Insights Into First Bancorp (FBP) Q4: Wall Street Projections for Key Metrics

Core Viewpoint - First Bancorp (FBP) is expected to report a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $0.41, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 16.3%, while revenues are anticipated to increase by 2.3% to $235.57 million [1] Earnings Projections - The consensus EPS estimate has remained unchanged over the last 30 days, indicating that analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates during this period [2] - Changes in earnings projections are crucial for predicting investor reactions, with empirical studies showing a strong correlation between earnings estimate trends and short-term stock price movements [3] Key Financial Metrics - Analysts project the 'Efficiency ratio' to reach 52.4%, an improvement from the previous year's figure of 55% [4] - The consensus estimate for 'Net Interest Margin' is 4.4%, up from 4.2% reported in the same quarter last year [5] - 'Total Interest-Earning Assets - Average Balance' is expected to be $18.92 billion, slightly higher than the $18.84 billion reported in the same quarter of the previous year [5] - Analysts predict 'Total Non Interest Income' will be $32.87 million, down from $33.61 million reported in the same quarter last year [6] Stock Performance - First Bancorp shares have increased by 6% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's decline of 2.1%, indicating a potential outperformance in the near term [6]