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First Foundation (FFWM)
NYSE:FFWM

First Foundation (FFWM) AI Stock Analysis

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First Foundation

(NYSE:FFWM)

Rating:59Neutral
Price Target:
$5.50
▲(4.76%Upside)
The overall score reflects financial instability and cash flow issues, offset by a return to profitability and improved net interest margins reported in the earnings call. Technical analysis and valuation provide a mixed view, with the stock's high dividend yield suggesting potential value amidst financial risks.

First Foundation (FFWM) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

First Foundation Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionFirst Foundation Inc. (FFWM) is a financial services company that operates primarily in the banking and wealth management sectors. The company provides a wide range of services, including personal and business banking, trust services, investment management, and financial advisory services. With a focus on delivering personalized solutions, First Foundation aims to cater to the diverse financial needs of its clientele, which includes individuals, families, and businesses.
How the Company Makes MoneyFirst Foundation Inc. makes money through a combination of interest income, fees, and service charges. Its banking operations generate revenue from interest earned on loans and advances given to customers, while simultaneously managing the cost of deposits from which these funds are sourced. The company also earns non-interest income through its wealth management and advisory services, which include fees from investment management, financial planning, and trust services. Additionally, First Foundation benefits from partnerships with other financial institutions to enhance its service offerings and generate additional fee-based income. The company's diversified revenue streams help it manage risk and sustain profitability across various economic cycles.

First Foundation Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 30, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: 5.63%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 29, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted a significant return to profitability and improvements in net interest margin and credit portfolio, indicating strategic progress. However, there are challenges with asset management and deposits, alongside increased criticized assets. The sentiment is balanced with optimism about strategic initiatives.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Return to Profitability
First Foundation reported a net income of $6.9 million or $0.08 per share, a significant turnaround from a net loss of $14.1 million in the previous quarter.
Net Interest Margin Expansion
Net interest margin expanded by 9 basis points to 1.67%, alongside a reduction in non-interest expense by $5 million.
Loan Portfolio Strategy
Funded $180 million of new loan balances at an average yield of 7.09%, with 78% being C&I loans. Strategic focus remains on reducing commercial real estate concentration.
Credit Portfolio Improvement
Asset migration trends were positive, with past due and nonaccrual loans falling 22% to $54.8 million.
Capitalization and Liquidity
Strong capitalization with a common equity Tier 1 ratio of 10.6% and Tier 1 leverage ratio of 8.1%. Ample liquidity with $3.7 billion of borrowing capacity.
Negative Updates
Decline in Assets Under Management
Assets under management ended the quarter at $5.1 billion compared to $5.4 billion at the end of the year.
Deposit Decline
Overall deposits declined modestly to $9.6 billion, largely due to a $400 million decrease in high-cost brokered deposits.
Increased Criticized Assets
An increase in the level of criticized assets due to continued stress testing for higher interest rates and higher expenses potentially impacting CRE cash flows.
Company Guidance
In the First Foundation's First Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, the company reported a return to profitability with a net income of $6.9 million or $0.08 per share, compared to a net loss of $14.1 million in the previous quarter. The net interest margin expanded by 9 basis points to 1.67%, aided by a $5 million reduction in non-interest expense. They funded $180 million of new loans at an average yield of 7.09%, with 78% being C&I loans. Despite a decline in overall deposits to $9.6 billion, the bank saw a reduction in high-cost brokered deposits and an increase in retail, specialty, and digital banking deposits. The provision for credit losses decreased significantly to $3.4 million from $20.6 million, and the allowance for credit losses (ACL) increased to 46 basis points. Assets under management were reported at $5.1 billion, and the bank remains well-capitalized with a common equity Tier 1 ratio of 10.6% and a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 8.1%. The company anticipates modest asset reductions and margin expansion, targeting a net interest margin between 1.8% and 1.9% by the fourth quarter of 2025, with further improvements expected by 2026.

First Foundation Financial Statement Overview

Summary
The company exhibits financial instability with issues in profitability and cash flow, despite a stable balance sheet. Negative operating and free cash flows are concerning, and revenue growth challenges persist.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
The income statement shows a volatile performance with significant swings in profitability. Gross profit margins are high but net income has been negative recently, indicating issues with cost management or revenue generation. Revenue has decreased over the TTM period, reflecting potential challenges in revenue growth. The negative EBITDA margins further highlight operational inefficiencies.
Balance Sheet
60
Neutral
The balance sheet reveals a stable equity position with a manageable debt-to-equity ratio, reflecting moderate leverage. Stockholders' equity has been relatively stable, but total assets have slightly declined, indicating a potential need for asset optimization. The equity ratio remains healthy, suggesting a reasonable cushion against liabilities.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Cash flow analysis indicates negative operating and free cash flows, which could be a concern for liquidity. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative, highlighting challenges in converting revenue to cash. Although there has been some investment activity, the financing cash flows suggest a reliance on external funding.
Breakdown
TTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
387.09M481.54M174.85M328.75M308.90M243.85M
Gross Profit
383.37M53.19M175.33M328.21M291.10M243.85M
EBIT
168.16M-137.38M15.19M149.80M151.78M118.77M
EBITDA
-125.02M-129.41M15.19M158.51M158.63M125.40M
Net Income Common Stockholders
-86.30M-92.41M-199.06M110.51M109.51M84.37M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
2.53B2.33B2.03B882.65M2.31B1.44B
Total Assets
12.59B12.65B13.33B13.01B10.20B6.96B
Total Debt
1.85B1.60B1.58B1.37B210.13M269.00M
Net Debt
833.93M582.70M255.82M713.44M-911.63M-360.71M
Total Liabilities
11.53B11.59B12.40B11.88B9.13B6.26B
Stockholders Equity
1.06B1.05B925.34M1.13B1.06B695.71M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
-19.65M-11.51M-2.39M96.47M93.73M64.58M
Operating Cash Flow
-16.24M-8.78M5.82M101.05M96.94M67.44M
Investing Cash Flow
336.90M287.36M134.88M-3.25B-79.37M-24.90M
Financing Cash Flow
-894.53M-589.08M529.44M2.68B474.49M521.77M

First Foundation Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price5.25
Price Trends
50DMA
5.11
Positive
100DMA
5.15
Positive
200DMA
6.04
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.05
Negative
RSI
50.92
Neutral
STOCH
69.21
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For FFWM, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 5.25 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 5.25, above the 50-day MA of 5.11, and below the 200-day MA of 6.04, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.05 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 50.92 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 69.21 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for FFWM.

First Foundation Risk Analysis

First Foundation disclosed 46 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. First Foundation reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

First Foundation Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (64)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
78
Outperform
$395.98M8.6514.36%2.44%12.02%26.09%
77
Outperform
$437.96M10.2415.17%1.28%6.99%12.46%
71
Outperform
$366.25M12.8313.33%1.67%14.44%16.49%
64
Neutral
$12.77B9.717.85%78.05%12.07%-7.97%
62
Neutral
$378.50M9.6711.58%3.65%1.99%17.65%
59
Neutral
$432.53M-8.68%0.19%3.61%65.61%
50
Neutral
$402.98M-8.86%7.05%7.93%-570.64%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
FFWM
First Foundation
5.25
-0.45
-7.89%
FBIZ
First Business Financial
47.60
14.04
41.84%
GCBC
Greene County Bancorp
21.51
-8.11
-27.38%
KRNY
Kearny Financial
6.24
1.05
20.23%
BSRR
Sierra Bancorp
27.39
7.32
36.47%
UNTY
Unity Bancorp
43.66
17.73
68.38%

First Foundation Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesShareholder Meetings
First Foundation Approves Amended Equity Incentive Plan
Neutral
May 30, 2025

At its 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 29, First Foundation Inc. approved an Amended and Restated 2024 Equity Incentive Plan, increasing the shares available for awards to 4,000,000 and granting additional rights to the plan’s Administrator. The meeting also saw the election of ten directors, the ratification of Crowe LLP as the independent auditor, and approval of executive compensation measures, including an annual advisory vote on executive pay.

The most recent analyst rating on (FFWM) stock is a Buy with a $9.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on First Foundation stock, see the FFWM Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
First Foundation Returns to Profitability in Q1 2025
Positive
Apr 30, 2025

First Foundation Inc. reported a return to profitability in the first quarter of 2025, driven by an increase in net interest margin and normalized credit costs. The company achieved a fully diluted EPS of $0.08, a significant improvement from the previous quarter’s loss. Key strategic initiatives include reducing commercial real estate concentration, improving deposit quality, and building organic capital. The company also reported strong credit performance with negligible net charge-offs and a stable provision for credit losses.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.