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

Research analysts at StockNews.com began coverage on shares of First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS) in a report issued on Wednesday. The brokerage set a “sell” rating on the bank’s stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the company. Janney Montgomery Scott lowered First Bancshares from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their target price on First Bancshares from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report 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 issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, First Bancshares has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $37.17.

First Bancshares Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:FBMS opened at $34.24 on Wednesday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $35.93 and its 200-day moving average price is $32.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.49 and a beta of 0.93. First Bancshares has a one year low of $22.96 and a one year high of $39.08.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Bancshares

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Hsbc Holdings PLC increased its position in shares of First Bancshares by 4.6% in the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 19,503 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $499,000 after acquiring an additional 861 shares during the period. FMR LLC increased its holdings in First Bancshares by 50.8% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,194 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $103,000 after purchasing an additional 1,076 shares during the period. CWM LLC raised its position in First Bancshares by 73.2% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,960 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $95,000 after purchasing an additional 1,251 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in First Bancshares by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 72,262 shares of the bank’s stock worth $1,877,000 after buying an additional 1,300 shares during the period. Finally, Centiva Capital LP grew its position in shares of First Bancshares by 17.8% in the 3rd quarter. Centiva Capital LP now owns 9,767 shares of the bank’s stock worth $314,000 after buying an additional 1,476 shares during the last quarter. 69.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.