Friday - Stephens has raised the price target on First Financial Bankshares (NASDAQ:FFIN) to $40.00 from $37.00, while maintaining an Equal Weight rating on the stock. The adjustment follows the company's third-quarter earnings per share (EPS) and pre-provision net revenue (PPNR) results, which aligned closely with the consensus forecast.
The bank's net interest margin (NIM) experienced a modest increase of 2 basis points in the third quarter of 2024. Stephens anticipates further improvements in the NIM in the fourth quarter of 2024 and into early 2025, based on the expectation of a gradual 150 basis points reduction in the Federal Funds rate over the next eight months. Additionally, First Financial's end-of-period (EOP) deposit growth in the third quarter was significant, showing a 12% increase on a last quarter annualized (LQA) basis, which is expected to provide a solid foundation for loan growth in 2025.
In response to these outcomes, Stephens has revised its EPS forecast for First Financial, projecting that low double-digit loan growth will be sustainable in the near term. The new price target of $40 reflects 23 times the firm's 2026 EPS forecast and 3.7 times its 12-month forecast of tangible book value per share (TBVPS).
The updated price target also takes into account the anticipated 7% year-over-year growth in PPNR for 2025 and 2026. The bank's recent performance and the expected economic conditions have led to a more optimistic outlook from Stephens, while the Equal Weight rating suggests that the analyst views the stock as fairly valued at the current levels.
In other recent news, First Financial Bankshares has renewed its stock repurchase plan, allowing the company to buy back up to 5,000,000 shares of its common stock through July 31, 2025. This decision comes as the company reported strong Q2 results, including a 16% increase in loan growth compared to the previous quarter. These developments led Stephens to raise the stock's price target from $31 to $36, highlighting the company's strong position for potential mergers and acquisitions.
In contrast, Truist Securities revised its price target for First Financial Bankshares down to $32 from $34, based on reevaluated earnings per share forecasts for 2024 and 2025. However, the firm later increased the price target to $39, reflecting an optimistic view on the bank's earnings potential, driven by robust loan growth and higher loan yields.
First Financial Bankshares also welcomed Sally Pope Davis, a retired Goldman Sachs executive, to its Board of Directors, further strengthening its leadership team. These are among the recent developments revolving around First Financial Bankshares.
InvestingPro Insights
First Financial Bankshares' recent performance and future outlook align with several key metrics and insights from InvestingPro. The company's P/E ratio of 27.5 reflects investor confidence in its earnings potential, which is supported by Stephens' positive EPS forecast.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that First Financial has raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years and maintained payments for 32 years, demonstrating a strong commitment to shareholder returns. This aligns with the bank's solid financial position, as evidenced by its significant deposit growth mentioned in the article.
The company's operating income margin of 53.43% for the last twelve months ending Q2 2024 indicates efficient operations, which could contribute to the anticipated PPNR growth in 2025 and 2026. Additionally, First Financial's trading near its 52-week high and its 61.65% price total return over the past year suggest strong market performance, potentially reflecting investor optimism about the bank's prospects.
For readers seeking more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 5 additional tips and a range of financial metrics to further evaluate First Financial Bankshares' investment potential.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.