First Merchants Stock Analysis

FRME Stock  USD 37.86  0.33  0.86%   
Below is the normalized historical share price chart for First Merchants extending back to June 20, 1989. This chart has been adjusted for all splits and dividends and is plotted against all major global economic recessions. As of today, the current price of First Merchants stands at 37.86, as last reported on the 28th of January, with the highest price reaching 38.37 and the lowest price hitting 37.73 during the day.
IPO Date
25th of February 1992
200 Day MA
38.0307
50 Day MA
37.644
Beta
0.937
 
Oil Shock
 
Dot-com Bubble
 
Housing Crash
 
Credit Downgrade
 
Yuan Drop
 
Covid
 
Interest Hikes
First Merchants has over 1.16 Billion in debt which may indicate that it relies heavily on debt financing. At present, First Merchants' Net Debt is projected to increase significantly based on the last few years of reporting. The current year's Long Term Debt is expected to grow to about 1.1 B, whereas Short and Long Term Debt is forecasted to decline to about 244.9 M. First Merchants' financial risk is the risk to First Merchants stockholders that is caused by an increase in debt.

Asset vs Debt

Equity vs Debt

First Merchants' liquidity is one of the most fundamental aspects of both its future profitability and its ability to meet different types of ongoing financial obligations. First Merchants' cash, liquid assets, total liabilities, and shareholder equity can be utilized to evaluate how much leverage the Company is using to sustain its current operations. For traders, higher-leverage indicators usually imply a higher risk to shareholders. In addition, it helps First Stock's retail investors understand whether an upcoming fall or rise in the market will negatively affect First Merchants' stakeholders.
For most companies, including First Merchants, marketable securities, inventories, and receivables are the most common assets that could be converted to cash. However, for First Merchants, the most critical issue when managing liquidity is ensuring that current assets are properly aligned with current liabilities. If they are not, First Merchants' management will need to obtain alternative financing to ensure there are always enough cash equivalents on the balance sheet to meet obligations.
Price Book
0.9207
Price Sales
3.4414
Shares Float
56.2 M
Dividend Share
1.43
Wall Street Target Price
45.6
At present, First Merchants' Total Stockholder Equity is projected to increase significantly based on the last few years of reporting. The current year's Liabilities And Stockholders Equity is expected to grow to about 22.1 B, whereas Common Stock Total Equity is forecasted to decline to about 4.3 M. . At present, First Merchants' Price Book Value Ratio is projected to increase slightly based on the last few years of reporting. The current year's Price To Operating Cash Flows Ratio is expected to grow to 7.98, whereas Price Earnings To Growth Ratio is projected to grow to (1.15).
First Merchants is undervalued with Real Value of 41.63 and Target Price of 45.6. The main objective of First Merchants stock analysis is to determine its intrinsic value, which is an estimate of what First Merchants is worth, separate from its market price. There are two main types of First Merchants' stock analysis: fundamental analysis and technical analysis.
The First Merchants stock is traded in the USA on NASDAQ Exchange, with the market opening at 09:30:00 and closing at 16:00:00 every Mon,Tue,Wed,Thu,Fri except for officially observed holidays in the USA. Here, you can get updates on important government artifacts, including earning estimates, SEC corporate filings, announcements, and First Merchants' ongoing operational relationships across important fundamental and technical indicators.
Check out Investing Opportunities to better understand how to build diversified portfolios, which includes a position in First Merchants. Also, note that the market value of any company could be closely tied with the direction of predictive economic indicators such as signals in board of governors.
For information on how to trade First Stock refer to our How to Trade First Stock guide.

First Stock Analysis Notes

About 79.0% of the company shares are owned by institutional investors. The company has price-to-book (P/B) ratio of 0.92. Some equities with similar Price to Book (P/B) outperform the market in the long run. First Merchants has Price/Earnings To Growth (PEG) ratio of 2.68. The entity last dividend was issued on the 5th of December 2025. The firm had 105:100 split on the 27th of August 2003. First Merchants Corporation operates as the financial holding company for First Merchants Bank that provides community banking services. First Merchants Corporation was founded in 1893 and is headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. First Merchants operates under BanksRegional classification in the United States and is traded on NASDAQ Exchange. It employs 1821 people. To learn more about First Merchants call Michael Rechin at 765 747 1500 or check out https://www.firstmerchants.com.

First Merchants Investment Alerts

Many investors view ongoing market volatility as an opportunity to purchase more stocks at a favorable price or short it to generate a bearish trend profit opportunity. If you are one of those investors, make sure you clearly understand the position you are entering. First Merchants' investment alerts are automatically generated signals that are significant enough to either complement your investing judgment regarding First Merchants or challenge it. These alerts can help you understand what you are buying and avoid costly mistakes.
Over 79.0% of the company shares are owned by institutional investors
On 19th of December 2025 First Merchants paid $ 0.36 per share dividend to its current shareholders
Latest headline from finance.yahoo.com: First Merchants Corp Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights Record Growth and Strategic Expansion

First Largest EPS Surprises

Earnings surprises can significantly impact First Merchants' stock price both in the short term and over time. Negative earnings surprises usually result in a price decline. However, it has been seen that positive earnings surprises lead to an immediate rise in a stock's price and a gradual increase over time. This is why we often hear news about some companies beating earning projections. Financial analysts spend a large amount of time predicting earnings per share (EPS) along with other important future indicators. Many analysts use forecasting models, management guidance, and additional fundamental information to derive an EPS estimate.
Reported
Fiscal Date
Estimated EPS
Reported EPS
Surprise
2011-07-28
2011-06-300.160.180.0212 
2010-10-28
2010-09-30-0.010.020.03300 
1996-04-18
1996-03-310.290.26-0.0310 
View All Earnings Estimates

First Merchants Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Scores

First Merchants' ESG score is a quantitative measure that evaluates First Merchants' performance and commitment regarding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. These scores are becoming increasingly crucial in investment decision-making processes, providing insights into non-financial aspects of First Merchants' operations that may have significant financial implications and affect First Merchants' stock price as well as guide investors towards more socially responsible investments.

First Stock Institutional Investors

Institutional investors include commercial and private banks, credit unions, insurance companies, pension funds, hedge funds, endowments, and mutual funds. Operating companies that invest excess capital in these types of assets may also be included in the term and may influence corporate governance by exercising voting rights in their investments.
Shares
First Trust Advisors L.p.2025-06-30
766.3 K
Systematic Financial Management Lp2025-06-30
760.6 K
Principal Financial Group Inc2025-06-30
758.1 K
William Blair Investment Management, Llc2025-06-30
724.7 K
Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc2025-06-30
693.4 K
Pl Capital Advisors, Llc2025-06-30
686.3 K
Jpmorgan Chase & Co2025-06-30
678.2 K
Bank Of New York Mellon Corp2025-06-30
677.3 K
Northern Trust Corp2025-06-30
569.9 K
Vanguard Group Inc2025-06-30
6.2 M
Blackrock Inc2025-06-30
4.6 M
Note, although First Merchants' institutional investors appear to be way more sophisticated than retail investors, it remains unclear if professional active investment managers can reliably enhance risk-adjusted returns by an amount that exceeds fees and expenses.

First Market Capitalization

The company currently falls under 'Mid-Cap' category with a current market capitalization of 2.21 B.

First Profitablity

The company has Profit Margin (PM) of 0.35 %, which maeans that even a very small decline in it revenue will erase profits resulting in a net loss. This is way below average. Similarly, it shows Operating Margin (OM) of 0.43 %, which suggests for every 100 dollars of sales, it generated a net operating income of $0.43.
Last ReportedProjected for Next Year
Return On Tangible Assets 0.01  0.01 
Return On Capital Employed 0.08  0.10 
Return On Assets 0.01  0.01 
Return On Equity 0.09  0.10 

Management Efficiency

First Merchants has return on total asset (ROA) of 0.0121 % which means that it generated a profit of $0.0121 on every $100 spent on assets. This is way below average. Similarly, it shows a return on stockholder's equity (ROE) of 0.0947 %, meaning that it created $0.0947 on every $100 dollars invested by stockholders. First Merchants' management efficiency ratios could be used to measure how well First Merchants manages its routine affairs as well as how well it operates its assets and liabilities. At present, First Merchants' Return On Equity is projected to increase slightly based on the last few years of reporting. At present, First Merchants' Non Current Assets Total are projected to increase significantly based on the last few years of reporting. The current year's Non Currrent Assets Other is expected to grow to about 698.1 M, whereas Intangible Assets are forecasted to decline to about 17.9 M.
Last ReportedProjected for Next Year
Book Value Per Share 35.57  37.35 
Tangible Book Value Per Share 24.28  25.49 
Enterprise Value Over EBITDA 10.78  10.54 
Price Book Value Ratio 1.16  1.44 
Enterprise Value Multiple 10.78  10.54 
Price Fair Value 1.16  1.44 
Enterprise Value1.9 B1.7 B
First Merchants has shown resilience through effective management strategies. Our analysis examines how these strategies influence financial outcomes and investor returns which helps in understanding the stock's long-term potential.
Dividend Yield
0.0376
Operating Margin
0.427
Profit Margin
0.3522
Forward Dividend Yield
0.0377
Beta
0.937

Technical Drivers

As of the 28th of January, First Merchants shows the Mean Deviation of 1.06, downside deviation of 1.35, and Coefficient Of Variation of 1670.06. First Merchants technical analysis allows you to utilize historical prices and volume patterns in order to determine a pattern that computes the direction of the firm's future prices. Please confirm First Merchants variance, maximum drawdown, as well as the relationship between the Maximum Drawdown and semi variance to decide if First Merchants is priced favorably, providing market reflects its regular price of 37.86 per share. Given that First Merchants has jensen alpha of 0.0145, we urge you to verify First Merchants's prevailing market performance to make sure the company can sustain itself at a future point.

First Merchants Price Movement Analysis

The output start index for this execution was twenty-three with a total number of output elements of thirty-eight. The Moving Average is predictive technique used to analyze First Merchants price data points by creating a series of averages of different subsets of First Merchants entire price series.

First Merchants Insider Trading Activities

Some recent studies suggest that insider trading raises the cost of capital for securities issuers and decreases overall economic growth. Trading by specific First Merchants insiders, such as employees or executives, is commonly permitted as long as it does not rely on First Merchants' material information that is not in the public domain. Local jurisdictions usually require such trading to be reported in order to monitor insider transactions. In many U.S. states, trading conducted by corporate officers, key employees, directors, or significant shareholders must be reported to the regulator or publicly disclosed, usually within a few business days of the trade. In these cases First Merchants insiders are required to file a Form 4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) when buying or selling shares of their own companies.

First Merchants Outstanding Bonds

First Merchants issues bonds to finance its operations. Corporate bonds make up one of the largest components of the U.S. bond market, which is considered the world's largest securities market. First Merchants uses the proceeds from bond sales for a wide variety of purposes, including financing ongoing mergers and acquisitions, buying new equipment, investing in research and development, buying back their own stock, paying dividends to shareholders, and even refinancing existing debt. Most First bonds can be classified according to their maturity, which is the date when First Merchants has to pay back the principal to investors. Maturities can be short-term, medium-term, or long-term (more than ten years). Longer-term bonds usually offer higher interest rates but may entail additional risks.

First Merchants Predictive Daily Indicators

First Merchants intraday indicators are useful technical analysis tools used by many experienced traders. Just like the conventional technical analysis, daily indicators help intraday investors to analyze the price movement with the timing of First Merchants stock daily movement. By combining multiple daily indicators into a single trading strategy, you can limit your risk while still earning strong returns on your managed positions.

First Merchants Corporate Filings

8K
26th of January 2026
Report filed with the SEC to announce major events that shareholders should know about
ViewVerify
8K
16th of January 2026
Report filed with the SEC to announce major events that shareholders should know about
ViewVerify
F3
14th of January 2026
The report used by insiders such as officers, directors, and major shareholders (beneficial owners holding more than 10% of any class of the company's equity securities) to declare their ownership of a company's stock
ViewVerify
8K
12th of January 2026
Report filed with the SEC to announce major events that shareholders should know about
ViewVerify
F4
5th of January 2026
The report filed by a party regarding the acquisition or disposition of a company's common stock, as well as derivative securities such as options, warrants, and convertible securities
ViewVerify
F4
22nd of December 2025
The report filed by a party regarding the acquisition or disposition of a company's common stock, as well as derivative securities such as options, warrants, and convertible securities
ViewVerify
8K
14th of November 2025
Report filed with the SEC to announce major events that shareholders should know about
ViewVerify
6th of November 2025
Other Reports
ViewVerify

First Merchants Forecast Models

First Merchants' time-series forecasting models are one of many First Merchants' stock analysis techniques aimed at predicting future share value based on previously observed values. Time-series forecasting models ae widely used for non-stationary data. Non-stationary data are called the data whose statistical properties e.g. the mean and standard deviation are not constant over time but instead, these metrics vary over time. These non-stationary First Merchants' historical data is usually called time-series. Some empirical experimentation suggests that the statistical forecasting models outperform the models based exclusively on fundamental analysis to predict the direction of the market movement and maximize returns from investment trading.

First Merchants Bond Ratings

First Merchants financial ratings play a critical role in determining how much First Merchants have to pay to access credit markets, i.e., the amount of interest on their issued debt. The threshold between investment-grade and speculative-grade ratings has important market implications for First Merchants' borrowing costs.
Piotroski F Score
5
HealthyView
Beneish M Score
(2.44)
Unlikely ManipulatorView

First Merchants Debt to Cash Allocation

Many companies such as First Merchants, eventually find out that there is only so much market out there to be conquered, and adding the next product or service is only half as profitable per unit as their current endeavors. Eventually, the company will reach a point where cash flows are strong, and extra cash is available but not fully utilized. In this case, the company may start buying back its stock from the public or issue more dividends.
First Merchants currently holds 1.16 B in liabilities with Debt to Equity (D/E) ratio of 6.95, indicating the company may have difficulties to generate enough cash to satisfy its financial obligations. Note, when we think about First Merchants' use of debt, we should always consider it together with its cash and equity.

First Merchants Common Stock Shares Outstanding Over Time

First Merchants Assets Financed by Debt

The debt-to-assets ratio shows the degree to which First Merchants uses debt to finance its assets. It includes both long-term and short-term borrowings maturing within one year. It also includes both tangible and intangible assets, such as goodwill.

First Merchants Debt Ratio

    
  9.99   
It looks as if most of the First Merchants' assets are financed through equity. Typically, companies with high debt-to-asset ratios are said to be highly leveraged. The higher the ratio, the greater risk will be associated with the First Merchants' operation. In addition, a high debt-to-assets ratio may indicate a low borrowing capacity of First Merchants, which in turn will lower the firm's financial flexibility.

First Merchants Corporate Bonds Issued

Most First bonds can be classified according to their maturity, which is the date when First Merchants has to pay back the principal to investors. Maturities can be short-term, medium-term, or long-term (more than ten years). Longer-term bonds usually offer higher interest rates but may entail additional risks.

First Short Long Term Debt Total

Short Long Term Debt Total

1.4 Billion

At present, First Merchants' Short and Long Term Debt Total is projected to increase significantly based on the last few years of reporting.

About First Stock Analysis

Stock analysis is the technique used by a trader or investor to examine and evaluate how First Merchants prices is reacting to, or reflecting on a current market direction and economic conditions. It can be used to make informed decisions about market timing, and when buying or selling First shares will generate the highest return on investment. We also built our stock analysis module to help investors to gain an insight into the world economy as a whole, the stock market, thematic ideas. a specific sector, or an individual Stock such as First Merchants. By using and applying First Stock analysis, traders can create a robust methodology for identifying First entry and exit points for their positions.
Last ReportedProjected for Next Year
Pretax Profit Margin 0.20  0.18 
Operating Profit Margin 0.20  0.18 
Net Profit Margin 0.17  0.14 
Gross Profit Margin 0.50  0.53 

Current First Analysis - Recommendations

We track the performance of the top 100 financial experts across various large and mid-size financial boutiques. First analyst recommendations are determined by taking all analyst recommendations and averaging them as Strong Buy, Buy, Hold, Strong Sell or Sell. There is no one specific way to measure analysis performance other than comparing it to the past results via a very sophisticated attribution analysis. First analyst consensus and target price projections should be used in combination with other traditional techniques such as stock price forecasting, technical analysis, earnings estimate, and various momentum models.
Target PriceAdvice# of Analysts
45.6Strong Buy6Odds
First Merchants current and past analyst recommendations published by a number of research institutions as well as average analyst consensus.
Most First analysts issue ratings four times a year, at intervals of three months. Ratings are usually accompanied by a target price to helps potential investors understand First stock's fair price compared to its market value. Analysts arrive at stock ratings after researching public financial statements of First Merchants, talking to its executives and customers, or listening to First conference calls.
First Analyst Advice Details

First Stock Analysis Indicators

First Merchants stock analysis indicators help investors evaluate how First Merchants stock reacts to ongoing and evolving market conditions. The investors can use it to make informed decisions about market timing and determine when trading First Merchants shares will generate the highest return on investment. By understating and applying First Merchants stock analysis, traders can identify First Merchants position entry and exit signals to maximize returns.
Begin Period Cash Flow112.6 M
Long Term Debt916.1 M
Common Stock Shares Outstanding58.5 M
Total Stockholder Equity2.3 B
Total Cashflows From Investing Activities-252.4 M
Tax Provision30.3 M
Quarterly Earnings Growth Y O Y-0.1
Property Plant And Equipment Net129.7 M
Cash And Short Term Investments1.8 B
Cash386.5 M
Accounts Payable16.1 M
Net Debt771.7 M
50 Day M A37.644
Total Current Liabilities14.8 B
Other Operating Expenses821.9 M
Non Current Assets Total16.4 B
Forward Price Earnings11.0742
Non Currrent Assets Other738.7 M
Stock Based Compensation5.8 M

Complementary Tools for First Stock analysis

When running First Merchants' price analysis, check to measure First Merchants' market volatility, profitability, liquidity, solvency, efficiency, growth potential, financial leverage, and other vital indicators. We have many different tools that can be utilized to determine how healthy First Merchants is operating at the current time. Most of First Merchants' value examination focuses on studying past and present price action to predict the probability of First Merchants' future price movements. You can analyze the entity against its peers and the financial market as a whole to determine factors that move First Merchants' price. Additionally, you may evaluate how the addition of First Merchants to your portfolios can decrease your overall portfolio volatility.
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