Why First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FBNC) Could Be Worth Watching

First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FBNC), operating in the financial services industry based in United States, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NASDAQGS, rising to highs of $39.28 and falling to the lows of $34.89. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether First Bancorp's current trading price of $34.91 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let’s take a look at First Bancorp’s outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

Check out our latest analysis for First Bancorp

Is First Bancorp still cheap?

According to my valuation model, the stock is currently overvalued by about 30.8%, trading at US$34.91 compared to my intrinsic value of $26.69. Not the best news for investors looking to buy! But, is there another opportunity to buy low in the future? Since First Bancorp’s share price is quite volatile, this could mean it can sink lower (or rise even further) in the future, giving us another chance to invest. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for how much the stock moves relative to the rest of the market.

What kind of growth will First Bancorp generate?

NasdaqGS:FBNC Past and Future Earnings, July 23rd 2019
NasdaqGS:FBNC Past and Future Earnings, July 23rd 2019

Future outlook is an important aspect when you’re looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so let’s also take a look at the company's future expectations. Though in the case of First Bancorp, it is expected to deliver a relatively unexciting earnings growth of 0.4%, which doesn’t help build up its investment thesis. Growth doesn’t appear to be a main reason for a buy decision for First Bancorp, at least in the near term.

What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? FBNC’s future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading above its fair value. At this current price, shareholders may be asking a different question – should I sell? If you believe FBNC should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards its real value can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed.

Are you a potential investor? If you’ve been keeping an eye on FBNC for a while, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its true value, which means there’s no upside from mispricing. However, the positive outlook means it’s worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters – the fundamentals – before you make a decision on First Bancorp. You can find everything you need to know about First Bancorp in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in First Bancorp, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading.