First Business Financial Services (NASDAQ:FBIZ) Downgraded to “Hold” at StockNews.com

First Business Financial Services (NASDAQ:FBIZ) was downgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a note issued to investors on Wednesday.

First Business Financial Services Trading Down 1.7 %

NASDAQ FBIZ traded down $0.72 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $42.51. The stock had a trading volume of 26,288 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,177. The company has a market capitalization of $352.41 million, a PE ratio of 9.79 and a beta of 0.83. First Business Financial Services has a twelve month low of $28.35 and a twelve month high of $44.17. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $35.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $35.50.

First Business Financial Services (NASDAQ:FBIZ) last released its earnings results on Friday, April 26th. The financial services provider reported $1.04 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.13 by ($0.09). First Business Financial Services had a return on equity of 13.51% and a net margin of 15.48%. The company had revenue of $62.54 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $37.47 million. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that First Business Financial Services will post 4.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other First Business Financial Services news, Director William Kent Lorenz sold 1,345 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.51, for a total value of $46,415.95. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 9,836 shares in the company, valued at $339,440.36. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 6.30% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of First Business Financial Services

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Uncommon Cents Investing LLC grew its position in shares of First Business Financial Services by 4.3% during the fourth quarter. Uncommon Cents Investing LLC now owns 36,255 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,454,000 after acquiring an additional 1,485 shares during the last quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. increased its stake in First Business Financial Services by 3.9% in the fourth quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 65,483 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $2,626,000 after purchasing an additional 2,444 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC raised its holdings in shares of First Business Financial Services by 7.8% in the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 41,101 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $1,541,000 after buying an additional 2,975 shares during the last quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund raised its holdings in shares of First Business Financial Services by 70.7% in the fourth quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 3,866 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $155,000 after buying an additional 1,601 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its stake in shares of First Business Financial Services by 28.1% during the fourth quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 4,280 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $172,000 after buying an additional 938 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.07% of the company’s stock.

About First Business Financial Services

First Business Financial Services, Inc operates as the bank holding company for First Business Bank that provides commercial banking products and services for small and medium-sized businesses, business owners, executives, professionals, and high net worth individuals in Wisconsin, Kansas, and Missouri.