SB Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SBFG) Short Interest Declines Significantly in December

SB Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SBFG) experienced a notable decrease in short interest during December. As of December 15th, the total short interest stood at 3,800 shares, marking a substantial 34.5% reduction from the 5,800 shares reported on November 30th. Currently, just 0.1% of the company’s shares are sold short. With an average daily trading volume of 19,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is approximately 0.2 days.

Analysts Update on SB Financial Group

In related news, StockNews.com initiated coverage on SB Financial Group with a research note issued on September 21st. They assigned a "hold" rating to the stock, indicating a neutral outlook on its future performance.

SB Financial Group Stock Overview

On the trading front, SBFG saw a minor dip of $0.10 on Friday, bringing its stock price to $21.48. The company's trading volume hit 21,284 shares, surpassing its average volume of 9,345 shares. The 50-day simple moving average for SBFG is $20.62, while the 200-day simple moving average is $17.91. Key financial metrics for the company include a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 0.92, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. Over the past year, the stock has fluctuated between a low of $13.01 and a high of $23.00. The firm is valued at $142.88 million, with a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 12.34 and a beta of 0.77.

Dividend Announcement by SB Financial Group

The company recently declared its quarterly dividend, which was distributed on November 22nd. Shareholders of record as of November 8th received a dividend payment of $0.145, an increase from the previous quarterly rate of $0.14. This annualizes to $0.58, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.70% and a payout ratio of 33.33%.

Institutional Investments in SB Financial Group

In the realm of institutional trading, several hedge funds and investors have adjusted their stakes in SB Financial Group. Notably, Barclays PLC increased its holdings in the company by 325.1% in the third quarter, acquiring a total of 1,271 shares valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 972 shares. During the second quarter, Princeton Capital Management LLC established a new position valued at around $146,000. Additionally, Empowered Funds LLC raised its stake by 5.2% during the third quarter, owning 37,762 shares worth $776,000 after increasing its holdings by 1,876 shares. Geode Capital Management LLC also boosted its stake by 3.5%, now holding 71,076 shares valued at $1,462,000. Currently, institutional investors own 66.67% of SB Financial Group’s stock.

About SB Financial Group

SB Financial Group, Inc operates as a financial holding company for the State Bank and Trust Company. It provides a variety of commercial banking and wealth management services to both individual and corporate clients, primarily in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. The company offers a range of banking products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and various types of loans, ranging from commercial to residential mortgage loans.

Finance, Stocks, Investment