Fact based stock research
The First (NasdaqGM:FBMS)
US3189161033
How to read the free 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.
The First stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 92 (better than 92% compared with investment alternatives), The First (Regional Banks, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of The First are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 33 (worse than 67% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 91) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 84, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 92, is a strong buy recommendation based on The First's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company The First exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 33), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 91). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 84) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). 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 | Diversity USA, Sound Pay USA, NASDAQ |
| Size class | Small |
19-Dec-2024. 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: The First
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 35 |
|
29 |
|
50 |
|
33 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 55 |
|
57 |
|
43 |
|
91 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 71 |
|
100 |
|
100 |
|
84 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
65 |
|
78 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
83 |
|
90 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 92 (better than 92% compared with investment alternatives), The First (Regional Banks, USA) shares have much better financial characteristics than comparable stocks. Shares of The First are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 33 (worse than 67% of alternatives). But they show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 91) and are safely financed (Safety Rank of 84, which means below-average debt burdens). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 92, is a strong buy recommendation based on The First's financial characteristics. Investors looking for growth and low financial risk may find this stock attractive. While the company The First exhibits low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 33), which means that the stock price is rather high, it also demonstrates above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 91). This is a typical case, as high-growth companies are often expensive. Good financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 84) are a double-edged sword: if the company continues growing, low debt limits shareholder returns. But if the company increases its debt, it will also increase risk. In other words, this is an investment on the safer side, despite the above-average price (low value). 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 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 35 |
|
29 |
|
50 |
|
33 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 55 |
|
57 |
|
43 |
|
91 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 71 |
|
100 |
|
100 |
|
84 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 63 |
|
83 |
|
80 |
|
92 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 33 (worse than 67% compared with alternatives), The First shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for The First. Expected dividend yields are higher than for 61% of comparable companies (a Dividend Yield rank of 61), making the stock attractive. The same is valid for Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 58, which means that the stock price is lower compared with invested capital than for 58% of comparable investments. But in respect to sales and profits, the picture is reversed. Price-to-Sales is 16 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than for 84% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning The First's sales levels. The Price-to-Profit ratio (also referred to as price-earnings (P/E) ratio) is also unfavorable for The First with a rank of 30. This means that the stock price, compared with what market professionals expect for future profits, is higher than for 70% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning The First's profit levels. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 33, is a hold recommendation based on The First's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. The company seems confident that it can generate a reasonable return on invested capital, because it pays an above-average dividend while profits are below what you would expect for a company with this stock price. If you agree with this practice and believe that profits will return to higher levels, as the current dividend policy suggests, The First may be an attractive investment. If this is not the case, you may want to be careful with this stock as it is also expensive compared with its expected revenue levels. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision, which is essential in this case, as the financial indicators are inconclusive. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 33 |
|
15 |
|
24 |
|
16 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 35 |
|
43 |
|
60 |
|
30 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 59 |
|
59 |
|
62 |
|
58 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 31 |
|
39 |
|
52 |
|
61 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 35 |
|
29 |
|
50 |
|
33 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 91 (better than 91% compared with alternatives) for 2024, The First 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 four indicators above average for The First. Sales Growth has a value of 61, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 61% of its competitors. The same is valid for Profit Growth with a value of 63 and for Capital Growth with 100. In addition, Stock Returns had an above-average rank value of 63, which means they have been higher than 63% of comparable investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 91, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Since all Growth Ranks are positive, The First exhibits above-average growth momentum. This could be due to a uniquely strong market position, proprietary technology, or an extensive corporate acquisition strategy. Growth investors will find this an attractive investment opportunity, unless they expect that the current phase is transitory and will deteriorate in the future. The current performance could also be a temporary recovery from a very low point, such as a turn-around situation. In the case of a turn-around, the current performance may or may not be followed by a continuing positive development. 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 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 24 |
|
67 |
|
12 |
|
61 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 70 |
|
45 |
|
91 |
|
63 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
84 |
|
55 |
|
100 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 57 |
|
15 |
|
35 |
|
63 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 55 |
|
57 |
|
43 |
|
91 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 84 (better than 84% compared with alternatives) for 2024, the company The First has safe financing practices, which means that their overall debt burden is low. This doesn't mean that the business of The First 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 where two out of three are above average for The First.Leverage is at 82, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 82% of its competitors.Refinancing is at a rank of 70, meaning that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 70% of its competitors. Liquidity is at 43, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 57% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the riskier side regarding debt service. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 84 (better than 84% compared with alternatives), The First has a financing structure that is significantly safer than that of its competitors. Low leverage and low refinancing risk mean a safer financing situation. However, low liquidity means that current company cash flows are low in relation to the level of debt. This is a sign of caution in case it is expected for profits to remain low. Investors should compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before deciding. They may also want to investigate why cash flows are expected to be low, making debt service for The First more challenging. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 69 |
|
54 |
|
87 |
|
82 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 49 |
|
96 |
|
98 |
|
70 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 67 |
|
85 |
|
61 |
|
43 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 71 |
|
100 |
|
100 |
|
84 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
84 |
|
87 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
50 |
|
50 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
83 |
|
76 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
4 |
|
53 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
65 |
|
78 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for The First from December 19, 2024.
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