First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $2.56B
• Dividend Yield: 3.63%
• Average Volume (3M): 432.39K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 10.7
• Beta (1Y): 0.98
• Revenue Growth: 4.62%
• EPS Growth: 2.69%
• Country: US
• Employees: 2,021
• Sector: Financial
• Sector Strength: 71
• Industry: Banks - Regional
• EPS (TTM): 0.73
• Shares Outstanding: 95,753,960
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 399,581
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 432,394
• PEG Ratio: N/A
• Price to Book (P/B): 0.00
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.00
• P/FCF Ratio: 0.00
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.25
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 2.61
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 4.23
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 10.43
• 1Y Price Target: $29.60
• Price Target Upside: 12.21% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 6

• Rating: 77 Outperform
• Price Target: $29.00 ▲(9.93% Upside)

First Financial Bancorp's overall stock score of 77 reflects its strong financial performance and strategic growth initiatives. The company's robust earnings call and positive corporate events further bolster its position. While technical indicators suggest some caution due to potential overbought conditions, the stock remains attractive due to its reasonable valuation and solid dividend yield.

First Financial Bancorp Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) is a regional bank holding company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. It operates primarily through its banking subsidiary, First Financial Bank, which provides a wide range of financial services including personal banking, commercial banking, wealth management, and mortgage services. FFBC serves a diverse clientele across various sectors and is focused on delivering tailored financial solutions to meet the needs of individuals, small businesses, and corporations.

How the Company Makes Money

First Financial Bancorp generates revenue primarily through interest income from loans and investments, as well as non-interest income from fees and service charges. The bank provides various types of loans, including commercial, consumer, and real estate loans, which yield interest payments that contribute significantly to its earnings. Additionally, FFBC earns revenue from deposits and asset management services, including wealth management products and advisory services. The bank also generates non-interest income through transaction fees, service charges on deposit accounts, and other financial services. Partnerships with local businesses and institutions further enhance its customer base and revenue opportunities, as do its efforts in expanding online and digital banking services, which attract a broader audience.

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
EBITDA	306.74M	356.39M	280.53M	283.01M	233.54M
Net Income	228.83M	255.86M	217.61M	205.16M	155.81M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	18.57B	17.53B	17.00B	16.33B	15.97B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	3.36B	191.46M	4.01B	4.64B	3.68B
Total Debt	1.10B	1.28B	1.63B	654.83M	776.20M
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: Positive
• Last Price: 26.38
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Positive
• 200DMA: Positive
• MACD: Negative
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FFBC, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 26.38 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 25.42, above the 50-day MA of 24.89, and above the 200-day MA of 25.20, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.58 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 63.39 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 60.60 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for FFBC.

First Financial Bancorp Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
PFS	80 Outperform	$2.63B	11.35	8.78%	4.80%	66.96%	67.27%
WAFD	79 Outperform	$2.52B	12.19	7.59%	3.37%	8.75%	5.16%
FFBC	77 Outperform	$2.56B	10.69	9.77%	3.63%	4.62%	2.69%
BANC	71 Outperform	$2.68B	26.31	4.32%	2.38%	49.10%	―
SFNC	71 Outperform	$3.06B	16.45	4.57%	4.05%	-0.30%	6.05%
FRME	69 Neutral	$2.42B	10.70	9.90%	3.39%	-1.18%	23.43%
Sector *	68 Neutral	$18.06B	11.97	10.24%	3.74%	9.75%	1.30%

First Financial Bancorp Corporate Events

First Financial Bancorp Highlights Strong Financial Performance

First Financial Bancorp has announced its intention to use materials from an investor presentation in meetings with investors and analysts. The company highlights its strong financial performance, robust capital position, and strategic focus on growing core deposits and diversifying revenue streams. The announcement underscores First Financial’s commitment to maintaining its top quartile performance and prudent risk management, which are crucial for its continued success in the financial industry.

First Financial Bancorp to Acquire BankFinancial

On August 11, 2025, First Financial Bancorp announced its agreement to acquire BankFinancial Corporation, expanding its presence in the Chicago market. The acquisition, valued at approximately $142 million, will be an all-stock transaction and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025. This strategic move will add 18 retail locations to First Financial’s portfolio, enhance its commercial banking capabilities, and integrate BankFinancial’s consumer, trust/wealth management, and selected commercial credit lines into its operations. The merger aims to strengthen First Financial’s market position and provide a broader range of financial solutions to Chicago clients.

First Financial Bancorp to Acquire Westfield Bancorp

On June 23, 2025, First Financial Bancorp announced a definitive agreement to acquire Westfield Bancorp from Ohio Farmers Insurance Company for $325 million, comprising cash and stock. This acquisition will expand First Financial’s presence in Northeast Ohio, adding Westfield Bank’s retail locations and services, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025. The acquisition aligns with First Financial’s strategic growth in the Midwest and enhances its commercial banking capabilities, benefiting clients and employees of both institutions. The transaction is anticipated to be 12% accretive to First Financial’s earnings.

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.