The First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FBMS) Receives $37.17 Average Price Target from Brokerages

Shares of The First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FBMS) have been given an average rating of “Moderate Buy” by the four ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $37.17.

FBMS has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com began coverage on First Bancshares in a research report on Wednesday. They set a “sell” rating on the stock. Janney Montgomery Scott lowered shares of First Bancshares from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on shares of First Bancshares from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Bancshares

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Quest Partners LLC bought a new stake in First Bancshares in the second quarter worth approximately $89,000. CWM LLC boosted its holdings in First Bancshares by 73.2% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,960 shares of the bank’s stock worth $95,000 after purchasing an additional 1,251 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its holdings in First Bancshares by 50.8% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,194 shares of the bank’s stock worth $103,000 after purchasing an additional 1,076 shares in the last quarter. Entropy Technologies LP acquired a new position in First Bancshares during the third quarter worth $203,000. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System acquired a new stake in shares of First Bancshares in the second quarter worth about $216,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.95% of the company’s stock.

First Bancshares Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:FBMS opened at $34.24 on Tuesday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $35.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $32.71. The company has a market cap of $1.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.49 and a beta of 0.93. First Bancshares has a 12-month low of $22.96 and a 12-month high of $39.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33.

First Bancshares Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 8th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.92%. First Bancshares’s dividend payout ratio is 45.25%.

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.