Short Interest in SB Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SBFG) Sees a Significant Decrease

On December 30, 2024, it was reported that SB Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SBFG) experienced a substantial decline in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15, the total short interest was recorded at 3,800 shares, marking a notable drop of 34.5% from the previous total of 5,800 shares as of November 30. Given the average trading volume of 19,200 shares, the current short-interest ratio stands at a low 0.2 days. This indicates that only 0.1% of the company's stock is currently sold short.

SB Financial Group Stock Performance

Recently, SB Financial Group's stock saw a decline of 2.5%, dropping $0.54 to reach $20.94 on Monday. During the trading session, 11,736 shares changed hands, a figure above the typical trading volume of 9,352 shares. In terms of market metrics, the company has a market capitalization of approximately $139.29 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.03, and a beta value of 0.77. The company's liquidity measures showcase a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.91, alongside a reasonable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. Additionally, the stock's 50-day moving average sits at $20.62, while the 200-day moving average is at $17.97. In the past year, SB Financial Group's stock reached a low of $13.01 and a high of $23.00.

Dividend Increase Announcement

In a positive development for shareholders, SB Financial Group recently announced an increase in its quarterly dividend. The new dividend, paid on November 22, 2024, amounted to $0.145 per share, up from the previous $0.14. This increase translates to an annualized dividend of $0.58, reflecting a dividend yield of 2.77%. The ex-dividend date for this payment was set for November 8, and the company reports a dividend payout ratio (DPR) of 33.33%.

Analysts' Outlook on SB Financial Group

StockNews.com took note of SB Financial Group in a recent research note, where they initiated coverage on the stock with a “hold” rating, indicating a cautious outlook on its future performance.

Institutional Investor Activity

In recent times, various hedge funds and institutional investors have made movements involving shares of SB Financial Group. For instance, Barclays PLC significantly increased its stake in the company by 325.1% during the third quarter, now holding 1,271 shares worth $26,000 after adding 972 shares in the last quarter. Additionally, Princeton Capital Management LLC established a new position in the company valued at approximately $146,000 during the second quarter. Empowered Funds LLC raised its ownership by 5.2% in the third quarter, acquiring a total of 37,762 shares valued around $776,000 after purchasing 1,876 additional shares. Geode Capital Management LLC also expanded its holdings by 3.5%, owning 71,076 shares overall, with a total value of $1,462,000. Collectively, institutional investors hold around 66.67% of SB Financial Group’s stock.

About the Company

SB Financial Group, Inc. serves as the financial holding entity for the State Bank and Trust Company. The company provides various commercial banking and wealth management services mainly to individual and corporate customers across Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. Their offerings include checking, savings, and money market accounts, as well as various types of loans including commercial, consumer, agricultural, and residential mortgage loans.

SBFG, Stock, Dividend