Fact based stock research
First Financial Bancorp (NasdaqGS:FFBC)

US3202091092

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For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".

Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".

Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.

Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.

(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).

(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.

First Financial Bancorp stock research in summary

bankatfirst.com

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 75 (better than 75% compared with investment alternatives), First Financial Bancorp (Regional Banks, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of First Financial Bancorp are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 97 (better than 97% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 59) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 21), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 75, is a strong buy recommendation based on First Financial Bancorp's financial characteristics. As the company First Financial Bancorp's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 97) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 59), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 21) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more

Latest Obermatt Ranks


360° View^new
Sentiment Rank^new
Value Rank	97
Growth Rank	59
Safety Rank	21
Combined Rank	75

Country	USA
Industry	Regional Banks
Index	Dividends USA, Employee Focus US, Sound Pay USA, NASDAQ
Size class	Small

31-Jul-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.

Further information

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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.

Research History: First Financial Bancorp

RESEARCH HISTORY	2022	2023	2024	2025
VALUE
VALUE	77	78	81	97
GROWTH
GROWTH	15	41	37	59
SAFETY
SAFETY	61	47	62	21
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT	69	58	72	^new
360° VIEW
360° VIEW	69	60	78	^new

Most recent update of the stock research: 31-Jul-2025. Financial reporting date used for calculating ranks: 31-Mar-2025. Stock research history is based on the Obermatt Method. The higher the rank, the better First Financial Bancorp is in the corresponding investment strategy.
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Combined financial peformance in Detail

RESEARCH HISTORY	2022	2023	2024	2025
VALUE
VALUE	77	78	81	97
GROWTH
GROWTH	15	41	37	59
SAFETY
SAFETY	61	47	62	21
COMBINED
COMBINED	55	62	77	75

Last update of combined financial performance: 31-Jul-2025. Stock analysis on combined financial performance: The higher the rank of First Financial Bancorp the better the performance.

Value Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 97 (better than 97% compared with alternatives) for 2025, First Financial Bancorp shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for First Financial Bancorp. Price-to-Sales is 77 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 77% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for First Financial Bancorp's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 79% of alternatives, and this is also true for the Price-to-Book capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 87. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of First Financial Bancorp are expected to be higher than for 91% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 91). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 97, is a buy recommendation based on First Financial Bancorp's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since all value metrics are above the industry average, there is no objection to investing in First Financial Bancorp based on its detailed value metrics. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision. ...read more

VALUE METRICS	2022	2023	2024	2025
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)	54	62	57	77
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)	31	71	71	79
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)	81	58	63	87
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD	85	72	78	91
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE	77	78	81	97

Last update of Value Rank: 31-Jul-2025. Stock analysis on value ratios: The higher the rank, the lower the value ratio of First Financial Bancorp; except for dividend yield where the rank is higher, the higher the yield.

Growth Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 59 (better than 59% compared with alternatives), First Financial Bancorp shows an above-average growth dynamic in its industry. Investors also speak of positive momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for First Financial Bancorp. Sales Growth has a rank of 94 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 94% of its competitors. Capital Growth is also above 44% of competitors with a rank of 59. But Profit Growth only has a rank of 44, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 56% of its competitors. And Stock Returns have also been below average with a rank of only 13. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 59, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Profits are sometimes low if the company invests in the future. The positive revenue and capital investment outlook confirms such an interpretation. Both revenues and capital are solid growth indicators, and lower profits in such a case would be encouraging. But the investors see it differently by punishing the share price. Sometimes, Mister Market is not very reliable, because it is not uncommon for it to be volatile. Investors should look out for signs of growth expenditure that could justify low profit growth, and they may also find reasons why recent stock price developments don't confirm the growth outlook of operations. While operating growth indicators are not perfect, they are more reliable indicators for future performance than stock prices that can repeatedly surprise investors. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is mixed here. ...read more

GROWTH METRICS	2022	2023	2024	2025
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH	18	10	18	94
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH	37	85	53	44
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH	19	33	63	59
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS	65	55	49	13
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH	15	41	37	59

Last update of Growth Rank: 31-Jul-2025. Stock analysis on growth metrics: The higher the rank, the higher the growth and returns of First Financial Bancorp.

Safety Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 21 (better than 21% compared with alternatives), the company First Financial Bancorp has much riskier financing practices than comparable other companies, which means that their overall debt burden is significantly above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of First Financial Bancorp is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for First Financial Bancorp and the other two below average. Refinancing is at 56, meaning the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 56% of its competitors. But Leverage is high with a rank of 46, meaning the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 54% of its competitors. Liquidity is also on the riskier side with a rank of 15, meaning the company generates less profit to service its debt than 85% of its competitors. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 21 (worse than 79% compared with alternatives), First Financial Bancorp has a financing structure that is significantly riskier than that of its competitors. A good Refinancing Rank means that the problems of the company may not be around the corner. But high Leverage is only good if things go well, and low Liquidity is a signal for caution. The financing signals for First Financial Bancorp are on the riskier side, requiring the company's future to be on the safer side. Investors may want to look at Growth and Sentiment ranks before making an investment decision. In the long-term, investors may have a debt challenge with First Financial Bancorp and should also compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before making a decision. ...read more

SAFETY METRICS	2022	2023	2024	2025
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE	36	36	41	46
REFINANCING
REFINANCING	81	79	59	56
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY	42	47	63	15
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY	61	47	62	21

Last update of Safety Rank: 31-Jul-2025. Stock analysis on safety metrics: The higher the rank, the lower the leverage of First Financial Bancorp and the more cash is available to service its debt.

Sentiment Metrics in Detail

SENTIMENT	2022	2023	2024	2025
ANALYST OPINIONS
ANALYST OPINIONS	n/a	25	34	^new
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE	50	50	95	^new
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS	47	92	100	^new
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE	74	35	37	^new
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT	69	58	72	^new

Last update of Sentiment Rank: 31-Jul-2025. Stock analysis on sentiment metrics: The higher the rank, the more positive the sentiment for First Financial Bancorp.
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