For the quarter ended June 2024, First Financial Bancorp (FFBC Quick QuoteFFBC - Free Report) reported revenue of $216.23 million, up 1% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.65, compared to $0.72 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue compares to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $203.5 million, representing a surprise of +6.26%. The company delivered an EPS surprise of +10.17%, with the consensus EPS estimate being $0.59.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

Since these metrics play a crucial role in driving the top- and bottom-line numbers, comparing them with the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated about them helps investors better project a stock's price performance.

Here is how First Financial performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

• Net Interest Margin: 4.1% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 4%.
• Efficiency Ratio: 57.5% versus 59.1% estimated by two analysts on average.
• Total Noninterest Income: $61.50 million versus $56.25 million estimated by two analysts on average.

View all Key Company Metrics for First Financial here>>>

Shares of First Financial have returned +21.8% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.3% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), indicating that it could perform in line with the broader market in the near term.