First Commonwealth Financial (NYSE:FCF) Rating Increased to Hold at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of First Commonwealth Financial (NYSE:FCF) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report released on Tuesday.

A number of other research analysts also recently commented on FCF. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $21.50 target price on shares of First Commonwealth Financial in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a $20.00 price objective on shares of First Commonwealth Financial in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, DA Davidson restated a “buy” rating and set a $21.00 target price on shares of First Commonwealth Financial in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $19.58.

First Commonwealth Financial Stock Up 1.6 %

NYSE FCF opened at $14.35 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $15.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $16.76. The company has a market capitalization of $1.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.32 and a beta of 0.72. First Commonwealth Financial has a 52 week low of $12.41 and a 52 week high of $19.96. The company has a quick ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

First Commonwealth Financial (NYSE:FCF) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The bank reported $0.35 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.36 by ($0.01). First Commonwealth Financial had a return on equity of 10.36% and a net margin of 20.38%. On average, equities research analysts predict that First Commonwealth Financial will post 1.45 earnings per share for the current year.

First Commonwealth Financial Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th were issued a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. First Commonwealth Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 37.41%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On First Commonwealth Financial

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in First Commonwealth Financial in the 4th quarter valued at $42,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in shares of First Commonwealth Financial in the third quarter worth about $46,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC boosted its position in First Commonwealth Financial by 815.8% during the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 3,187 shares of the bank’s stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 2,839 shares during the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC boosted its position in First Commonwealth Financial by 173.4% during the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 3,396 shares of the bank’s stock worth $57,000 after acquiring an additional 2,154 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its stake in First Commonwealth Financial by 56.8% during the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 3,388 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $57,000 after acquiring an additional 1,227 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.58% of the company’s stock.

First Commonwealth Financial Company Profile

First Commonwealth Financial Corporation, a financial holding company, provides various consumer and commercial banking services in the United States. Its consumer services include personal checking accounts, interest-earning checking accounts, savings and health savings accounts, insured money market accounts, debit cards, investment certificates, fixed and variable rate certificates of deposit, mortgage loans, secured and unsecured installment loans, construction and real estate loans, safe deposit facilities, credit cards, credit lines with overdraft checking protection, IRA accounts, and automated teller machine (atm) services, as well as internet, mobile, and telephone banking services.