For the quarter ended September 2026, First Financial Bancorp (FFBC Quick QuoteFFBC - Free Report) reported revenue of $275.03 million, up 16.9% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.84, compared to $0.76 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of +1.79% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $270.2 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.82, the EPS surprise was +2.44%.

While investors closely watch year-over-year changes in headline numbers -- revenue and earnings -- and how they compare to Wall Street expectations to determine their next course of action, some key metrics always provide a better insight into a company's underlying performance.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

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:

• Efficiency Ratio: 60.5% versus 55.7% estimated by three analysts on average.
• Net Interest Margin: 4.1% compared to the 4% average estimate based on three analysts.
• Average Balance - Total earning assets: $19.25 billion versus the two-analyst average estimate of $19.34 billion.
• Net charge-offs to average loans (annualized): 0.2% versus 0.3% estimated by two analysts on average.
• Total Noninterest Income: $77.66 million versus $75.4 million estimated by three analysts on average.
• Foreign exchange income: $17.49 million compared to the $16 million average estimate based on two analysts.
• Bankcard income: $3.86 million versus $3.4 million estimated by two analysts on average.
• Wealth management fees: $9.14 million versus $9.5 million estimated by two analysts on average.
• Net interest income - tax equivalent: $197.37 million versus $195.2 million estimated by two analysts on average.
• Other: $6.73 million compared to the $7.3 million average estimate based on two analysts.
• Service charges on deposit accounts: $9.03 million versus $9.15 million estimated by two analysts on average.
• Leasing business income: $22.97 million compared to the $23 million average estimate based on two analysts.

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

Shares of First Financial have returned +2.4% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.8% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), indicating that it could outperform the broader market in the near term.