Raymond James Keeps Hold Rating on First Financial Bancorp, Analyst Sees 19% Upside

Raymond James maintains a Hold rating on First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) with a $30.00 price target, a 19.00% upside from current levels. Analyst Daniel Tamayo, a 5-star analyst with a 60.23% success rate, believes the company's recent earnings report of $291.5 million in revenue and $51.29 million in net profit is consistent with last year's figures. However, corporate insider activity shows a negative sentiment with an increase in insiders selling their shares.

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC) reported its Q2 2025 earnings on July 25, 2025, with revenue of $219.95 million and earnings per share (EPS) of $0.68, slightly missing analysts' expectations [1]. The full year 2025 revenue is projected at $871.55 million, and EPS is expected to be $2.52 per share. Analysts at Raymond James maintain a Hold rating on FFBC with a $30.00 price target, suggesting a 19.00% upside from current levels [2]. Analyst Daniel Tamayo, a 5-star analyst with a 60.23% success rate, believes the company's recent earnings report is consistent with last year's figures.

Corporate insider activity, however, shows a negative sentiment. There has been an increase in insiders selling their shares, indicating potential concerns about the company's future prospects. This is a notable contrast to the positive analyst ratings and price targets. The stock has seen a mixed reaction, with analysts providing a range of recommendations from Hold to Overweight, with an average target price of $29.00 [2].

Hedge funds have also shown interest in FFBC, with several increasing their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc., Northern Trust Corp, First Trust Advisors LP, and others have boosted their holdings in the last quarter [2]. Despite these positive signs, the insider selling and the slight miss in Q2 earnings warrant caution among investors.

FFBC operates as the bank holding company for First Financial Bank, providing commercial banking and related services to individuals and businesses in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. The company's focus on these regions and its diversified services position it well for future growth. However, the recent earnings and insider activity suggest a need for close monitoring.

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/first-financial-bancorp-ffbc-q2-132550067.html
[2] https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/royal-bank-of-canada-increases-first-financial-bancorp-nasdaqffbc-price-target-to-2800-2025-07-28/