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First Financial Bancorp. (FFBC) Competitors

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$34.47 +0.13 (+0.37%)
As of 11:21 AM Eastern
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FFBC vs. ABCB, BUSE, CATY, FRME, and HWC

Should you buy First Financial Bancorp. stock or one of its competitors? First Financial Bancorp.'s main competitors and comparable companies include Ameris Bancorp (ABCB), First Busey (BUSE), Cathay General Bancorp (CATY), First Merchants (FRME), and Hancock Whitney (HWC). Companies are selected based on similarities in market, industry, and size. These companies are all part of the "regional banks" industry.

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 superior business? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, risk, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, valuation, media sentiment and dividends.

Ameris Bancorp currently has a consensus target price of $91.67, suggesting a potential upside of 1.80%. First Financial Bancorp. has a consensus target price of $33.67, suggesting a potential downside of 2.33%. Given Ameris Bancorp's higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe Ameris Bancorp is more favorable than First Financial Bancorp..

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Ameris Bancorp
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
3 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.43
First Financial Bancorp.
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.50

In the previous week, First Financial Bancorp. had 1 more articles in the media than Ameris Bancorp. MarketBeat recorded 3 mentions for First Financial Bancorp. and 2 mentions for Ameris Bancorp. First Financial Bancorp.'s average media sentiment score of 1.27 beat Ameris Bancorp's score of 1.03 indicating that First Financial Bancorp. is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Ameris Bancorp
2 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)
0 Positive mention(s)
1 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

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 $1.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. Ameris Bancorp pays out 14.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. First Financial Bancorp. pays out 36.7% 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.

91.6% of Ameris Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.2% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are owned by institutional investors. 5.7% of Ameris Bancorp shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of First Financial Bancorp. 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.

Ameris Bancorp has a beta of 0.92, indicating that its stock price is 8% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, First Financial Bancorp. has a beta of 0.92, indicating that its stock price is 8% less volatile than the broader market.

Ameris Bancorp has a net margin of 21.46% compared to First Financial Bancorp.'s net margin of 20.77%. First Financial Bancorp.'s return on equity of 11.13% 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. 20.77%11.13%1.49%

Ameris Bancorp has higher revenue and earnings 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$1.23B4.92$358.68M$5.5316.28
First Financial Bancorp.$996.38M3.63$255.60M$2.8312.18

Summary

Ameris Bancorp beats First Financial Bancorp. on 10 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does First Financial Bancorp. compare to First Busey?

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

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

First Financial Bancorp. has a beta of 0.92, meaning that its stock price is 8% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, First Busey has a beta of 0.72, meaning that its stock price is 28% less volatile than the broader market.

First Financial Bancorp. currently has a consensus price target of $33.67, suggesting a potential downside of 2.33%. First Busey has a consensus price target of $32.00, suggesting a potential upside of 2.23%. Given First Busey's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe First Busey 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 Busey
0 Sell rating(s)
2 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.86

First Financial Bancorp. pays an annual dividend of $1.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. First Busey pays an annual dividend of $1.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.3%. First Financial Bancorp. pays out 36.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. First Busey pays out 43.0% 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 Busey has increased its dividend for 10 consecutive years. First Busey is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

In the previous week, First Busey had 2 more articles in the media than First Financial Bancorp.. MarketBeat recorded 5 mentions for First Busey and 3 mentions for First Financial Bancorp.. First Financial Bancorp.'s average media sentiment score of 1.27 beat First Busey's score of 1.17 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)
0 Positive mention(s)
1 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
First Busey
2 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
1 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

First Busey has a net margin of 21.00% compared to First Financial Bancorp.'s net margin of 20.77%. First Financial Bancorp.'s return on equity of 11.13% beat First Busey's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
First Financial Bancorp.20.77% 11.13% 1.49%
First Busey 21.00%10.42%1.41%

First Financial Bancorp. has higher earnings, but lower revenue 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 Financial Bancorp.$996.38M3.63$255.60M$2.8312.18
First Busey$1.04B2.48$135.26M$2.4212.93

Summary

First Busey beats First Financial Bancorp. on 10 of the 19 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 valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, media sentiment, dividends, earnings, institutional ownership and profitability.

In the previous week, Cathay General Bancorp had 6 more articles in the media than First Financial Bancorp.. MarketBeat recorded 9 mentions for Cathay General Bancorp and 3 mentions for First Financial Bancorp.. First Financial Bancorp.'s average media sentiment score of 1.27 beat Cathay General Bancorp's score of 0.54 indicating that First Financial Bancorp. is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

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

Cathay General Bancorp pays an annual dividend of $1.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.3%. First Financial Bancorp. pays an annual dividend of $1.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. Cathay General Bancorp pays out 29.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. First Financial Bancorp. pays out 36.7% 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 currently has a consensus price target of $62.25, suggesting a potential downside of 4.40%. First Financial Bancorp. has a consensus price target of $33.67, suggesting a potential downside of 2.33%. 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)
4 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 a beta of 0.86, suggesting that its share price is 14% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, First Financial Bancorp. has a beta of 0.92, suggesting that its share price is 8% less volatile than the broader market.

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 stock is poised for long-term growth.

Cathay General Bancorp has a net margin of 24.66% compared to First Financial Bancorp.'s net margin of 20.77%. Cathay General Bancorp's return on equity of 11.71% beat First Financial Bancorp.'s return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Cathay General Bancorp24.66% 11.71% 1.43%
First Financial Bancorp. 20.77%11.13%1.49%

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$1.38B3.14$315.12M$5.1212.72
First Financial Bancorp.$996.38M3.63$255.60M$2.8312.18

Summary

First Financial Bancorp. beats Cathay General Bancorp on 10 of the 19 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does First Financial Bancorp. compare to First Merchants?

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

First Merchants presently has a consensus price target of $49.00, indicating a potential upside of 12.60%. First Financial Bancorp. has a consensus price target of $33.67, indicating a potential downside of 2.33%. Given First Merchants' higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe First Merchants is more favorable than First Financial Bancorp..

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

First Merchants has a beta of 0.84, indicating that its share price is 16% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, First Financial Bancorp. has a beta of 0.92, indicating that its share price is 8% less volatile than the broader market.

73.9% of First Merchants shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.2% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.8% of First Merchants shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.1% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are owned by company 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 net margin of 20.77% compared to First Merchants' net margin of 17.05%. First Financial Bancorp.'s return on equity of 11.13% beat First Merchants' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
First Merchants17.05% 8.86% 1.12%
First Financial Bancorp. 20.77%11.13%1.49%

In the previous week, First Merchants had 1 more articles in the media than First Financial Bancorp.. MarketBeat recorded 4 mentions for First Merchants and 3 mentions for First Financial Bancorp.. First Financial Bancorp.'s average media sentiment score of 1.27 beat First Merchants' score of 0.35 indicating that First Financial Bancorp. is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

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

First Financial Bancorp. has lower revenue, but higher 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 Merchants$1.05B2.60$226M$3.1213.95
First Financial Bancorp.$996.38M3.63$255.60M$2.8312.18

First Merchants pays an annual dividend of $1.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.4%. First Financial Bancorp. pays an annual dividend of $1.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. First Merchants pays out 47.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. First Financial Bancorp. pays out 36.7% 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 Merchants has raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years and First Financial Bancorp. has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years. First Merchants is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Summary

First Financial Bancorp. beats First Merchants on 10 of the 18 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does First Financial Bancorp. compare to Hancock Whitney?

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

Hancock Whitney pays an annual dividend of $2.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. First Financial Bancorp. pays an annual dividend of $1.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. Hancock Whitney pays out 39.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. First Financial Bancorp. pays out 36.7% 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. Hancock Whitney has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years and 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 lower payout ratio.

Hancock Whitney presently has a consensus price target of $83.78, suggesting a potential upside of 4.93%. First Financial Bancorp. has a consensus price target of $33.67, suggesting a potential downside of 2.33%. Given Hancock Whitney's stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Hancock Whitney is more favorable than First Financial Bancorp..

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Hancock Whitney
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
6 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.73
First Financial Bancorp.
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
4 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.50

In the previous week, Hancock Whitney had 15 more articles in the media than First Financial Bancorp.. MarketBeat recorded 18 mentions for Hancock Whitney and 3 mentions for First Financial Bancorp.. First Financial Bancorp.'s average media sentiment score of 1.27 beat Hancock Whitney's score of 0.29 indicating that First Financial Bancorp. is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

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

Hancock Whitney has a net margin of 21.81% compared to First Financial Bancorp.'s net margin of 20.77%. Hancock Whitney's return on equity of 11.36% beat First Financial Bancorp.'s return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Hancock Whitney21.81% 11.36% 1.41%
First Financial Bancorp. 20.77%11.13%1.49%

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
Hancock Whitney$2.02B3.17$486.07M$5.1015.66
First Financial Bancorp.$996.38M3.63$255.60M$2.8312.18

81.2% of Hancock Whitney shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.2% of First Financial Bancorp. shares are held by institutional investors. 0.9% of Hancock Whitney 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 hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Hancock Whitney has a beta of 0.95, meaning that its stock price is 5% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, First Financial Bancorp. has a beta of 0.92, meaning that its stock price is 8% less volatile than the broader market.

Summary

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

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New MarketBeat Followers Over Time

This chart shows the number of new MarketBeat users adding FFBC and its top 5 competitors to their watchlist. Each company is represented with a line over a 90 day period.
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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$3.62B$23.98B$14.10B$13.10B
Dividend Yield2.94%3.15%5.88%10.72%
P/E Ratio12.1928.3229.5625.32
Price / Sales3.639.64511.65100.00
Price / Cash10.8316.2539.9750.75
Price / Book1.211.393.706.29
Net Income$255.60M$2.57B$1.31B$347.70M
7 Day Performance2.41%1.24%0.75%0.89%
1 Month Performance0.70%3.89%1.79%0.85%
1 Year Performance38.27%27.45%12.27%20.25%

First Financial Bancorp. Competitors List

CompanyMarketRankShare PriceAnalysts' Price Target1Y Price PerformanceMarket CapRevenueP/E RatioEmployee CountIndicator(s)
FFBC
First Financial Bancorp.
2.9529 of 5 stars
$34.47
+0.4%
$33.67
-2.3%
+36.3%$3.62B$996.38M12.182,199
ABCB
Ameris Bancorp
3.5456 of 5 stars
$89.54
+1.5%
$91.67
+2.4%
+24.8%$6.02B$1.23B17.172,850
BUSE
First Busey
4.6044 of 5 stars
$31.58
+1.0%
$32.00
+1.3%
+31.8%$2.67B$1.04B13.041,948
CATY
Cathay General Bancorp
3.6724 of 5 stars
$64.74
+1.3%
$62.25
-3.9%
+33.4%$4.34B$1.38B12.631,268
FRME
First Merchants
4.316 of 5 stars
$44.02
+0.9%
$49.00
+11.3%
+9.9%$2.77B$691.54M14.092,086

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This page (NASDAQ:FFBC) was last updated on 8/14/2026 by MarketBeat.com Staff.
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