First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS) Research Coverage Started at StockNews.com

StockNews.com began coverage on shares of First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS) in a report released on Tuesday. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the bank’s stock.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on FBMS. Janney Montgomery Scott downgraded shares of First Bancshares from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on shares of First Bancshares from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, First Bancshares currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $37.17.

First Bancshares Trading Down 0.8 %

NASDAQ FBMS opened at $34.72 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.71 and a beta of 0.93. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $35.84 and a 200 day simple moving average of $32.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.84. First Bancshares has a one year low of $22.96 and a one year high of $39.08.

First Bancshares Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.88%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 8th. First Bancshares’s dividend payout ratio is currently 45.25%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Bancshares

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC bought a new stake in First Bancshares during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $56,256,000. Citigroup Inc. boosted its position in shares of First Bancshares by 1,454.0% during the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 619,730 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $19,912,000 after buying an additional 579,851 shares during the last quarter. Westchester Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in First Bancshares during the third quarter worth $8,249,000. Elizabeth Park Capital Advisors Ltd. purchased a new stake in First Bancshares in the 2nd quarter valued at $4,548,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in First Bancshares by 7.0% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,404,491 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $36,487,000 after acquiring an additional 91,314 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.95% of the company’s stock.

First Bancshares Company Profile

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.