First Financial Bancorp Stock Beneish M Score

FFBC Stock  USD 30.34  0.48  1.61%   
This module uses fundamental data of First Financial to approximate the value of its Beneish M Score. First Financial M Score tells investors if the company management is likely to be manipulating earnings. The score is calculated using eight financial indicators that are adjusted by a specific multiplier. Please note, the M Score is a probabilistic model and cannot detect companies that manipulate their earnings with 100% accuracy. Check out First Financial Piotroski F Score and First Financial Altman Z Score analysis.
For information on how to trade First Stock refer to our How to Trade First Stock guide.
  
At present, First Financial's Net Debt is projected to increase significantly based on the last few years of reporting. The current year's Short Term Debt is expected to grow to about 984.7 M, whereas Long Term Debt is forecasted to decline to about 275.5 M. At present, First Financial's PTB Ratio is projected to slightly decrease based on the last few years of reporting. The current year's Days Sales Outstanding is expected to grow to 708.93, whereas Dividend Yield is forecasted to decline to 0.03.
At this time, it appears that First Financial Bancorp is an unlikely manipulator. The earnings manipulation may begin if First Financial's top management creates an artificial sense of financial success, forcing the stock price to be traded at a high price-earnings multiple than it should be. In general, excessive earnings management by First Financial executives may lead to removing some of the operating profits from subsequent periods to inflate earnings in the following periods. This way, the manipulation of First Financial's earnings can lead to misrepresentations of actual financial condition, taking the otherwise loyal stakeholders on to the path of questionable ethical practices and plain fraud.
-2.78
Beneish M Score - Unlikely Manipulator
Elasticity of Receivables

0.7

Focus
Asset Quality

1.0

Focus
Expense Coverage

1.0

Focus
Gross Margin Strengs

0.89

Focus
Accruals Factor

1.0

Focus
Depreciation Resistance

1.09

Focus
Net Sales Growth

1.05

Focus
Financial Leverage Condition

1.0

Focus

First Financial Beneish M-Score Indicator Trends

The cure to earnings manipulation is the transparency of financial reporting. It will typically remove the temptation of the top executives to inflate earnings (i.e., to promote the idea of 'winning at any cost'). Because a healthy internal audit department can enhance transparency, the board should promote the auditors' access to all the record-keeping systems across the enterprise. For example, if First Financial's auditors report directly to the board (not management), the managers will be reluctant to manipulate simply due to the fear of punishment. On the other hand, the auditors will be free to investigate the ledgers properly because they know that the board has their back.
Current ValueLast YearChange From Last Year 10 Year Trend
Net Receivables341.3 M462.5 M
Way Down
Slightly volatile
Total Revenue836.5 M796.7 M
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Total Assets18.4 B17.5 B
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Total Current Assets181.9 M191.5 M
Notably Down
Pretty Stable
Non Current Assets Total21.5 B20.5 B
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Property Plant Equipment124.5 M105.5 M
Fairly Up
Very volatile
Depreciation And Amortization39.7 M37.8 M
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Selling General Administrative354 M337.2 M
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Total Current Liabilities10.2 B9.7 B
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Non Current Liabilities Total5.8 B5.5 B
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Short Term Debt984.7 M937.8 M
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Long Term Debt275.5 M342.5 M
Significantly Down
Slightly volatile
Operating Income429.7 M409.3 M
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Total Cash From Operating Activities502.3 M478.4 M
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Long Term Investments3.1 B3.2 B
Notably Down
Very volatile
Gross Profit Margin1.121.26
Fairly Down
Slightly volatile

First Financial Bancorp Beneish M-Score Driver Matrix

One of the toughest challenges investors face today is learning how to quickly synthesize historical financial statements and information provided by the company, SEC reporting, and various external parties in order to detect the potential manipulation of earnings. Understanding the correlation between First Financial's different financial indicators related to revenue, expenses, operating profit, and net earnings helps investors identify and prioritize their investing strategies towards First Financial in a much-optimized way. Analyzing correlations between earnings drivers directly associated with dollar figures is the most effective way to find First Financial's degree of accounting gimmicks and manipulations.

About First Financial Beneish M Score

M-Score is one of many grading techniques for value stocks. It was developed by Professor M. Daniel Beneish of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and published in 1999 under the paper titled The Detection of Earnings Manipulation. The Beneish score is a multi-factor model that utilizes financial identifiers to compile eight variables used to classify whether a company has manipulated its reported earnings. The variables are built from the officially filed financial statements to create a final score call 'M Score.' The score helps to identify companies that are likely to manipulate their profits if they show deteriorating gross margins, operating expenses, and leverage against growing revenue.

Depreciation And Amortization

39.69 Million

At present, First Financial's Depreciation And Amortization is projected to increase significantly based on the last few years of reporting.

First Financial Earnings Manipulation Drivers

Although earnings manipulation is typically not the result of intentional misconduct by the c-level executives, it is still a widespread practice by the senior management of public companies such as First Financial. It is usually done by a series of misrepresentations of various accounting rules and operating activities across multiple financial cycles. The best way to spot the manipulation is to examine the historical financial statement to find inconsistencies in earning reports to find trends in assets or liabilities that are not sustainable in the future.
201920202021202220232024 (projected)
Net Receivables836.2M1.1B1.1B1.5B462.5M341.3M
Total Revenue615.6M645.6M623.6M708.8M796.7M836.5M
Total Assets14.5B16.0B16.3B17.0B17.5B18.4B
Total Current Assets3.9B4.8B5.7B5.5B191.5M181.9M
Net Debt1.3B524.8M220.0M1.0B275.9M284.0M
Short Term Debt1.2B193.5M245M1.3B937.8M984.7M
Long Term Debt413.2M776.2M409.8M346.7M342.5M275.5M
Operating Income242.9M184.4M240.9M335.2M409.3M429.7M
Investments(181.4M)(1.2B)(389.3M)(846.9M)(659.4M)(692.4M)

First Financial ESG Sustainability

Some studies have found that companies with high sustainability scores are getting higher valuations than competitors with lower social-engagement activities. While most ESG disclosures are voluntary and do not directly affect the long term financial condition, First Financial's sustainability indicators can be used to identify proper investment strategies using environmental, social, and governance scores that are crucial to First Financial's managers, analysts, and investors.
Environmental
Governance
Social

About First Financial Fundamental Analysis

The Macroaxis Fundamental Analysis modules help investors analyze First Financial Bancorp's financials across various querterly and yearly statements, indicators and fundamental ratios. We help investors to determine the real value of First Financial using virtually all public information available. We use both quantitative as well as qualitative analysis to arrive at the intrinsic value of First Financial Bancorp based on its fundamental data. In general, a quantitative approach, as applied to this company, focuses on analyzing financial statements comparatively, whereas a qaualitative method uses data that is important to a company's growth but cannot be measured and presented in a numerical way.
Please read more on our fundamental analysis page.

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When determining whether First Financial Bancorp offers a strong return on investment in its stock, a comprehensive analysis is essential. The process typically begins with a thorough review of First Financial's financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, to assess its financial health. Key financial ratios are used to gauge profitability, efficiency, and growth potential of First Financial Bancorp Stock. Outlined below are crucial reports that will aid in making a well-informed decision on First Financial Bancorp Stock:
Check out First Financial Piotroski F Score and First Financial Altman Z Score analysis.
For information on how to trade First Stock refer to our How to Trade First Stock guide.
You can also try the Premium Stories module to follow Macroaxis premium stories from verified contributors across different equity types, categories and coverage scope.
Is Regional Banks space expected to grow? Or is there an opportunity to expand the business' product line in the future? Factors like these will boost the valuation of First Financial. If investors know First will grow in the future, the company's valuation will be higher. The financial industry is built on trying to define current growth potential and future valuation accurately. All the valuation information about First Financial listed above have to be considered, but the key to understanding future value is determining which factors weigh more heavily than others.
Quarterly Earnings Growth
(0.17)
Dividend Share
0.93
Earnings Share
2.32
Revenue Per Share
8.096
Quarterly Revenue Growth
(0.05)
The market value of First Financial Bancorp is measured differently than its book value, which is the value of First that is recorded on the company's balance sheet. Investors also form their own opinion of First Financial's value that differs from its market value or its book value, called intrinsic value, which is First Financial's true underlying value. Investors use various methods to calculate intrinsic value and buy a stock when its market value falls below its intrinsic value. Because First Financial's market value can be influenced by many factors that don't directly affect First Financial's underlying business (such as a pandemic or basic market pessimism), market value can vary widely from intrinsic value.
Please note, there is a significant difference between First Financial's value and its price as these two are different measures arrived at by different means. Investors typically determine if First Financial is a good investment by looking at such factors as earnings, sales, fundamental and technical indicators, competition as well as analyst projections. However, First Financial's price is the amount at which it trades on the open market and represents the number that a seller and buyer find agreeable to each party.