Brokerages Set First Commonwealth Financial Co. (NYSE:FCF) Target Price at $19.58

Shares of First Commonwealth Financial Co. (NYSE:FCF) have earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the six ratings firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $19.58.

Several research firms have recently weighed in on FCF. StockNews.com downgraded shares of First Commonwealth Financial from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, April 4th. DA Davidson reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $21.00 price objective on shares of First Commonwealth Financial in a report on Thursday, January 30th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated 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, Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and set a $21.50 price objective on shares of First Commonwealth Financial in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th.

First Commonwealth Financial Stock Up 4.7 %

Shares of FCF opened at $14.82 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $15.85 and a 200-day moving average price of $16.83. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.66 and a beta of 0.72. First Commonwealth Financial has a 12-month low of $12.41 and a 12-month high of $19.96.

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

First Commonwealth Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 21st. Investors 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 3.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 7th. First Commonwealth Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 37.41%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On First Commonwealth Financial

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

About First Commonwealth Financial

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.