First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $2.29B
• Dividend Yield: 4.02%
• Average Volume (3M): 287.81K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 9.7
• Beta (1Y): 0.96
• Revenue Growth: 8.05%
• EPS Growth: -3.31%
• Country: US
• Employees: 2,021
• Sector: Financial
• Sector Strength: 73
• Industry: Banks - Regional
• EPS (TTM): 0.54
• Shares Outstanding: 95,736,150
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 331,494
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 287,805
• PEG Ratio: 1.32
• Price to Book (P/B): 1.11
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.00
• P/FCF Ratio: 14.38
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.67
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 0.90
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 5.04
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 2.99
• 1Y Price Target: $28.00
• Price Target Upside: 19.91% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Hold
• Number of Analyst Covering: 3

• Rating: 73 Outperform
• Price Target: $27.00 ▲(15.63%Upside)

First Financial Bancorp shows solid financial performance with strengths in valuation and a positive earnings outlook. Technical analysis indicates neutral momentum, while corporate events enhance stakeholder confidence. Key risks include cash flow volatility and loan growth challenges.

First Financial Bancorp Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) is a regional bank holding company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Financial Bank, which provides a wide array of banking products and services to both retail and commercial clients. Core offerings include traditional banking services such as checking and savings accounts, loans, credit cards, and wealth management services. First Financial Bancorp primarily serves customers in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, with a strategic focus on community-oriented banking and personalized financial solutions.

How the Company Makes Money

First Financial Bancorp generates revenue primarily through its net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income earned on loans and other interest-earning assets, and the interest expense paid on deposits and borrowings. Additionally, the company earns non-interest income from various sources including service charges on deposit accounts, fees from loan originations, and wealth management services. The bank also benefits from strategic partnerships and acquisitions that enhance its market presence and expand its service offerings, contributing to its overall earnings.

First Financial Bancorp Financial Statement Overview

Summary

First Financial Bancorp demonstrates solid revenue growth and a stable balance sheet. However, the decrease in net income and cash flow volatility present areas for improvement. Maintaining profitability while managing leverage and enhancing cash flow stability will be crucial for sustaining financial health in the competitive banking industry.

Income Statement

First Financial Bancorp showcases strong revenue growth with a 5% increase from 2023 to 2024. The net profit margin slightly declined due to lower net income, but overall profitability remains robust. EBIT and EBITDA margins are not available for 2024, limiting comprehensive margin analysis. Despite this, the consistent revenue growth trajectory is a positive indicator.

Balance Sheet

The company's equity ratio improved to 13.1% in 2024, reflecting a stable financial position. However, the debt-to-equity ratio increased slightly, indicating higher leverage, which can pose risks if not managed properly. The return on equity (ROE) decreased, signaling potential efficiency issues in generating profit from equity.

Cash Flow

Operating cash flow decreased significantly from 2023 to 2024, impacting cash flow stability. The free cash flow to net income ratio remains positive, but the decrease in free cash flow growth signals potential challenges in cash generation. This volatility in cash flows could affect future financial flexibility.

Breakdown
Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement		Total Revenue
835.58M	796.67M	708.78M	654.72M	645.63M
	Gross Profit
756.07M	795.38M	697.07M	641.75M	645.63M
	EBIT
268.32M	409.25M	335.21M	293.12M	184.41M
	EBITDA
306.74M	356.39M	280.53M	283.01M	233.54M
	Net Income Common Stockholders
228.83M	255.86M	217.61M	205.16M	155.81M
Balance Sheet		Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
3.36B	191.46M	4.01B	4.64B	3.68B
	Total Assets
18.57B	17.53B	17.00B	16.33B	15.97B
	Total Debt
1.10B	1.28B	1.63B	654.83M	776.20M
	Net Debt
198.47M	275.91M	1.04B	219.99M	524.84M
	Total Liabilities
16.13B	15.26B	14.96B	14.07B	13.69B
	Stockholders Equity
2.44B	2.27B	2.04B	2.26B	2.28B
Cash Flow		Free Cash Flow
241.08M	462.83M	157.59M	375.13M	93.42M
	Operating Cash Flow
262.16M	486.97M	200.85M	390.46M	109.89M
	Investing Cash Flow
-1.00B	-701.26M	-883.11M	-512.33M	-1.20B
	Financing Cash Flow
699.08M	219.85M	669.73M	110.85M	1.13B

First Financial Bancorp Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Negative
• Last Price: 23.35
• 50DMA: Negative
• 100DMA: Negative
• 200DMA: Negative
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FFBC, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 23.35 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 24.01, below the 50-day MA of 23.47, and below the 200-day MA of 25.49, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.03 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 42.83 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 38.04 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for FFBC.

First Financial Bancorp Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
FRME	78 Outperform	$2.10B	10.13	9.16%	4.00%	1.42%	2.67%
FFBC	73 Outperform	$2.29B	9.72	9.58%	4.02%	8.05%	-3.31%
PFS	73 Outperform	$2.21B	14.81	6.77%	5.84%	80.24%	-30.60%
WAFD	71 Outperform	$2.25B	10.64	7.70%	3.85%	24.53%	0.16%
SFNC	69 Neutral	$2.31B	15.82	4.20%	4.63%	2.91%	-12.82%
Sector *	64 Neutral	$12.77B	9.71	7.85%	78.06%	12.07%	-7.97%
BANC	61 Neutral	$2.21B	20.97	4.33%	2.84%	121.04%	―

First Financial Bancorp Corporate Events

First Financial Bancorp Holds Annual Shareholders Meeting

On May 27, 2025, First Financial Bancorp held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders, where all proposed directors were elected for terms ending in 2026, and the appointment of Crowe LLP as the independent registered accounting firm for 2025 was ratified. Additionally, the shareholders approved the advisory vote on executive compensation, reflecting strong support for the company’s leadership and financial strategies, which could positively impact its market position and stakeholder confidence.

The most recent analyst rating on (FFBC) stock is a Buy with a $33.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on First Financial Bancorp stock, see the FFBC Stock Forecast page.

First Financial Bancorp Highlights Q1 2025 Profitability

First Financial Bancorp has released an investor presentation for the first quarter of 2025, highlighting its consistent profitability and strong financial performance. The company emphasizes its strategic focus on growing core deposits and maintaining a high-quality balance sheet, with a CET1 ratio of 12.29%. The presentation outlines the company’s diverse revenue streams and its ability to navigate economic challenges, including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The release also underscores the company’s commitment to sustainable growth and its strategic positioning as a premier Midwest franchise with a sophisticated commercial and wealth banking model.

The most recent analyst rating on (FFBC) stock is a Buy with a $33.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on First Financial Bancorp stock, see the FFBC Stock Forecast page.

Cynthia Booth Announces Retirement from First Financial Bancorp

On March 26, 2025, Cynthia Booth announced her retirement as a director of First Financial Bancorp, effective at the end of her current term. Her decision is not due to any disagreements with the company’s management or board, and she will not seek re-election at the upcoming annual meeting on May 27, 2025.