First Community (NASDAQ:FCCO) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results

First Community (NASDAQ:FCCO) issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The bank reported $0.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.80 by $0.06, Zacks reports. First Community had a net margin of 18.32% and a return on equity of 13.23%.

First Community Price Performance

NASDAQ FCCO traded up $0.44 on Wednesday, hitting $33.05. 8,006 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 72,216. First Community has a 1-year low of $26.42 and a 1-year high of $35.74. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $33.32 and a two-hundred day moving average of $32.19. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The company has a market cap of $310.69 million, a P/E ratio of 12.37 and a beta of 0.33.

Insider Transactions at First Community

In other news, Director Jane S. Sosebee bought 1,250 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 25th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $33.95 per share, with a total value of $42,437.50. Following the purchase, the director owned 10,855 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $368,527.25. This represents a 13.01% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Jonathan W. Been sold 14,800 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.05, for a total value of $503,940.00. Following the sale, the director owned 120,655 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,108,302.75. The trade was a 10.93% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 24,800 shares of company stock worth $849,140. Corporate insiders own 8.84% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

FCCO has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wall Street Zen cut shares of First Community from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, October 11th. Hovde Group raised their price target on First Community from $36.00 to $37.50 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of First Community in a report on Thursday, October 15th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $37.50.

About First Community

First Community Corporation is a bank holding company headquartered in Lexington, South Carolina. Through its principal subsidiary, First Community Bank, the company provides banking and financial services to individuals, families, businesses and institutions.

First Community Bank offers deposit accounts, residential and commercial real estate lending, consumer loans, business financing and other credit products. Its services also include online and mobile banking, treasury management, mortgage banking, wealth management and investment services.

Founded in 1995, First Community serves communities across South Carolina through a network of banking offices and digital channels.