• First Financial Bancorp (NASDAQ: FFBC) director Booth Cynthia O sold 18,609 shares at $22.91 each, indicating potential insider sentiment.
• The company announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share, showcasing its commitment to returning value to shareholders.
• First Financial Bancorp has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), reflecting positive earnings prospects and potential stock price movements.

First Financial Bancorp (NASDAQ: FFBC), a prominent bank holding company based in Cincinnati, Ohio, operates through its subsidiary, First Financial Bank, established in 1863. The company offers a comprehensive range of banking and financial services, including Commercial, Retail Banking, Investment Commercial Real Estate, Mortgage Banking, Commercial Finance, and Wealth Management, catering to both business and retail clients.

On April 30, 2025, Booth Cynthia O, a director at First Financial Bancorp, sold 18,609 shares of the company's common stock at $22.91 each. This transaction left her with 19,602 shares. The sale comes shortly after the company announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share, payable on June 16, 2025, to shareholders recorded by June 2, 2025.

First Financial Bancorp has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating positive sentiment about its earnings prospects. This upgrade reflects an upward trend in the consensus of EPS estimates from analysts, suggesting potential near-term stock price movements. The Zacks rating system is a valuable tool for investors, focusing on a company's changing earnings picture.

In the first quarter, First Financial Bancorp reported a 2.6% increase in revenue, although it missed estimates by $14.7 million. The bank's net income was $51.3 million, or $0.54 per share. Despite economic concerns, the company experienced modest loan growth and anticipates up to 5% loan growth in 2025, driven by leasing and mortgage origination.

The bank's asset quality metrics improved, with a decrease in nonperforming assets and net charge-offs. However, return metrics declined due to seasonal softness and increased loan loss provisions. The stock for FFBC reached a high of $23.31 today, reflecting investor interest and market activity.