Gator Capital Acquires 221,920 Shares of First Financial Bancorp Valued at $5.6 Million
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 28 2025
0mins
Source: Fool
- New Investment Position: Gator Capital Management initiated a new position in First Financial Bancorp by acquiring 221,920 shares valued at approximately $5.6 million in Q3, indicating confidence in the regional bank despite a 6.5% decline in its stock price over the past year.
- Asset Allocation Insight: This acquisition represents 1.42% of Gator Capital's $394.37 million in 13F reportable U.S. equity assets, reflecting a strategic focus on the financial sector aimed at leveraging stable revenue streams amidst market fluctuations.
- Profitability Resilience: First Financial Bancorp's third-quarter earnings revealed better-than-expected net interest income, showcasing its profitability and capital adequacy, which enhances investor confidence in its future performance despite margin pressures.
- Market Performance Comparison: With shares priced at $25.72, significantly underperforming the S&P 500's 15% growth, First Financial faces challenges in the competitive regional banking landscape, yet this presents potential value opportunities for long-term investors.
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Analyst Views on FFBC
Wall Street analysts forecast FFBC stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for FFBC is 29.00 USD with a low forecast of 28.00 USD and a high forecast of 31.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
4 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Hold
Current: 27.200
Low
28.00
Averages
29.00
High
31.00
Current: 27.200
Low
28.00
Averages
29.00
High
31.00
About FFBC
First Financial Bancorp. is a bank holding company. It engages in the business of commercial banking and other banking and banking-related activities through its subsidiary, First Financial Bank (the Bank). The Bank provides banking and financial services products through its six lines of business: Commercial, Retail Banking, Investment Commercial Real Estate, Mortgage Banking, Commercial Finance and Wealth Management. These business units provide traditional banking services to business and retail clients. Wealth Management provides wealth planning, portfolio management, trust and estate, brokerage and retirement plan services. In addition, it offers deposit products that include interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing accounts, time deposits and cash management services for commercial customers. Its full-service banking centers are located in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois, while the commercial finance business lends to targeted industry verticals on a nationwide basis.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
First Financial Bancorp Reports Record Q4 2025 Earnings Performance
- Record Earnings Performance: First Financial Bancorp achieved an adjusted earnings per share of $0.80 in Q4 2025, with a return on assets of 1.52%, reflecting strong performance in net interest margin and noninterest income, thereby enhancing its competitive position in the market.
- Loan and Deposit Growth: The annualized loan growth rate was 4%, and deposits increased by approximately 7% annually, indicating that the company can maintain organic growth even after the Westfield Bank acquisition, further solidifying its market position.
- Expense and Income Outlook: Projected expenses for Q1 are between $156 million and $158 million, primarily influenced by acquisitions, while noninterest income is expected to range from $71 million to $73 million, demonstrating the company's confidence in future revenue.
- Strategic Integration Plans: Management anticipates that cost savings from acquisitions will materialize in the second half of 2026, and despite facing seasonal outflow pressures in the near term, the company remains optimistic about its organic loan growth target, projected between 6% and 8%.
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First Financial Bancorp Reports Strong 2025 Financial Results
- Quarterly Net Income Performance: In Q4 2025, First Financial Bancorp reported net income of $62.4 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, indicating stable profitability despite a decline from $71.9 million in Q3 2025.
- Annual Performance Growth: For the full year 2025, adjusted net income reached $281.1 million, translating to $2.92 per share, marking a 21.7% increase from $2.40 in 2024, reflecting strong market performance and enhanced profitability.
- Stable Asset Quality: The nonperforming assets ratio slightly increased to 0.48% in Q4, while overall asset quality remained stable with a provision expense of $10.1 million, demonstrating effective management of credit risk.
- Increased Shareholder Returns: The Board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on March 16, 2026, showcasing the company's commitment to shareholder returns and reflecting its robust financial health.
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