Professional
Added to YB: 2025-11-17
Pitch date: 2025-11-04
FFBC [bullish]
First Financial Bancorp.
+2.28%
current return
Author Info
Gator Capital Management manages financials sector long/short portfolios for private partnerships and mutual funds. Follow on Twitter/X.
Company Info
First Financial Bancorp. operates as the bank holding company for First Financial Bank that provides commercial banking and related services to individuals and businesses in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois.
Market Cap
$2.4B
Pitch Price
$23.65
Price Target
N/A
Dividend
4.13%
EV/EBITDA
N/A
P/E
8.96
EV/Sales
N/A
Sector
Banks
Category
value
Gator Capital Management Investment Thesis: First Financial Bancorp.
FFBC (new position): $18B asset bank trading at 2016 prices despite 2x EPS growth (P/E fell 18x to 8x). 1.40% ROA, 20%+ ROTCE vs peers at discount. Fee businesses, solid credit (10-33bps charge-offs), smart Cleveland/Chicago expansion. BankFinancial reinvestment could add 20¢/share 2026 EPS. Risks: credit cycle, M&A integration.
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