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CINCINNATI—James R. Shank, the Chief Internal Auditor of First Financial Bancorp (NASDAQ:FFBC), sold 7,600 shares of the company’s common stock on March 19, 2025, according to a recent SEC filing. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.92, resulting in a total transaction value of approximately $189,392. The $2.4 billion market cap bank currently trades at 10.5x earnings, with InvestingPro analysis indicating the stock is fairly valued.
Following this sale, Shank now directly owns 11,141 shares of First Financial Bancorp. The company, headquartered in Cincinnati, operates as a national commercial bank providing a range of financial services. According to InvestingPro data, the bank has maintained dividend payments for 43 consecutive years, currently offering a 3.9% yield. Analysts remain optimistic about the company’s prospects, with additional insights available in the comprehensive Pro Research Report covering this financial institution.
In other recent news, First Financial Bancorp reported its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings, exceeding analyst expectations with an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.71, compared to the projected $0.62. The company achieved a record annual revenue of $854 million, marking a 2% increase from the previous year. Analysts had anticipated revenue of $216.8 million for the quarter. First Financial Bancorp is also expanding into new markets, including Grand Rapids, Michigan, and projects low single-digit loan growth in the first quarter of 2025.
Despite a decline in net interest margin from 4.4% to 4.05%, the company maintained a healthy return on assets of 1.4%. Additionally, First Financial Bancorp’s management highlighted potential merger and acquisition opportunities in the $1-$5 billion bank space. Analyst discussions during the earnings call included inquiries about seasonal loan growth patterns and foreign exchange transactions, with management explaining their approach to maintaining healthy loan pipelines. The company also anticipates fee income to range between $63 million and $65 million in the coming quarter.
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