Barclays PLC Raises Stake in First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIN)

Barclays PLC grew its holdings in shares of First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIN) by 16.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 336,317 shares of the bank’s stock after acquiring an additional 46,849 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC’s holdings in First Financial Bankshares were worth $12,124,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in FFIN. Federated Hermes Inc. raised its position in First Financial Bankshares by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 13,313 shares of the bank’s stock worth $480,000 after purchasing an additional 295 shares during the period. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its holdings in First Financial Bankshares by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 35,263 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $1,271,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares during the period. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC grew its position in First Financial Bankshares by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 26,649 shares of the bank’s stock worth $961,000 after acquiring an additional 312 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its stake in First Financial Bankshares by 7.4% in the 4th quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 5,396 shares of the bank’s stock worth $195,000 after purchasing an additional 370 shares during the period. Finally, Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its position in First Financial Bankshares by 2.3% in the fourth quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 19,170 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $691,000 after purchasing an additional 432 shares during the last quarter. 69.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at First Financial Bankshares

In other news, Director Johnny Trotter purchased 6,000 shares of First Financial Bankshares stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 12th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $35.12 per share, with a total value of $210,720.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 949,371 shares in the company, valued at approximately $33,341,909.52. This trade represents a 0.64 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 4.22% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently commented on FFIN. Hovde Group decreased their target price on shares of First Financial Bankshares from $40.00 to $38.00 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price objective on shares of First Financial Bankshares from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday.

First Financial Bankshares Stock Down 1.3 %

Shares of FFIN stock opened at $32.25 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.67 and a beta of 0.82. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $35.20 and a 200 day moving average of $37.23. First Financial Bankshares, Inc. has a 52 week low of $27.62 and a 52 week high of $44.66.

First Financial Bankshares (NASDAQ:FFIN) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 17th. The bank reported $0.43 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.43. First Financial Bankshares had a net margin of 29.69% and a return on equity of 14.24%. The firm had revenue of $149.02 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $149.48 million. Equities research analysts anticipate that First Financial Bankshares, Inc. will post 1.78 earnings per share for the current year.

First Financial Bankshares Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th were issued a dividend of $0.18 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $0.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.23%. First Financial Bankshares’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.44%.

About First Financial Bankshares

First Financial Bankshares, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides commercial banking products and services in Texas. The company offers checking, savings and time deposits; automated teller machines, drive-in, and night deposit services; safe deposit facilities, remote deposit capture, internet banking, mobile banking, payroll cards, funds transfer, and performing other customary commercial banking services; securities brokerage services; and trust and wealth management services, including wealth management, estates administration, oil and gas management, testamentary trusts, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and agency accounts.