74% of the company’s stock.

First Financial Stock Performance

Shares of THFF opened at $52.03 on Thursday. First Financial Co. has a 12-month low of $34.58 and a 12-month high of $53.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05. The company has a market cap of $614.47 million, a PE ratio of 13.01 and a beta of 0.51. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $47.78 and a 200-day moving average price of $45.58.

First Financial (NASDAQ:THFF) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The bank reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that First Financial Co. will post 5.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

First Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Friday, January 3rd were given a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 3rd. This is a positive change from First Financial’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.92%. First Financial’s payout ratio is 51.00%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages recently commented on THFF. 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 research note on Thursday, February 6th. Raymond James upgraded shares of First Financial from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $54.00 price target for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 19th.

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.