First Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCBC) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest

17 Apr 2026, 21:26 by Amy Steele · The Cerbat Gem

First Community Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCBC – Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totaling 389,741 shares, an increase of 19.6% from the March 15th total of 325,793 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 100,017 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.9 days. Approximately 2.1% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Community Bancshares

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. State of Alaska Department of Revenue purchased a new position in shares of First Community Bancshares in the third quarter worth $25,000. Advisory Services Network LLC bought a new stake in First Community Bancshares in the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Financial Consulate Inc. bought a new stake in First Community Bancshares in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. City Holding Co. lifted its stake in First Community Bancshares by 98.5% in the 3rd quarter. City Holding Co. now owns 1,042 shares of the bank’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 517 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Heartwood Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of First Community Bancshares during the 3rd quarter valued at about $37,000. 34.95% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

First Community Bancshares Trading Up 2.6%

First Community Bancshares stock traded up $1.08 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $43.31. The stock had a trading volume of 75,920 shares, compared to its average volume of 82,046. The firm has a market capitalization of $826.35 million, a P/E ratio of 16.28 and a beta of 0.48. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $40.83 and its 200 day moving average is $36.28. First Community Bancshares has a one year low of $31.21 and a one year high of $44.15.

First Community Bancshares (NASDAQ:FCBC – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The bank reported $0.77 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.67 by $0.10. First Community Bancshares had a return on equity of 10.17% and a net margin of 26.32%.The business had revenue of $43.79 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $43.20 million.

First Community Bancshares Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Investors of record on Friday, February 13th were paid a dividend of $0.31 per share. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 13th. First Community Bancshares’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 46.62%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Weiss Ratings raised shares of First Community Bancshares from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Monday, March 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy”.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on First Community Bancshares

First Community Bancshares Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

First Community Bancshares, Inc (NASDAQ: FCBC) is a bank holding company headquartered in Mebane, North Carolina, that delivers banking and financial services through its wholly owned subsidiary, First Community Bank. The company’s core focus is on relationship-driven community banking, offering clients a blend of personalized service and competitive digital banking capabilities. It serves a diverse clientele that includes individuals, families, small and mid-sized businesses, nonprofit organizations and professional practices.