First Financial Northwest Stock Rating Upgraded

First Financial Northwest (NASDAQ:FFNW) has received an upgrade from StockNews.com, moving from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report released on Wednesday. This is an important signal for investors considering the stock's performance and future outlook.

First Financial Northwest Stock Performance

On the trading day following the upgrade, First Financial Northwest saw its stock increase by $0.13, bringing the price to $21.61. During this trading session, approximately 19,177 shares changed hands, a volume that was below the average of 27,065 shares. The company has a modest debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, along with a quick ratio and current ratio both at 1.04. With a market capitalization of $199.46 million, the stock exhibits a price-to-earnings ratio of 196.47 and a beta value of 0.53. The past year has seen First Financial Northwest’s stock reach a low of $20.10 and a high of $23.50, while the 50-day moving average is $21.69, and the 200-day average stands at $22.10.

First Financial Northwest recently disclosed its quarterly earnings on January 28, indicating an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.13 for the quarter. This figure surpassed analysts' expectations, which anticipated an EPS of $0.05, yielding a surprising profit of $0.08 above the consensus estimate. The bank has reported a net margin of 1.31% and a return on equity at 0.66%. Analysts predict that First Financial Northwest will record an annual earnings per share of $0.09 for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of First Financial Northwest

Recent changes in institutional trading show that major investors are actively adjusting their stakes in First Financial Northwest. For instance, B.O.S.S. Retirement Advisors LLC made a new investment valued at approximately $312,000 during the third quarter. Additionally, Empowered Funds LLC increased its stake by 5.3%, bringing its total holdings to 21,348 shares worth $481,000 after acquiring 1,072 additional shares. MetLife Investment Management LLC also saw a significant increase of 129.0% in its holdings during the same quarter, acquiring an additional 2,317 shares and owning 4,113 shares valued at $93,000 thereafter. Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new stake worth $789,000, and State Street Corp expanded its holdings by 2.7%, owning 87,417 shares valued at $1,969,000. Together, institutional investors own 55.00% of the company’s shares.

About First Financial Northwest

First Financial Northwest, Inc serves as the bank holding company for First Financial Northwest Bank, which specializes in providing a variety of commercial banking services throughout Washington. Their range of deposit products includes noninterest-bearing accounts, interest-bearing demand accounts, money market accounts, savings accounts, and certificates of deposit.

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