Fact based stock research
First Foundation (NasdaqGM:FFWM)
US32026V1044
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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 Foundation stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 81 (better than 81% compared with investment alternatives), First Foundation (Regional Banks, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of First Foundation are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 55 (better than 55% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 80) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 47), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 81, is a strong buy recommendation based on First Foundation's financial characteristics. As the company First Foundation's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 55) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 80), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 47) 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
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Regional Banks |
| Index | Sound Pay USA, NASDAQ |
| Size class | X-Small |
31-Jul-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: First Foundation
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 69 |
|
58 |
|
73 |
|
55 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 71 |
|
45 |
|
91 |
|
80 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 89 |
|
30 |
|
26 |
|
47 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 21 |
|
24 |
|
3 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 87 |
|
28 |
|
56 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 81 (better than 81% compared with investment alternatives), First Foundation (Regional Banks, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of First Foundation are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 55 (better than 55% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 80) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 47), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 81, is a strong buy recommendation based on First Foundation's financial characteristics. As the company First Foundation's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 55) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 80), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 47) 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
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 69 |
|
58 |
|
73 |
|
55 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 71 |
|
45 |
|
91 |
|
80 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 89 |
|
30 |
|
26 |
|
47 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 99 |
|
43 |
|
94 |
|
81 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 55 (better than 55% compared with alternatives), First Foundation shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, where half the indicators are below and half above average for First Foundation. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 97, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 97% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning First Foundation's revenue size. The same is valid for the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio), which is more favorable than for 100% of alternatives (0% of peers have a higher ratio). But expected dividend yields with a Dividend Yield rank of 9 are lower than average (dividends are expected to be lower than 91% of other stocks) while the Price to Profit ratio (or Price to Earnings (P/E) ratio) is higher than average with a Price-to-Profit Rank of 1, making the stock more expensive compared with the company's expected profit levels. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 55, is a buy recommendation based on First Foundation's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Low profits and low dividends as seen here for First Foundation may indicate a restructuring phase. This could be transitory, making the company a good value when profits recover and dividends return to higher levels. If the stock price is compared with the size indicators for revenue and invested capital, it is on the lower side, making this stock a good value investment (apart from current profit and dividend expectations). 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) | 47 |
|
95 |
|
98 |
|
97 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 72 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 42 |
|
97 |
|
97 |
|
100 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 59 |
|
12 |
|
17 |
|
9 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 69 |
|
58 |
|
73 |
|
55 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 80 (better than 80% compared with alternatives) for 2025, First Foundation shows one of the highest growth dynamics in its industry. Investors also speak of high momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with all but one indicator above average for First Foundation. Sales Growth has a value of 66 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow more than 66% of its competitors. Profit Growth with a value of 95 and Capital Growth with a rank of 91 means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow both profits and invested capital more than of its competitors. But Stock Returns has only a rank of 1, which means that stock returns have recently been below 99% of alternative investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 80, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. First Foundation has only one below-average growth indicator, the stock returns. This is probably the least reliable growth indicator, because it measures company and investor expectations at the same time. The three other growth indicators, which are all positive for First Foundation, are more reliable measures of growth momentum. For this reason, the company seems to be on a good trajectory, unless you think the current period is not representative, because of unique events that will not be repeated in the future. 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. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 94 |
|
90 |
|
89 |
|
66 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 29 |
|
1 |
|
95 |
|
95 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 81 |
|
80 |
|
87 |
|
91 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 41 |
|
3 |
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 71 |
|
45 |
|
91 |
|
80 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 47 (better than 47% compared with alternatives), the company First Foundation has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of First Foundation 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 Foundation and the other two below average. Leverage is at a rank of 100 meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 100% of its competitors.Refinancing is at a rank of 1, which means that the portion of the debt about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 99% of its competitors. Liquidity is at a rank of 30, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 70% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 47 (worse than 53% compared with alternatives), First Foundation has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. This is an indication that the company is on the riskier side when it comes to debt service. There is only below-market average liquidity, and a short-term refinancing issue might be around the corner. But in the long-term, the debt levels of First Foundation are on the safer side. Investors may have a short-term debt challenge and liquidity issues with First Foundation 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 | 100 |
|
100 |
|
3 |
|
100 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 4 |
|
4 |
|
98 |
|
1 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 74 |
|
12 |
|
10 |
|
30 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 89 |
|
30 |
|
26 |
|
47 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
83 |
|
30 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | 7 |
|
50 |
|
6 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | 1 |
|
10 |
|
1 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | 34 |
|
9 |
|
1 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | 21 |
|
24 |
|
3 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for First Foundation from July 31, 2025.
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