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First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) Competitors

First Financial Bancorp. logo
$30.73 0.00 (0.00%)
Closing price 05/22/2026 04:00 PM Eastern
Extended Trading
$30.72 -0.02 (-0.05%)
As of 05/22/2026 04:10 PM Eastern
Extended trading is trading that happens on electronic markets outside of regular trading hours. This is a fair market value extended hours price provided by Massive. Learn more.

FFBC vs. ABCB, BUSE, CATY, FRME, and HWC

Should you buy First Financial Bancorp. stock or one of its competitors? MarketBeat compares First Financial Bancorp. with other companies and stocks that may be similar based on industry, sector, market capitalization, business model, investor interest, or shared news coverage. Companies and stocks commonly compared with First Financial Bancorp. include Ameris Bancorp (ABCB), First Busey (BUSE), Cathay General Bancorp (CATY), First Merchants (FRME), and Hancock Whitney (HWC). These companies are all part of the "finance" sector.

How does First Financial Bancorp. compare to Ameris Bancorp?

Ameris Bancorp (NASDAQ:ABCB) and First Financial Bancorp. (NASDAQ:FFBC) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, media sentiment, analyst recommendations and risk.

Ameris Bancorp has a net margin of 21.46% compared to First Financial Bancorp.'s net margin of 20.92%. First Financial Bancorp.'s return on equity of 11.09% beat Ameris Bancorp's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Ameris Bancorp21.46% 9.57% 1.32%
First Financial Bancorp. 20.92%11.09%1.49%

91.6% of Ameris Bancorp shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.2% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are held by institutional investors. 5.7% of Ameris Bancorp shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

In the previous week, First Financial Bancorp. had 4 more articles in the media than Ameris Bancorp. MarketBeat recorded 4 mentions for First Financial Bancorp. and 0 mentions for Ameris Bancorp. First Financial Bancorp.'s average media sentiment score of 0.35 beat Ameris Bancorp's score of 0.00 indicating that First Financial Bancorp. is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Overall Sentiment
Ameris Bancorp Neutral
First Financial Bancorp. Neutral

Ameris Bancorp has a beta of 0.93, indicating that its stock price is 7% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, First Financial Bancorp. has a beta of 0.94, indicating that its stock price is 6% less volatile than the broader market.

Ameris Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $0.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. First Financial Bancorp. pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. Ameris Bancorp pays out 12.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. First Financial Bancorp. pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. First Financial Bancorp. has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years. First Financial Bancorp. is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Ameris Bancorp has higher earnings, but lower revenue than First Financial Bancorp.. First Financial Bancorp. is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ameris Bancorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Ameris Bancorp$1.20B4.74$358.68M$6.3613.32
First Financial Bancorp.$1.26B2.56$255.60M$2.8310.86

Ameris Bancorp presently has a consensus price target of $90.17, indicating a potential upside of 6.43%. First Financial Bancorp. has a consensus price target of $33.00, indicating a potential upside of 7.39%. Given First Financial Bancorp.'s higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe First Financial Bancorp. is more favorable than Ameris Bancorp.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Ameris Bancorp
0 Sell rating(s)
2 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.67
First Financial Bancorp.
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.50

Summary

Ameris Bancorp and First Financial Bancorp. tied by winning 9 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does First Financial Bancorp. compare to First Busey?

First Busey (NASDAQ:BUSE) and First Financial Bancorp. (NASDAQ:FFBC) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, dividends, media sentiment and institutional ownership.

First Busey presently has a consensus price target of $27.50, suggesting a potential upside of 1.55%. First Financial Bancorp. has a consensus price target of $33.00, suggesting a potential upside of 7.39%. Given First Financial Bancorp.'s higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe First Financial Bancorp. is more favorable than First Busey.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
First Busey
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.57
First Financial Bancorp.
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.50

First Busey pays an annual dividend of $1.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.8%. First Financial Bancorp. pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. First Busey pays out 46.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. First Financial Bancorp. pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. First Busey has increased its dividend for 10 consecutive years and First Financial Bancorp. has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. First Busey is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

First Financial Bancorp. has a net margin of 20.92% compared to First Busey's net margin of 19.16%. First Financial Bancorp.'s return on equity of 11.09% beat First Busey's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
First Busey19.16% 10.19% 1.36%
First Financial Bancorp. 20.92%11.09%1.49%

First Busey has a beta of 0.72, meaning that its share price is 28% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, First Financial Bancorp. has a beta of 0.94, meaning that its share price is 6% less volatile than the broader market.

In the previous week, First Busey had 1 more articles in the media than First Financial Bancorp.. MarketBeat recorded 5 mentions for First Busey and 4 mentions for First Financial Bancorp.. First Busey's average media sentiment score of 1.23 beat First Financial Bancorp.'s score of 0.35 indicating that First Busey is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
First Busey
4 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
First Financial Bancorp.
1 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
2 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral

56.5% of First Busey shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.2% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are held by institutional investors. 3.8% of First Busey shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

First Financial Bancorp. has higher revenue and earnings than First Busey. First Financial Bancorp. is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than First Busey, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
First Busey$1.04B2.19$135.26M$2.2512.04
First Financial Bancorp.$1.26B2.56$255.60M$2.8310.86

Summary

First Financial Bancorp. beats First Busey on 11 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does First Financial Bancorp. compare to Cathay General Bancorp?

Cathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ:CATY) and First Financial Bancorp. (NASDAQ:FFBC) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation, dividends, media sentiment and institutional ownership.

75.0% of Cathay General Bancorp shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.2% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are held by institutional investors. 4.5% of Cathay General Bancorp shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

In the previous week, Cathay General Bancorp had 3 more articles in the media than First Financial Bancorp.. MarketBeat recorded 7 mentions for Cathay General Bancorp and 4 mentions for First Financial Bancorp.. Cathay General Bancorp's average media sentiment score of 1.03 beat First Financial Bancorp.'s score of 0.35 indicating that Cathay General Bancorp is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Cathay General Bancorp
3 Very Positive mention(s)
2 Positive mention(s)
2 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
First Financial Bancorp.
1 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
2 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral

Cathay General Bancorp has a beta of 0.87, meaning that its share price is 13% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, First Financial Bancorp. has a beta of 0.94, meaning that its share price is 6% less volatile than the broader market.

Cathay General Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $1.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. First Financial Bancorp. pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. Cathay General Bancorp pays out 31.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. First Financial Bancorp. pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. First Financial Bancorp. has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years. First Financial Bancorp. is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Cathay General Bancorp presently has a consensus price target of $51.75, suggesting a potential downside of 9.64%. First Financial Bancorp. has a consensus price target of $33.00, suggesting a potential upside of 7.39%. Given First Financial Bancorp.'s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe First Financial Bancorp. is more favorable than Cathay General Bancorp.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Cathay General Bancorp
1 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.00
First Financial Bancorp.
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.50

Cathay General Bancorp has higher revenue and earnings than First Financial Bancorp.. First Financial Bancorp. is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Cathay General Bancorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Cathay General Bancorp$1.38B2.77$315.12M$4.8511.81
First Financial Bancorp.$1.26B2.56$255.60M$2.8310.86

Cathay General Bancorp has a net margin of 23.79% compared to First Financial Bancorp.'s net margin of 20.92%. Cathay General Bancorp's return on equity of 11.37% beat First Financial Bancorp.'s return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Cathay General Bancorp23.79% 11.37% 1.38%
First Financial Bancorp. 20.92%11.09%1.49%

Summary

Cathay General Bancorp beats First Financial Bancorp. on 11 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does First Financial Bancorp. compare to First Merchants?

First Financial Bancorp. (NASDAQ:FFBC) and First Merchants (NASDAQ:FRME) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk and media sentiment.

77.2% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 73.9% of First Merchants shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.1% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.8% of First Merchants shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

First Financial Bancorp. presently has a consensus target price of $33.00, suggesting a potential upside of 7.39%. First Merchants has a consensus target price of $48.33, suggesting a potential upside of 20.41%. Given First Merchants' higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe First Merchants is more favorable than First Financial Bancorp..

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
First Financial Bancorp.
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.50
First Merchants
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.33

First Financial Bancorp. has higher revenue and earnings than First Merchants. First Financial Bancorp. is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than First Merchants, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
First Financial Bancorp.$1.26B2.56$255.60M$2.8310.86
First Merchants$659.76M3.83$226M$3.4011.81

First Financial Bancorp. pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. First Merchants pays an annual dividend of $1.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.7%. First Financial Bancorp. pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. First Merchants pays out 43.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. First Financial Bancorp. has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and First Merchants has increased its dividend for 13 consecutive years. First Merchants is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

First Financial Bancorp. has a net margin of 20.92% compared to First Merchants' net margin of 18.87%. First Financial Bancorp.'s return on equity of 11.09% beat First Merchants' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
First Financial Bancorp.20.92% 11.09% 1.49%
First Merchants 18.87%9.58%1.21%

In the previous week, First Merchants had 5 more articles in the media than First Financial Bancorp.. MarketBeat recorded 9 mentions for First Merchants and 4 mentions for First Financial Bancorp.. First Financial Bancorp.'s average media sentiment score of 0.35 beat First Merchants' score of 0.30 indicating that First Financial Bancorp. is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
First Financial Bancorp.
1 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
2 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral
First Merchants
1 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
5 Neutral mention(s)
1 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral

First Financial Bancorp. has a beta of 0.94, suggesting that its share price is 6% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, First Merchants has a beta of 0.86, suggesting that its share price is 14% less volatile than the broader market.

Summary

First Financial Bancorp. beats First Merchants on 11 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does First Financial Bancorp. compare to Hancock Whitney?

First Financial Bancorp. (NASDAQ:FFBC) and Hancock Whitney (NASDAQ:HWC) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their media sentiment, risk, valuation, profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings and institutional ownership.

77.2% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 81.2% of Hancock Whitney shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.1% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 0.9% of Hancock Whitney shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

First Financial Bancorp. has a beta of 0.94, suggesting that its stock price is 6% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Hancock Whitney has a beta of 0.97, suggesting that its stock price is 3% less volatile than the broader market.

Hancock Whitney has higher revenue and earnings than First Financial Bancorp.. First Financial Bancorp. is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Hancock Whitney, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
First Financial Bancorp.$1.26B2.56$255.60M$2.8310.86
Hancock Whitney$2.02B2.71$486.07M$4.8713.86

First Financial Bancorp. currently has a consensus price target of $33.00, suggesting a potential upside of 7.39%. Hancock Whitney has a consensus price target of $78.14, suggesting a potential upside of 15.77%. Given Hancock Whitney's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Hancock Whitney is more favorable than First Financial Bancorp..

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
First Financial Bancorp.
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.50
Hancock Whitney
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
5 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.78

First Financial Bancorp. pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. Hancock Whitney pays an annual dividend of $2.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. First Financial Bancorp. pays out 35.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Hancock Whitney pays out 41.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. First Financial Bancorp. has increased its dividend for 1 consecutive years and Hancock Whitney has increased its dividend for 3 consecutive years. First Financial Bancorp. is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Hancock Whitney has a net margin of 21.34% compared to First Financial Bancorp.'s net margin of 20.92%. Hancock Whitney's return on equity of 11.20% beat First Financial Bancorp.'s return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
First Financial Bancorp.20.92% 11.09% 1.49%
Hancock Whitney 21.34%11.20%1.40%

In the previous week, First Financial Bancorp. had 2 more articles in the media than Hancock Whitney. MarketBeat recorded 4 mentions for First Financial Bancorp. and 2 mentions for Hancock Whitney. First Financial Bancorp.'s average media sentiment score of 0.35 beat Hancock Whitney's score of 0.33 indicating that First Financial Bancorp. is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
First Financial Bancorp.
1 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
2 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral
Hancock Whitney
0 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
2 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Neutral

Summary

Hancock Whitney beats First Financial Bancorp. on 14 of the 20 factors compared between the two stocks.

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Media Sentiment Over Time

This chart shows the average media sentiment of NASDAQ and its competitors over the past 90 days as caculated by MarketBeat. The averaged score is equivalent to the following: Very Negative Sentiment <= -1.5, Negative Sentiment > -1.5 and <= -0.5, Neutral Sentiment > -0.5 and < 0.5, Positive Sentiment >= 0.5 and < 1.5, and Very Positive Sentiment >= 1.5.
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FFBC vs. The Competition

MetricFirst Financial Bancorp.BANKS IndustryFinance SectorNASDAQ Exchange
Market Cap$3.22B$2.84B$13.58B$12.32B
Dividend Yield3.25%3.33%5.84%5.28%
P/E Ratio10.8610.6523.9625.66
Price / Sales2.562.66151.4998.40
Price / Cash9.7610.7820.1556.67
Price / Book1.101.222.157.14
Net Income$255.60M$217.16M$1.13B$335.98M
7 Day Performance2.81%1.92%0.60%3.56%
1 Month Performance0.49%2.64%-0.07%2.54%
1 Year Performance28.10%23.54%12.01%35.05%

First Financial Bancorp. Competitors List

CompanyMarketRankShare PriceAnalysts' Price Target1Y Price PerformanceMarket CapRevenueP/E RatioEmployee CountIndicator(s)
FFBC
First Financial Bancorp.
3.7028 of 5 stars
$30.73
flat
$33.00
+7.4%
+28.1%$3.22B$1.26B10.862,199
ABCB
Ameris Bancorp
3.8348 of 5 stars
$82.70
-1.1%
$90.17
+9.0%
+38.5%$5.57B$1.20B15.882,850
BUSE
First Busey
4.2709 of 5 stars
$26.18
-0.1%
$27.50
+5.0%
+25.3%$2.21B$1.04B11.631,948
CATY
Cathay General Bancorp
2.5995 of 5 stars
$56.05
-0.9%
$52.00
-7.2%
+33.7%$3.76B$1.38B11.551,268
FRME
First Merchants
4.8231 of 5 stars
$39.56
-0.1%
$48.33
+22.2%
+7.5%$2.49B$659.76M11.632,086

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This page (NASDAQ:FFBC) was last updated on 5/25/2026 by MarketBeat.com Staff.
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