First Community (NASDAQ:FCCO) Posts Earnings Results

First Community (NASDAQ:FCCO) released its earnings results on Wednesday. The bank reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.34, Yahoo Finance reports. First Community had a return on equity of 9.43% and a net margin of 14.25%.

First Community Stock Performance

Shares of FCCO stock opened at $15.95 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 0.78. First Community has a one year low of $15.40 and a one year high of $22.00. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $16.85 and its 200-day simple moving average is $17.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $121.70 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.36 and a beta of 0.43.

First Community Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 6th were given a dividend of $0.14 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 5th. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.51%. First Community’s payout ratio is 36.36%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Community

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. UBS Group AG increased its stake in shares of First Community by 314.7% during the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 1,833 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 1,391 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC grew its position in First Community by 4,253.3% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 1,959 shares of the bank’s stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 1,914 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new position in First Community in the second quarter worth approximately $38,000. California State Teachers Retirement System acquired a new position in First Community in the second quarter worth approximately $43,000. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in First Community in the second quarter worth approximately $70,000. Institutional investors own 61.25% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of First Community from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Raymond James raised shares of First Community from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $21.00 price target on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 25th.

About First Community

First Community Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Community Bank that provides various commercial and retail banking products and services to small-to-medium sized businesses, professionals, and individuals. The company operates through Commercial and Retail Banking, Mortgage Banking, and Investment Advisory and Non-Deposit segments.