Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of confirming the sustainability of a trend in short-term investing, highlighting that successful entry timing is crucial for profitability [1][2]. Group 1: Trend Analysis - The trend can reverse before exiting a trade, potentially leading to short-term capital losses for investors [2]. - A solid price increase over a 12-week period indicates investor confidence, with First Community (FCCO) showing a 7.7% gain during this timeframe [4]. - A more recent price increase of 14.2% over the past four weeks suggests that the upward trend for FCCO is still intact [5]. Group 2: Stock Performance Metrics - FCCO is currently trading at 91.8% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating a potential breakout [6]. - The stock holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises [6][7]. - The Average Broker Recommendation for FCCO is also 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting strong optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term price performance [7]. Group 3: Investment Strategy - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is a useful tool for identifying stocks with sufficient fundamental strength to maintain their upward trends [3][8]. - The article suggests that investors should consider other stocks that pass through this screening process, in addition to FCCO, to find potential winning stock picks [8].

Core Viewpoint - Three bank holding companies are highlighted as strong investment opportunities with a Zacks Rank 1 and favorable value characteristics for investors to consider on January 27 Group 1: Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (MCB) - MCB has seen a 4% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - The company has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 9.00, which is lower than the industry average of 11.50 [1] - MCB possesses a Value Score of B [1] Group 2: HBT Financial, Inc. (HBT) - HBT has experienced an 8.8% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - The company has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 9.95, compared to the industry average of 11.50 [2] - HBT also holds a Value Score of B [2] Group 3: First Community Corporation (FCCO) - FCCO has seen a 3.4% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [3] - The company has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 12.09, significantly lower than the S&P average of 22.06 [3] - FCCO possesses a Value Score of B [3]

Core Viewpoint - First Community (FCCO) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) due to an upward trend in earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Institutional investors often rely on earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, leading to significant price movements based on changes in these estimates [4]. Company Performance Indicators - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, First Community is projected to earn $2.15 per share, reflecting an 18.8% increase from the previous year [8]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for First Community has risen by 3.6%, indicating a positive trend in earnings expectations [8]. Zacks Rank System Overview - The Zacks Rank system categorizes stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have averaged a +25% annual return since 1988 [7]. - The upgrade of First Community to a Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Company Overview - First Community (FCCO) is headquartered in Lexington and operates in the finance sector, with a year-to-date price change of 2.38% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.15 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.44%, which is higher than the Banks - Southeast industry's yield of 2.28% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.5% [3] Dividend Performance - The annualized dividend of $0.60 represents a 3.4% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, First Community has increased its dividend four times, achieving an average annual increase of 5.34% [4] - The current payout ratio is 36%, indicating that the company pays out 36% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for First Community's earnings in 2025 is projected at $2.08 per share, reflecting an expected increase of 14.92% from the previous year [5] Investment Considerations - First Community is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile and current Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7] - The company is positioned well for income investors, especially in the context of rising interest rates, where high-yielding stocks may face challenges [7]

Financial Performance - Net income for Q4 2024 was $4.232 million, up 28.3% from $3.297 million in Q4 2023, and diluted EPS increased to $0.55 from $0.43[3] - Net income for the three months ended December 2024 was $4,232 thousand, a 28.4% increase from $3,297 thousand in December 2023[28] - Net income (GAAP) for December 2024 was $4,232 million, compared to $3,861 million in December 2023, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 9.6%[31] Deposits and Loans - Total deposits grew by $164.9 million, or 10.9%, year-over-year, reaching $1.676 billion as of December 31, 2024[11] - Total deposits increased to $1,675,901 thousand as of December 31, 2024, compared to $1,644,064 thousand as of September 30, 2024[26] - Average deposits rose to $1,661,782 thousand in December 2024, up from $1,498,773 thousand in December 2023, reflecting an increase of 10.9%[27] - Total loan growth for 2024 was $86.5 million, representing a 7.6% annual growth rate, with Q4 2024 loan growth at $23.9 million, or 2.0%[10] - Average loans increased to $1,211,880 thousand in December 2024, up from $1,121,383 thousand in December 2023, indicating an increase of 8.1%[27] Income and Revenue - Investment advisory revenue for Q4 2024 was $1.720 million, with assets under management increasing to $926.0 million from $755.4 million year-over-year[5] - Total non-interest income for Q4 2024 was $3.608 million, up from $3.570 million in Q3 2024 and $2.931 million in Q4 2023, with total non-interest income for 2024 reaching $14.004 million compared to $10.421 million in 2023[18] - Non-interest income for the twelve months ended December 2024 was $14,004 thousand, compared to $10,421 thousand in 2023, marking a significant increase of 34.5%[28] Expenses and Efficiency - Total non-interest expense decreased to $11.826 million in Q4 2024 from $11.991 million in Q3 2024, with a planned decrease in marketing expenses of $267 thousand[20] - The efficiency ratio improved to 66.67% in December 2024, compared to 69.92% in December 2023, indicating better cost management[28] Assets and Capital - Total assets as of December 31, 2024, were $1,958,021 thousand, an increase from $1,943,548 thousand as of September 30, 2024[26] - Shareholders' equity increased to $143,726 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $124,866 million in 2023, reflecting a growth of 15.1%[29] - The bank's tangible book value per share increased to $16.93 as of December 31, 2024, compared to $15.23 a year prior[7] Capital Ratios - Regulatory capital ratios exceeded minimum requirements, with the Tier I Risk Based ratio at 12.87% as of December 31, 2024, up from 12.53% a year earlier[6] - The Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 12.87% as of December 31, 2024, compared to 12.93% as of September 30, 2024[26] Risk Management - The bank's non-performing assets ratio remained low at 0.04% at year-end 2024, with past due loans at 0.05%[8] - Net charge-offs to average loans were reported at (0.01%) for the three months ended December 2024, indicating effective credit risk management[27] - The company anticipates potential risks including competitive pressures, changes in interest rates, and economic conditions that may impact future performance[23] Shareholder Returns - The company declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per common share, marking the 92nd consecutive quarter of dividends[6] - The company has a share repurchase plan approved for up to $7.1 million, representing approximately 4.9% of total shareholders' equity as of December 31, 2024[6] Interest Income and Margin - Net interest income for 2024 increased by 6.4% to $52.0 million compared to $48.9 million in 2023, with a net interest margin of 3.00% for Q4 2024[16] - Net interest income rose to $13,857 thousand for the three months ended December 2024, up from $12,295 thousand in December 2023, reflecting a growth of 12.7%[28] - The yield on loans improved to 5.61% for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, compared to 4.99% in the previous year, indicating a rise of 62 basis points[30] - The net interest margin (tax equivalent) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, was 2.92%, slightly down from 3.01% in 2023[30] Other Financial Metrics - Tangible common equity per common share (non-GAAP) increased to $16.93 in December 2024 from $15.23 in December 2023, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 11.2%[31] - Book value per common share (GAAP) rose to $18.90 in December 2024, up from $17.23 in December 2023, indicating a growth of 9.7%[31] - Return on average tangible common equity (non-GAAP) improved to 13.09% in December 2024 compared to 11.44% in December 2023, representing an increase of 1.65 percentage points[31]

Core Insights - First Community (FCCO) reported revenue of $17.47 million for the quarter ended December 2024, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 14.7% and a surprise of +2.16% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $17.1 million [1] - Earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter was $0.55, compared to $0.43 in the same quarter last year, resulting in an EPS surprise of +10.00% against the consensus estimate of $0.50 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - The net interest margin (taxable equivalent) was reported at 3%, aligning with the average estimate from two analysts [4] - The efficiency ratio stood at 66.7%, better than the average estimate of 69.5% based on two analysts [4] - Total non-interest income reached $3.61 million, exceeding the average estimate of $3.52 million from two analysts [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, shares of First Community have returned -0.9%, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite has increased by +2.1% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

分组1 - First Community (FCCO) reported quarterly earnings of $0.55 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.50 per share, and up from $0.43 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 10% [1] - The company posted revenues of $17.47 million for the quarter ended December 2024, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.16%, compared to year-ago revenues of $15.23 million [2] - Over the last four quarters, First Community has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times and topped consensus revenue estimates four times [2] 分组2 - The current consensus EPS estimate for the coming quarter is $0.43 on revenues of $17.09 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $2.08 on revenues of $72.64 million [7] - The Zacks Industry Rank for Banks - Southeast is currently in the top 24% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook for the industry [8] - First Community shares have added about 1% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 2.9% [3]

Group 1 - First Community Corporation has announced its earnings release schedule for 2025, with the fourth quarter of 2024 set for January 22, 2025, and subsequent quarters on April 23, July 23, and October 22 of 2025 [1] - The earnings releases will be issued at approximately 9:00 am Eastern Time on each scheduled date [1] Group 2 - First Community Corporation operates as the holding company for First Community Bank, which is a full-service commercial bank based in the Midlands of South Carolina [2] - The bank offers a range of services including deposit and loan products, residential mortgage lending, and financial planning/investment advisory services for both businesses and consumers [2] - First Community serves customers in various regions including the Midlands, Aiken, Upstate, and Piedmont Regions of South Carolina, as well as Augusta, Georgia [2]

Investors might want to bet on First Community (FCCO) , as earnings estimates for this company have been showing solid improvement lately. The stock has already gained solid short-term price momentum, and this trend might continue with its still improving earnings outlook. The rising trend in estimate revisions, which is a result of growing analyst optimism on the earnings prospects of this holding company for First Community Bank, should get reflected in its stock price. After all, empirical research shows ...

First Community (FCCO) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2024. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price. The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on Oc ...