May 22, 2025
Top 10 Stock First United Strong Buy Recommendation
How to read the ranks
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.
Snapshot: First United – Top 10 Stock in Sound Pay Practices in the United States
First United is listed as a top 10 stock on May 22, 2025 in the market index Sound Pay USA because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. As all consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, including positive market sentiment in the professional investor community, it is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the shares is limited. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 97 (top 97% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall strong buy recommendation for First United on May 22, 2025.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | USA |
| Industry | Regional Banks |
| Index | Dividends USA, Diversity USA, Sound Pay USA, NASDAQ |
| Size class | X-Small |
When Obermatt identifies the Top 10 stocks in a market, it’s based on a certain investment strategy. The best performing stocks usually aren’t the ones that everyone is talking about (those are often "over-priced" and have low Value ranks).
For each investment strategy, we provide you with more detailed analysis and our recommendation. You see the ranks of the top 10 stocks ranked by that particular investment strategy (360° View, Sentiment, Value, Growth, Safety and Combined Financial Performance).
360° View: Obermatt 360° View First United Strong Buy
| 360 METRICS | May 22, 2025 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 67 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 81 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 89 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 65 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 97 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 97 (better than 97% compared with alternatives) for 2025, overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock First United are very positive. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with all four indicators above average for First United. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 67, which means that the share price of First United is on the lower side compared with the typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means the stock price is lower than for 67% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Growth Rank has a good rank of 81, which means that the company experiences above-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth as well as stock returns. The company is also safely financed with a Safety rank of 89. Finally, professional market sentiment is above average compared with other stock investment alternatives with a Sentiment Rank of 65. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 97, First United is better positioned than 97% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. As all consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, such as good value (Value Rank of 67), above-average growth (Growth Rank of 81), safe financing practices (Safety Rank of 89), and a positive market sentiment in the professional investor community (Sentiment Rank of 65), it is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the shares is limited and disappointments are less likely to occur, unless information not publicly available. High-Value Ranks sometimes indicate that the company's future is challenging. If they are safely financed and have above average growth, and are still a good value, it may indicate that this will not continue. We recommend evaluating whether the future of First United is as difficult as the stock’s low price, despite what good growth and safe financing practice suggest. Since the professional community is optimistic, you might have less to worry about, and the stock is just not sufficiently visible, which may indicate good timing right now. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for First United positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 65 (better than 65% compared with alternatives), overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock First United is above average. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with all but one indicator above average for First United. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 82 (better than 82% of alternative investments), which means that, currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. In addition, Analyst Opinions Change has a rank of 50, which means that stock research experts are changing their opinions for the better in recommending investing in the company. In other words, they are getting even more optimistic about investments in First United. Finally, the Professional Investors rank is 98, which means that currently, professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 98% of alternative investment opportunities. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 65 (more positive than 65% compared with investment alternatives), First United has a reputation among professional investors that is above-average compared with that of its competitors. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. But there is also a signal for caution. Market Pulse has a rank of 24, which means that the current professional news and professional social networks tend to be negative when discussing this company (more negative news than for 76% of competitors). This could mean future risks and should make investors careful. Attention to negative news for First United is worthwhile because they may be early warning signals. Without those, all other professional signals are encouraging, especially since analysts are getting more optimistic. ...read more
Value Strategy: First United Stock Price Value better than average
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 67 (better than 67% compared with alternatives), First United 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 are above average for First United. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 83, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 83% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning First United's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits (or Price / Earnings, P/E), more favorable than for 95% of alternatives. It is also positive for expected dividend yields with a Dividend Yield rank of 33 (dividends are expected to be higher than for 33% of other stocks). But, compared with other companies in the same industry, the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) is higher than average, making the stock more expensive. Only 57% of all competitors have an even higher price compared with book capital which puts the Price-to-Capital Rank for First United to 43. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 67, is a buy recommendation based on First United's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. A low level of book capital means that the company has a business that is leaner on assets than its competitors. For instance, the company could be leasing its production facilities, or be more focussed on intellectual property, such as its brand and software, which is less visible in its book capital. If that is the case, the low Dividend Yield is also explained as such companies tend to invest their income into market development. The other good value ranks for Sales and Profits are encouraging indicators for the stock price value. ...read more
Growth Strategy: First United Growth Momentum high
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 81 (better than 81% compared with alternatives) for 2025, First United 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 United. Sales Growth has a rank of 61 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 61% of its competitors. Capital Growth is also above 39% of competitors with a rank of 77, and Stock Returns with the rank of 95 is also an outperformance. Only Profit Growth is low with a rank of 39 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 61% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 81, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. All three operating growth indicators, namely revenue, profit, and capital growth, are showing improvements. This is a good indication of a company with a positive future. That might, at the same time, be the simple reason why profit growth is low. A growing company needs money and thus can't yet show high profit growth. Look out for signs in corporate communication about extra growth efforts costing time and money. If that is the case, First United is a good growth stock. ...read more
Safety Strategy: First United Debt Financing Safety very solid
| SAFETY METRICS | May 22, 2025 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 84 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 39 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 81 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 89 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 89 (better than 89% compared with alternatives) for 2025, the company First United has safe financing practices, which means that their overall debt burden is low. This doesn't mean that the business of First United is safe, it only means that the company is on the safer side regarding possible bankruptcy, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with two out of three indicators above average for First United. Leverage is at a rank of 84, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 84% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at a rank of 81, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 81% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the safer side when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is lower at a rank of 39, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above-average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 61% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 89 (better than 89% compared with alternatives), First United has a financing structure that is significantly safer than that of its competitors. The refinancing issues could be a short-term problem, especially if the company has reputation issues. Banks and investors don't like to refinance debt if there are clouds on the horizon. For this reason, investors should look at the refinancing environment for First United. Does it look safe that debt that is coming due can be covered with new debt? If that is the case, then the financing situation of the company is on the safer side. If not, it may be better to wait until refinancing has been completed and the Refinancing rank is good again. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: First United Top Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | May 22, 2025 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 67 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 81 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 81 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 98 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 98 (better than 98% compared with investment alternatives), First United (Regional Banks, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of First United are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 67 (better than 67% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 81), and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 89), which means low debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 98, is a strong buy recommendation based on First United's financial characteristics. As the company First United's key financial metrics all exhibit excellent performance, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 67), above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 81), and indicate that the company is safely financed (Obermatt Safety Rank of 89), it is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the share is limited, unless the company has a bleak future. Such good financial performance can indicate that the company's future might actually be challenging, as it may be difficult to maintain the good performance. If they are safely financed and have been growing above average, and are still a good value, it means that the market is keeping prices low, for a reason which may become clearer over time. We recommend evaluating the future of First United. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. ...read more
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