NASDAQ:FRME First Merchants (FRME) Stock Price, News & Analysis → Red Alert: Your Money's Disappearance Act - Banks' Greed Unleashed! (From Priority Gold) (Ad) Free FRME Stock Alerts $34.46 -0.59 (-1.68%) (As of 04/25/2024 ET) Add Compare Share Share Today's Range$33.40▼$34.9550-Day Range$32.48▼$35.0652-Week Range$24.52▼$38.16Volume255,214 shsAverage Volume218,391 shsMarket Capitalization$2.04 billionP/E Ratio9.21Dividend Yield3.95%Price Target$38.00 Stock AnalysisStock AnalysisAnalyst ForecastsChartCompetitorsDividendEarningsFinancialsHeadlinesInsider TradesOptions ChainOwnershipSEC FilingsShort InterestSocial MediaSustainabilityStock AnalysisAnalyst ForecastsChartCompetitorsDividendEarningsFinancialsHeadlinesInsider TradesOptions ChainOwnershipSEC FilingsShort InterestSocial MediaSustainability Get First Merchants alerts: Email Address First Merchants MarketRank™ Stock AnalysisAnalyst RatingBuy3.00 Rating ScoreUpside/Downside10.3% Upside$38.00 Price TargetShort InterestHealthy0.85% of Shares Sold ShortDividend StrengthStrongBased on Four FactorsSustainability-0.62Upright™ Environmental ScoreNews Sentiment-0.04Based on 9 Articles This WeekInsider TradingSelling Shares$105,912 Sold Last QuarterProj. Earnings Growth4.18%From $3.35 to $3.49 Per ShareSee Full Details Hide Full Details Overall MarketRank™New Rank-Based ScoringMarketRank™ is calculated by averaging available category scores (with extra weight given to analysis and valuation), then ranking the company's weighted average against that of other companies.4.82 out of 5 starsFinance Sector50th out of 864 stocksNational Commercial Banks Industry9th out of 85 stocks 2.5 Analyst's Opinion Consensus RatingFirst Merchants has received a consensus rating of Buy. The company's average rating score is 3.00, and is based on 2 buy ratings, no hold ratings, and no sell ratings.Amount of Analyst CoverageFirst Merchants has only been the subject of 1 research reports in the past 90 days. Previous Next 4.0 Short Interest Percentage of Shares Shorted0.85% of the outstanding shares of First Merchants have been sold short.Short Interest Ratio / Days to CoverFirst Merchants has a short interest ratio ("days to cover") of 1.8, which is generally considered an acceptable ratio of short interest to trading volume.Change versus previous monthShort interest in First Merchants has recently decreased by 0.26%, indicating that investor sentiment is improving. Previous Next 5.0 Dividend Strength Dividend LeadershipFirst Merchants is a leading dividend payer. It pays a dividend yield of 3.88%, putting its dividend yield in the top 25% of dividend-paying stocks.Dividend GrowthFirst Merchants has been increasing its dividend for 12 years.Dividend CoverageThe dividend payout ratio of First Merchants is 36.36%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%.Dividend SustainabilityBased on earnings estimates, First Merchants will have a dividend payout ratio of 38.97% next year. This indicates that First Merchants will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. Previous Next 2.7 Sustainability and ESG Overall ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ScoreFirst Merchants has received a 19.50% net impact score from Upright. The largest positive contribution comes from its "Societal infrastructure" impact, which is mostly driven by its "Mortgages provided by brick and mortar banks", "Home equity loans", "Home improvement financing", "Wire transfer services", "Development loans for corporations", and "Consumer savings accounts provided by brick and mortar banks" products. See details.Environmental SustainabilityThe Environmental Impact score for First Merchants is -0.62. Previous Next 1.1 News and Social Media Coverage News SentimentFirst Merchants has a news sentiment score of -0.04. This score is calculated as an average of sentiment of articles about the company over the last seven days and ranges from 2 (good news) to -2 (bad news). This is a lower news sentiment than the 0.45 average news sentiment score of Finance companies.News Coverage This WeekMarketBeat has tracked 9 news articles for First Merchants this week, compared to 2 articles on an average week. Previous Next 3.3 Company Ownership Insider Buying vs. Insider SellingIn the past three months, First Merchants insiders have sold 9,816.85% more of their company's stock than they have bought. Specifically, they have bought $1,068.00 in company stock and sold $105,912.00 in company stock.Percentage Held by InsidersOnly 1.32% of the stock of First Merchants is held by insiders.Percentage Held by Institutions73.92% of the stock of First Merchants is held by institutions. High institutional ownership can be a signal of strong market trust in this company. Previous Next 2.5 Earnings and Valuation Earnings GrowthEarnings for First Merchants are expected to grow by 4.18% in the coming year, from $3.35 to $3.49 per share.Price to Earnings Ratio vs. the MarketThe P/E ratio of First Merchants is 9.21, which means that it is trading at a less expensive P/E ratio than the market average P/E ratio of about 135.07.Price to Earnings Ratio vs. SectorThe P/E ratio of First Merchants is 9.21, which means that it is trading at a less expensive P/E ratio than the Finance sector average P/E ratio of about 58.11.Price to Book Value per Share RatioFirst Merchants has a P/B Ratio of 0.92. P/B Ratios below 1 indicate that a company could be undervalued with respect to its assets and liabilities. Previous Next See Top Rated MarketRank™ Stocks Here Ad Preserve GoldTrump is sounding the alarmEurope is one of the latest to release a central bank digital currency and along with it, new cash rules. Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, shared "Now we have in Europe this threshold, above 1,000 euros you cannot pay cash… if you get caught you are fined or you are going to jail". Are you prepared?Click here to get your complimentary retirement guide! About First Merchants Stock (NASDAQ:FRME)First Merchants Corporation operates as the financial holding company for First Merchants Bank that provides community banking services. The company offers a range of financial services, including time, savings, and demand deposits; and consumer, commercial, agri-business, public finance, and real estate mortgage loans. It also provides personal and corporate trust; brokerage and private wealth management; and letters of credit, repurchase agreements, and other corporate services. The company operates banking locations in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan counties. It also offers its services through electronic and mobile delivery channels. First Merchants Corporation was founded in 1893 and is headquartered in Muncie, Indiana.Read More FRME Stock Price History View Price History Chart DataSkip Price History Chart 30 days | 90 days | 365 days | Advanced Chart FRME Stock News HeadlinesApril 26, 2024 | finance.yahoo.comFirst Merchants Corp (FRME) Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript Highlights: Key Financial Metrics ...April 26, 2024 | finance.yahoo.comQ1 2024 First Merchants Corp Earnings CallApril 26, 2024 | Preserve Gold (Ad)Trump is sounding the alarmEurope is one of the latest to release a central bank digital currency and along with it, new cash rules. Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, shared "Now we have in Europe this threshold, above 1,000 euros you cannot pay cash… if you get caught you are fined or you are going to jail". Are you prepared?April 25, 2024 | seekingalpha.comFirst Merchants Corporation 2024 Q1 - Results - Earnings Call PresentationApril 25, 2024 | msn.comFRME Stock Earnings: First Merchants Beats EPS, Misses Revenue for Q1 2024April 25, 2024 | finance.yahoo.comFirst Merchants Corp (FRME) Q1 2024 Earnings: Misses Analyst Expectations Amidst Economic ChallengesApril 25, 2024 | globenewswire.comFirst Merchants Corporation Announces First Quarter 2024 Earnings Per ShareApril 24, 2024 | nasdaq.comFirst Merchants (FRME) Passes Through 4% Yield MarkApril 26, 2024 | Preserve Gold (Ad)Trump is sounding the alarmEurope is one of the latest to release a central bank digital currency and along with it, new cash rules. Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, shared "Now we have in Europe this threshold, above 1,000 euros you cannot pay cash… if you get caught you are fined or you are going to jail". Are you prepared?April 23, 2024 | americanbankingnews.comFirst Merchants (NASDAQ:FRME) Rating Lowered to Sell at StockNews.comApril 18, 2024 | americanbankingnews.comFirst Merchants (FRME) Scheduled to Post Quarterly Earnings on ThursdayApril 16, 2024 | americanbankingnews.comFirst Merchants Co. (NASDAQ:FRME) Sees Large Drop in Short InterestApril 15, 2024 | finance.yahoo.comFirst Merchants (NASDAQ:FRME) investors are sitting on a loss of 21% if they invested three years agoApril 15, 2024 | globenewswire.comFirst Merchants Corporation Announces Cash Dividend on Its Preferred StockApril 4, 2024 | globenewswire.comFirst Merchants Corporation to Report First Quarter 2024 Financial Results, Host Conference Call and WebcastMarch 3, 2024 | finance.yahoo.comFirst Merchants Full Year 2023 Earnings: EPS Misses ExpectationsFebruary 24, 2024 | msn.comFirst Merchants (FRME) Price Target Increased by 6.33% to 42.84February 24, 2024 | finance.yahoo.comBe Sure To Check Out First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ:FRME) Before It Goes Ex-DividendFebruary 21, 2024 | msn.comMerchants file claims against SF demanding removal of controversial Valencia St. bike laneFebruary 9, 2024 | msn.comFirst Merchants Corp. Unveils 2024 Executive Incentive ProgramFebruary 8, 2024 | msn.comFirst Merchants Corp. Declares Cash Dividend for ShareholdersFebruary 7, 2024 | msn.comFirst Merchants declares $0.34 dividendFebruary 7, 2024 | finance.yahoo.comFirst Merchants Corporation Announces Cash DividendJanuary 28, 2024 | finance.yahoo.comFirst Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ:FRME) Q4 2023 Earnings Call TranscriptJanuary 26, 2024 | markets.businessinsider.comKBW Reaffirms Their Buy Rating on First Merchants (FRME)January 26, 2024 | finance.yahoo.comQ4 2023 First Merchants Corp Earnings CallJanuary 26, 2024 | seekingalpha.comFirst Merchants Corporation 2023 Q4 - Results - Earnings Call PresentationSee More Headlines Receive FRME Stock News and Ratings via Email Sign-up to receive the latest news and ratings for First Merchants and its competitors with MarketBeat's FREE daily newsletter. Email Address Company Calendar Last Earnings7/25/2023Ex-Dividend for 3/15 Dividend2/29/2024Dividend Payable3/15/2024Today4/26/2024Fiscal Year End12/31/2024Get Stock AlertsIndustry, Sector and Symbol Stock ExchangeNASDAQ SectorFinance Industry National commercial banks Sub-IndustryRegional Banks Current SymbolNASDAQ:FRME CUSIP32081710 CIK712534 Webwww.firstmerchants.com Phone(765) 747-1500Fax765-282-6304Employees2,162Year Founded1982Price Target and Rating Average Stock Price Target$38.00 High Stock Price Target$40.00 Low Stock Price Target$36.00 Potential Upside/Downside+10.3%Consensus RatingBuy Rating Score (0-4)3.00 Research Coverage2 Analysts Profitability EPS (Most Recent Fiscal Year)$3.74 Trailing P/E Ratio9.21 Forward P/E Ratio10.29 P/E GrowthN/ANet Income$223.79 million Net Margins22.39% Pretax Margin25.94% Return on Equity10.97% Return on Assets1.29% Debt Debt-to-Equity Ratio0.39 Current Ratio0.86 Quick Ratio0.86 Sales & Book Value Annual Sales$999.49 million Price / Sales2.04 Cash Flow$4.09 per share Price / Cash Flow8.42 Book Value$37.42 per share Price / Book0.92Miscellaneous Outstanding Shares59,280,000Free Float58,501,000Market Cap$2.04 billion OptionableOptionable Beta1.08 Social Links 7 AI Stocks to Invest In: An Introduction to AI Investing For Self-Directed InvestorsAs the AI market heats up, investors who have a vision for artificial intelligence have the potential to see real returns. Learn about the industry as a whole as well as seven companies that are getting work done with the power of AI.Get This Free Report Key ExecutivesMr. Mark K. Hardwick (Age 53)CEO & Director Comp: $1.17MMr. Michael J. Stewart (Age 58)President Comp: $967.65kMs. Michele M. Kawiecki (Age 51)Executive VP, CFO & Principal Accounting Officer Comp: $698.49kMr. Stephan H. Fluhler (Age 55)Senior VP & Chief Information Officer Comp: $532.39kMr. Michael C. Rechin (Age 65)Advisor & Director Comp: $60.82kMr. John J. Martin (Age 57)Executive VP & Chief Credit Officer Comp: $617.04kMr. Marcos Nogues C.F.A.Chief Investment OfficerMs. Nicole M. WeaverVP & Director of Corporate AdministrationMr. Brian T. Hunt (Age 64)Secretary & Legal Counsel Mr. Steven C. Harris (Age 60)Senior VP & Chief Human Resources Officer More ExecutivesKey CompetitorsFirst Financial Bancorp.NASDAQ:FFBCBancorpNASDAQ:TBBKCommunity Bank SystemNYSE:CBUSimmons First NationalNASDAQ:SFNCWesBancoNASDAQ:WSBCView All CompetitorsInsiders & InstitutionsCambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc.Bought 7,921 shares on 4/25/2024Ownership: 0.104%Denali Advisors LLCBought 39,577 shares on 4/19/2024Ownership: 0.247%Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc.Bought 6,571 shares on 4/17/2024Ownership: 0.011%Michael J StewartBought 36 shares on 3/29/2024Total: $1,068.12 ($29.67/share)PNC Financial Services Group Inc.Sold 552 shares on 3/22/2024Ownership: 0.038%View All Insider TransactionsView All Institutional Transactions FRME Stock Analysis - Frequently Asked Questions Should I buy or sell First Merchants stock right now? 2 Wall Street research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for First Merchants in the last year. There are currently 2 buy ratings for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street research analysts is that investors should "buy" FRME shares. View FRME analyst ratings or view top-rated stocks. What is First Merchants' stock price target for 2024? 2 Wall Street analysts have issued twelve-month price targets for First Merchants' shares. Their FRME share price targets range from $36.00 to $40.00. On average, they predict the company's stock price to reach $38.00 in the next year. This suggests a possible upside of 10.3% from the stock's current price. View analysts price targets for FRME or view top-rated stocks among Wall Street analysts. How have FRME shares performed in 2024? First Merchants' stock was trading at $37.08 at the start of the year. Since then, FRME shares have decreased by 7.1% and is now trading at $34.46. View the best growth stocks for 2024 here. Are investors shorting First Merchants? First Merchants saw a drop in short interest during the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totaling 504,600 shares, a drop of 7.2% from the March 15th total of 543,500 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 269,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.9 days. View First Merchants' Short Interest. How were First Merchants' earnings last quarter? First Merchants Co. (NASDAQ:FRME) announced its earnings results on Tuesday, July, 25th. The bank reported $1.02 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.04 by $0.02. The bank earned $247.68 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $171.80 million. First Merchants had a net margin of 22.39% and a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 10.97%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.01 EPS. How often does First Merchants pay dividends? What is the dividend yield for First Merchants? First Merchants announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, February 6th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st will be given a dividend of $0.34 per share on Friday, March 15th. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.95%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. Read our dividend analysis for FRME. Is First Merchants a good dividend stock? First Merchants (NASDAQ:FRME) pays an annual dividend of $1.36 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 3.88%. The company has been increasing its dividend for 12 consecutive years, indicating the company has a strong committment to maintain and grow its dividend. The dividend payout ratio is 36.36%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. Based on earnings estimates, FRME will have a dividend payout ratio of 38.97% next year. This indicates that the company will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. Read our dividend analysis for FRME. What ETFs hold First Merchants' stock? ETFs with the largest weight of First Merchants (NASDAQ:FRME) stock in their portfolio include First Trust NASDAQ ABA Community Bank Index Fund (QABA), ProShares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF (SMDV), VictoryShares US Small Cap High Div Volatility Wtd ETF (CSB), EA Bridgeway Omni Small-Cap Value ETF (BSVO), First Trust RBA American Industrial Renaissance ETF (AIRR) and WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Fund (EES).Avantis U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF (AVSC). What is Michael C. Rechin's approval rating as First Merchants' CEO? 48 employees have rated First Merchants Chief Executive Officer Michael C. Rechin on Glassdoor.com. Michael C. Rechin has an approval rating of 82% among the company's employees. What other stocks do shareholders of First Merchants own? Based on aggregate information from My MarketBeat watchlists, some companies that other First Merchants investors own include BankFinancial (BFIN), Energy Transfer (ET), Main Street Capital (MAIN), Enterprise Products Partners (EPD), AbbVie (ABBV), Comerica (CMA), Huntington Bancshares (HBAN), International Business Machines (IBM), Iron Mountain (IRM) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM). Who are First Merchants' major shareholders? First Merchants' stock is owned by a number of retail and institutional investors. Top institutional shareholders include Denali Advisors LLC (0.25%), Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. (0.10%) and Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. (0.01%). Insiders that own company stock include Charles E Schalliol, Gary Lehman, Jason R Sondhi, Mark K Hardwick, Michael C Rechin, Michael J Stewart, Michael R Becher, Patrick A Sherman, Patrick J Fehring and Stephan Fluhler. View institutional ownership trends. How do I buy shares of First Merchants? Shares of FRME stock can be purchased through any online brokerage account. Popular online brokerages with access to the U.S. stock market include Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, Fidelity, and Vanguard Brokerage Services. Compare Top Brokerages Here. This page (NASDAQ:FRME) was last updated on 4/26/2024 by MarketBeat.com Staff From Our PartnersConflict In Israel Sends Gold Soaring ???? Here’s How To Get Your ShareColonial MetalsThese AI trades triggered this morning (545% return)Prosper Trading AcademyThe Best AI Stock to Own in the World Today is Trading for Just $25Banyan Hill PublishingRed Alert: Your Money's Disappearance Act - Banks' Greed Unleashed!Priority GoldDid You Get Your Free Bitcoin Yet?Crypto Swap ProfitsTrump is sounding the alarmPreserve GoldBitcoin Rockets To Record High But Buy THIS InsteadParadigm PressFed launches fourth dollar overhaulStansberry Research Adding Choose a watchlist: Watchlist Adding You have already added five stocks to your watchlist. 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