First Commonwealth Financial (NYSE:FCF)

kmathew92 (< 20) Submitted: 7/20/2011 12:30:30 PM : Start Price: $5.11 FCF Score: +23.16

Exposure to natural gas producing area (96% of deposits are from shale counties)

sskirk (< 20) Submitted: 2/28/2011 10:01:21 PM : Start Price: $6.36 FCF Score: +0.34

Stock will never grow until Bank stops hiring siblings who caused stock to underperform (TOMB

RunFin (40.65) Submitted: 5/23/2009 1:16:44 PM : Start Price: $6.61 FCF Score: -56.23

This small regional bank in southwestern PA, HQ'd in Indiana, PA, is conservatively managed and is diversifying into offering insurance services.
Stock Data
597.09 Market Cap(Mil)
15.67 P/E Ratio
6.84% Dividend Yield (dividend cut to $0.12 from $0.17)
$0.12 Latest Dividend

The stock has been punished lately. The downside is that there are many banks in southwestern PA and the economy in the small communities still suffers from the loss of coal and steel industries. Also, there is an unusual demographic shift in southwestern PA in that the population is aging as younger families move for better jobs. On a positive note, PNC's acquisition of National City may create opportunity for other small regional banks. Additionally, S&T Bank acquired Irwin Bank and Trust.

This stock has been trading at near $7.00. I see this stock at $12 to $14 per share within two years once there is more stability in the financial markets.

I just increased my position in this company.

stockblog (33.09) Submitted: 9/30/2008 5:27:42 AM : Start Price: $11.23 FCF Score: -63.34

Amidst turmoil in the financial sector this week and over the past year, the following is a list of Pennsylvania-based banks and financial services companies with market caps over $100M that have recorded stock price gains over the past year.

The 11 companies are listed in descending order by 52-week stock price performance (through 9/14/08) and include the following top performers: Univest – biggest gainer at 38%, First Commonwealth (which I wrote about 15 months ago with a yield over 6%) – biggest dividend yield at 5.4%, and PNC Financial – biggest market cap at $25.3B. With Dow component American International Group (AIG) down over 30% on Friday, and other blow-ups this week such as Lehman Brothers (LEH) and Washington Mutual (WM), the strength in these Keystone State banks is notable and reflects investor confidence in their management and business fundamentals.

Company Name (Ticker), 52-Week Change, Market Cap, Dividend Yield

Univest Corp. of PA (UVSP) +38.0%, $380M, 2.7%
Beneficial Mutual Bancorp (BNCL) +27.9%, $991M, 0%
Republic First Bancorp (FRBK) +23.2%, $108M, 0%
Citizens & Northern Corp. (CZNC) +21.4%, $197M, 4.4%
First Commonwealth Financial (FCF) +15.7%, $924M, 5.4%
Bryn Mawr Bank Corp. (BMTC) +6.7%, $199M, 2.4%
PNC Financial Services (PNC) +6.6%, $25.3B, 3.6%
Abington Bancorp (ABBC) +6.5%, $248M, 2.0%
S&T Bancorp (STBA) +3.5%, $954M, 3.6%
ESB Financial Corp. (ESBF) +2.9%, $126M, 3.9%
Northwest Bancorp (NWSB) +1.7%, $1.4B, 3.1%
My favorite picks going forward include PNC, FCF, and NWSB.

biovestor (< 20) Submitted: 6/30/2008 6:09:10 PM : Start Price: $8.40 FCF Score: -33.03

A regional banking play on eventual rebound in financials with dividend yield of 7% and history of steady increased payouts with managable non-performing loans.

aaacs (87.74) Submitted: 1/28/2008 9:21:13 AM : Start Price: $9.75 FCF Score: -39.02

No subprime exposure. Realligning commercial lending AND looking for growth opportunities all the while paying a hefty div.

billxviii (60.41) Submitted: 1/4/2008 7:20:42 PM : Start Price: $8.47 FCF Score: -23.04

The price is down and the likelyhood of interest rates going down further should help improve their performance. The uncertainty is the change in CEO. Will have to see if the new leadership is better or at least no worse.

buylowersellhi (69.42) Submitted: 8/30/2007 10:48:45 AM : Start Price: $9.21 FCF Score: -26.97

This is a great buying opportunity due to bank stocks being hit with subprime market concerns. Listen to the management discussion from 8-8-07 (fcbanking.com); FCF does not have subprime exposure! I keep buying on the dips with market volatility. High Dividend rate is nice during the wait. Also possible takeover by larger banks?

docbluedog (30.98) Submitted: 5/27/2007 4:19:56 PM : Start Price: $9.49 FCF Score: -25.88

Dividend at 6%, right at yearly low, board is buying back stock, good buy-out candidate are all pluses. The minus is earnings are not setting any records. Management seems to have things in place now for earnings to pick up. Pluses overcome minuses