FIRST MERCHANTS CORP (FRME) Stock Analysis
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP (FRME) Stock Analysis
Overall Grade: F (Concerning)
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FIRST MERCHANTS CORP faces challenges in financial performance that warrant careful analysis.
Key Metrics:
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| ROIC | N/A | Below expectations |
| FCF Margin | 42.8% | Strong cash generation |
| Debt/Equity | 0.0x | Conservative leverage |
Investment Thesis: Healthy free cash flow margin of 42.8% provides financial flexibility for growth and shareholder returns.
What is FIRST MERCHANTS CORP's Profitability and ROIC?
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP's return on invested capital of N/A is below the typical cost of capital.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) | N/A | Red flag | Below cost of capital |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 9.5% | Adequate | Moderate equity returns |
How Strong is FIRST MERCHANTS CORP's Cash Flow Quality?
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP generated $283.6M in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months, representing a 42.8% margin. Cash earnings quality is strong, with operating cash flow exceeding net income by 1.3x.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 42.8% | Excellent | Excellent cash conversion |
| Free Cash Flow (TTM) | $283.6M | Good | Positive cash generation |
| OCF/Net Income | 1.3x | Excellent | High earnings quality |
| FCF Consistency (8Q) | N/A | Warning | Variable cash flow |
What is FIRST MERCHANTS CORP's Financial Health?
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP's debt-to-equity ratio of 0.0x indicates conservative leverage.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Equity | 0.0x | Excellent | Conservative capital structure |
Is FIRST MERCHANTS CORP Stock Overvalued or Undervalued?
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP trades at a P/E of 9.6x, representing a premium to the sector median of N/A. Free cash flow yield of 13.2% offers attractive cash returns.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value | Rating | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| P/E Ratio | 9.6x | Adequate | Reasonable valuation |
| EV/Sales | 3.1x | Good | Growth premium priced in |
| FCF Yield | 13.2% | Excellent | Attractive cash return |
| Dividend Yield | 3.8% | Adequate | Meaningful income |
Sector Rankings
| Metric | Value | Percentile | vs Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Cash Flow Margin | 42.8% | Top 25% | 1.9x above |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | 9.5% | Bottom 50% | 0.9x below |
| P/E Ratio | 9.6x | N/A | - |
Rating Thresholds
Free Cash Flow Margin
The percentage of revenue converted to free cash flow. Higher margins indicate stronger cash generation and business quality.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 20% | Strong cash generation, high-quality business |
| Good | 10% - 20% | Healthy cash conversion |
| Adequate | 5% - 10% | Moderate cash generation |
| Warning | 0% - 5% | Thin cash margins, capital intensive |
| Red flag | < 0% | Cash burn, potential liquidity concerns |
Current: 42.8% (Excellent - Top 25% of sector (median: 22.2%))
Debt to Equity Ratio
Total debt divided by shareholders' equity. Lower ratios indicate more conservative financing and reduced financial risk.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | < 0.3x | Conservative leverage, strong balance sheet |
| Good | 0.3x - 0.7x | Moderate leverage, healthy financial position |
| Adequate | 0.7x - 1.5x | Elevated leverage, monitor closely |
| Warning | 1.5x - 3.0x | High leverage, increased financial risk |
| Red flag | > 3.0x | Excessive leverage, potential distress risk |
Current: 0.0% (Excellent)
P/E Ratio (Price-to-Earnings)
Stock price divided by earnings per share. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation, while higher P/E suggests growth expectations.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | < 15x | Attractively valued, potential opportunity |
| Good | 15x - 25x | Fair value for quality company |
| Adequate | 25x - 35x | Growth premium, justify with earnings growth |
| Warning | 35x - 50x | High expectations priced in |
| Red flag | > 50x or negative | Speculative valuation or losses |
Current: 961.0% (Adequate)
Free Cash Flow Yield
Free cash flow per share divided by stock price. Higher FCF yield indicates better cash return relative to valuation.
| Rating | Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | > 8% | High cash return, potential value opportunity |
| Good | 5% - 8% | Solid cash yield |
| Adequate | 3% - 5% | Moderate cash return |
| Warning | 1% - 3% | Low cash yield, growth expectations |
| Red flag | < 1% | Minimal cash return to shareholders |
Current: 13.2% (Excellent)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is FIRST MERCHANTS CORP's Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)?
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP (FRME) has a trailing twelve-month Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) of N/A. This compares below the sector median of 9.2%. An ROIC below 8% suggests the company may be destroying shareholder value.
Q: What is FIRST MERCHANTS CORP's Free Cash Flow Margin?
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP (FRME) has a free cash flow margin of 42.8%, generating $283.6 million in free cash flow over the trailing twelve months. A FCF margin above 20% indicates excellent cash conversion and a high-quality business model.
Q: Is FIRST MERCHANTS CORP stock overvalued or undervalued?
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP (FRME) trades at a P/E ratio of 9.6x, which is above the sector median of N/A. The EV/Sales multiple is 3.1x. Free cash flow yield is 13.2%, which represents an attractive cash return to investors.
Q: Does FIRST MERCHANTS CORP pay a dividend?
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP (FRME) currently pays a dividend yield of 3.8%. Including share buybacks, the total shareholder yield is 6.0%. This yield is moderate, suggesting a balance between income and growth reinvestment.
Q: What is FIRST MERCHANTS CORP's revenue and earnings growth?
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP (FRME) grew revenue by 2.5% year-over-year. Earnings per share increased by 13.5% compared to the prior year. Modest growth indicates a mature business with stable demand.
Q: Is FIRST MERCHANTS CORP buying back stock?
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP (FRME) repurchased $46.9 million of stock over the trailing twelve months. This represents a buyback yield of 2.2%.
Q: How does FIRST MERCHANTS CORP compare to competitors in Financials?
Compared to other companies in Financials, FIRST MERCHANTS CORP (FRME) shows: ROIC of N/A is below the sector median of 9.2% (NaNx median). FCF margin of 42.8% exceeds the sector median of 22.2% (Top 18% of sector). These rankings are based on MetricDuck's analysis of all Financials companies with available SEC filings.
Q: What warning signs should I watch for with FIRST MERCHANTS CORP?
FIRST MERCHANTS CORP (FRME) shows no major financial warning signs based on current metrics. However, investors should always monitor: 1) Margin compression trends, 2) Cash flow consistency, 3) Debt levels relative to cash generation, and 4) Changes in competitive positioning.
Data Source: Data sourced from 10-Q filed 2025-10-30. TTM metrics as of Q4 2025.
Methodology: Financial metrics calculated from SEC 10-K and 10-Q filings using standardized formulas. Sector comparisons use peer group based on SIC code.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.