Fact based stock research
First Merchants (NasdaqGS:FRME)

US3208171096

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For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".

Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".

Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.

Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.

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First Merchants stock research in summary

ir.firstmerchants.com


ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 12 (worse than 88% compared with investment alternatives), First Merchants (Regional Banks, USA) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of First Merchants are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 47 (worse than 53% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 23), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 32), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more


RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 12, is a sell recommendation based on First Merchants's financial characteristics. As the company First Merchants's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 47), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 23), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 32), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. Such poor financial performance sometimes indicates that the company's business is all concentrated in some distant future. This is sometimes the case for high-tech or biotechnology companies. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and risky today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts are all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that should only amount to a small fraction of a safe portfolio. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more


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Country USA
Industry Regional Banks
Index Sound Pay USA, NASDAQ
Size class XX-Large

21-Mar-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.




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Research History: First Merchants

RESEARCH HISTORY 2021 2022 2023 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
SENTIMENT
SENTIMENT
360° VIEW
360° VIEW

Most recent update of the stock research: 21-Mar-2024. Financial reporting date used for calculating ranks: 30-Sep-2023. Stock research history is based on the Obermatt Method. The higher the rank, the better First Merchants is in the corresponding investment strategy.
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Combined financial peformance in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 12 (worse than 88% compared with investment alternatives), First Merchants (Regional Banks, USA) shares have lower financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of First Merchants are low in value (priced high) with a consolidated Value Rank of 47 (worse than 53% of alternatives), show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 23), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 32), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 12, is a sell recommendation based on First Merchants's financial characteristics. As the company First Merchants's key financial metrics all exhibit below-average performance, such as low value (Obermatt Value Rank of 47), low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 23), and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 32), it is a somewhat questionable stock investment, where the risk of paying too much for the shares is significant, unless the company has an exceptionally bright future. Such poor financial performance sometimes indicates that the company's business is all concentrated in some distant future. This is sometimes the case for high-tech or biotechnology companies. If they own properties that only provide cash flows in the future, the stock may look excessively expensive and risky today. In such cases, the Obermatt Method has limited value as it is based on facts we can observe today. If the facts are all in the future, stock investing becomes guesswork, and this should only be a driver in a limited number of investments that should only amount to a small fraction of a safe portfolio. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more

RESEARCH HISTORY 2021 2022 2023 2024
VALUE
VALUE
GROWTH
GROWTH
SAFETY
SAFETY
COMBINED
COMBINED

Last update of combined financial performance: 21-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on combined financial performance: The higher the rank of First Merchants the better the performance.


Value Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 47 (worse than 53% compared with alternatives), First Merchants shares are more expensive than the average comparable stock. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators above average for First Merchants. Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price to earnings, P/E ratio) is 58 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is lower than for 58% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning First Merchants's profit levels. The same is valid for the expected Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 59, and for Dividend Yield with a Dividend Yield Rank of 59. But, compared with other companies in the same industry, the stock price is higher than average as regards expected revenues; only 66% of all competitors have an even higher stock price as regards to sales revenues (a Price-to-Sales Rank of 34). Profits, the level of invested capital, and dividend policy suggest that this stock is attractively priced. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 47, is a hold recommendation based on First Merchants's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since it is on the expensive side for Price-to-Sales, it may mean that First Merchants has pricing power in its distribution market because it can charge higher prices than its competitors. If this is the case, all four value indicators are positive signals for purchasing First Merchants shares. 9. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision. ...read more


VALUE METRICS 2021 2022 2023 2024
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book)
DIVIDEND YIELD
DIVIDEND YIELD
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE

Last update of Value Rank: 21-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on value ratios: The higher the rank, the lower the value ratio of First Merchants; except for dividend yield where the rank is higher, the higher the yield.


Growth Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 23 (better than 23% compared with alternatives), First Merchants shows one of the most restricted growth dynamics in its industry. There is little momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for First Merchants. Only Capital Growth has a good rank of 57, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its invested capital more than 32% of its competitors. The other three indicators are pointing South: Sales Growth has a rank of 22 which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow less than 78% of its competitors. Profit Growth with a rank of 32 and Stock Returns with a rank of 41 are also low (below 59% of alternative investments). ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 23, is a sell recommendation for growth and momentum investors. The good news from the invested capital side is surprising. A company with disappointing revenues, profits, and disappointed shareholders typically doesn't invest above average. Overall, the growth momentum for First Merchants is thus negative. As it is intriguing to see that company executives are optimistic about their investment policy, it is worthwhile looking into the details of the capital investment projects. They may indicate future growth and profits and thus if accompanied by a good value, a sign of good timing to invest in the stock. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is limited here. ...read more

GROWTH METRICS 2021 2022 2023 2024
REVENUE GROWTH
REVENUE GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH
PROFIT GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH
CAPITAL GROWTH
STOCK RETURNS
STOCK RETURNS
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH
CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH

Last update of Growth Rank: 21-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on growth metrics: The higher the rank, the higher the growth and returns of First Merchants.


Safety Metrics in Detail

ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 32 (better than 32% compared with alternatives), the company First Merchants has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of First Merchants is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators where two out of three are above average for First Merchants.Leverage is at 55, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 55% of its competitors.Refinancing is at a rank of 60, meaning that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 60% of its competitors. Liquidity is at 19, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 81% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the riskier side regarding debt service. ...read more

RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 32 (worse than 68% compared with alternatives), First Merchants has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. Low leverage and low refinancing risk mean a safer financing situation. However, low liquidity means that current company cash flows are low in relation to the level of debt. This is a sign of caution in case it is expected for profits to remain low. Investors should compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before deciding. They may also want to investigate why cash flows are expected to be low, making debt service for First Merchants more challenging. ...read more

SAFETY METRICS 2021 2022 2023 2024
LEVERAGE
LEVERAGE
REFINANCING
REFINANCING
LIQUIDITY
LIQUIDITY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY

Last update of Safety Rank: 21-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on safety metrics: The higher the rank, the lower the leverage of First Merchants and the more cash is available to service its debt.


Sentiment Metrics in Detail

SENTIMENT 2021 2022 2023 2024
ANALYST OPINIONS
ANALYST OPINIONS
OPINIONS CHANGE
OPINIONS CHANGE
PRO HOLDINGS
PRO HOLDINGS
MARKET PULSE
MARKET PULSE
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT
CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT

Last update of Sentiment Rank: 21-Mar-2024. Stock analysis on sentiment metrics: The higher the rank, the more positive the sentiment for First Merchants.
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Stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for First Merchants from March 21, 2024.

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