First Business Financial Services (NASDAQ:FBIZ) Announces Earnings Results, Beats Estimates By $0.02 EPS
by Scott Moore · The Cerbat GemFirst Business Financial Services (NASDAQ:FBIZ – Get Free Report) announced its earnings results on Thursday. The financial services provider reported $1.44 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.42 by $0.02, Zacks reports. First Business Financial Services had a return on equity of 14.77% and a net margin of 18.02%.
First Business Financial Services Stock Performance
Shares of FBIZ traded up $0.02 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $57.29. 24,732 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 36,058. The company has a current ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. First Business Financial Services has a fifty-two week low of $45.90 and a fifty-two week high of $60.53. The business’s 50 day moving average is $55.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $54.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $477.97 million, a P/E ratio of 9.63 and a beta of 0.72.
First Business Financial Services Increases Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, February 28th. Stockholders of record on Saturday, February 14th were issued a $0.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 13th. This is a positive change from First Business Financial Services’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.4%. First Business Financial Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 22.86%.
Institutional Trading of First Business Financial Services
Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of First Business Financial Services by 6.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 481,681 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $24,691,000 after purchasing an additional 30,499 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of First Business Financial Services by 2.8% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 235,050 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $12,765,000 after purchasing an additional 6,347 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of First Business Financial Services by 26.7% during the fourth quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 105,951 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $5,753,000 after purchasing an additional 22,334 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of First Business Financial Services by 45.8% during the fourth quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 104,764 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $5,689,000 after purchasing an additional 32,899 shares during the period. Finally, Bridgeway Capital Management LLC grew its position in First Business Financial Services by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Bridgeway Capital Management LLC now owns 73,727 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $4,003,000 after buying an additional 1,666 shares during the last quarter. 60.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of First Business Financial Services in a report on Tuesday. DA Davidson reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $68.00 price objective on shares of First Business Financial Services in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Piper Sandler restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $70.00 target price (up from $61.00) on shares of First Business Financial Services in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on First Business Financial Services from $59.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, February 2nd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $67.00.
Read Our Latest Analysis on First Business Financial Services
About First Business Financial Services
First Business Financial Services, Inc (NASDAQ:FBIZ) is a bank holding company headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, offering a suite of commercial banking and financial services. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Business Bank, the company provides relationship-driven lending, deposit and treasury management solutions to small and mid-sized businesses, nonprofit organizations and high-net-worth individuals. Its core products include commercial real estate financing, equipment leasing, SBA-guaranteed lending, and cash management services.
In addition to lending and depository services, First Business Bank delivers investment advisory and wealth management through dedicated trust and private banking teams.