First Community (FCCO) Could Be a Great Choice

Company Overview - First Community (FCCO) is headquartered in Lexington and has experienced a price change of 1.07% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.15 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.76%, which is higher than the Banks - Southeast industry's yield of 2.52% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.57% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of $0.60 represents a 7.1% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, First Community has increased its dividend three times year-over-year, with an average annual increase of 5.36% [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 39%, indicating that it paid out 39% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for First Community's earnings per share for 2024 is $1.67, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 7.74% [5] Investment Appeal - First Community is viewed as an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7]