First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS) Now Covered by StockNews.com

Research analysts at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of First Bancshares (NASDAQ:FBMS) in a report released on Tuesday. The firm set a “sell” rating on the bank’s stock.

FBMS has been the topic of a number of other reports. Janney Montgomery Scott downgraded shares of First Bancshares from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 24th. Hovde Group increased their target price on shares of First Bancshares from $29.00 to $32.50 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, July 29th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised shares of First Bancshares from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $31.00 to $40.00 in a report on Friday, August 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $35.50.

First Bancshares Trading Down 1.1 %

NASDAQ FBMS opened at $32.79 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. First Bancshares has a 12 month low of $22.96 and a 12 month high of $34.93. The company has a market capitalization of $1.02 billion, a PE ratio of 14.84 and a beta of 0.91. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $32.62 and a 200 day simple moving average of $28.95.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Elizabeth Park Capital Advisors Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of First Bancshares during the second quarter worth $4,548,000. Algebris UK Ltd bought a new position in First Bancshares during the 1st quarter worth about $3,492,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings 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 worth $36,487,000 after purchasing an additional 91,314 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in shares of First Bancshares by 65.0% in the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 231,635 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $6,018,000 after purchasing an additional 91,269 shares during the period. Finally, Creative Planning lifted its holdings in shares of First Bancshares by 310.0% in the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 91,591 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $2,380,000 after purchasing an additional 69,254 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors 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.