The framework has shifted from markdown to accumulation since the last review. Smart money appears to be quietly building positions. This typically precedes a markup phase. Price has moved up 2.6% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 8% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are up 46%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 29%. The street (4 analysts) rates it none, with a mean price target of $66.
First Bancorp
FBNC · Nasdaq · USD · Market cap $2.7B · 1,353 employees
First Bancorp operates as the bank holding company for First Bank that provides banking products and services for individuals and businesses.
FAIL · Does not pass the screenAt the last full screen
2026-09-07
Screened 2026-09-07 · the tape above runs as of 22:12 UTC · 11 Sep · two dates, stated on purpose · verdict and workings shown in full · never trimmed
This name holds its markdown label.
First Bancorp holds its Markdown at $65.04. The statistical read favours the sellers, held for 16 days.
| Phase | Markdown · caution |
| Quantitative state | The statistical read favours the sellers, held for 16 days |
| Price at the screen | $65.04 |
| Valuation | 20.20 trailing · 12.87 forward price to earnings |
| Values screen | FAIL · score 30.0 |
| Beta | 0.82 |
Five Screens, Shown in Full
Does not pass. Prohibited keyword in sector/industry: bank
| Test | Figure | Limit | What it means | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business activity | Excluded | Core business clean | Prohibited keyword in sector/industry: bank | Fail |
| Debt load | Excluded | Below 33% | Interest-bearing debt is of its assets, above the one-third ceiling the screen allows. | Fail |
| Interest-bearing cash | Excluded | Below 33% | Interest-bearing cash and securities are of assets, above the one-third limit. | Fail |
| Receivables | Excluded | Below 49% | Money owed to the company is of assets, above the 49% limit. | Fail |
| Revenue purity | Excluded | Below 5% | of revenue comes from non-compliant sources, over the 5% line. | Fail |
Five checks adapted from AAOIFI screening standards: business activity plus four balance-sheet ratios. All five must pass for ethical clearance. Every figure is arithmetic on public accounts, not judgement.
What the Numbers Say It Is WorthThe Fair Value Range
Fair value range in USD, drawn from the 2026-09-07 screen. The gold marker is the market price at the same screen. A 10.7% margin of safety to the base estimate.
Third-party analyst targets: 5 covering, consensus None. The average target sits +8% from the screen price.
Reading the gap · Both our model and the analysts see meaningful upside from here.
Price History & ProjectionsWhere it has been, where the models see it going. History from market close data; projection points are our fair-value estimates and third-party analyst targets, dated to the 2026-09-07 screen.
Fair value and rating are our own model estimates; the Street's range reflects third-party analyst estimates. Analysis, not advice.
The Business, in Plain WordsWhy This Regional Bank Fails Our Screen
Picture a branch on a quiet American high street where locals deposit pay cheques and small firms borrow for new trucks. First Bancorp does exactly that, posting 14% revenue growth and a 31% profit margin that looks tidy on paper. Yet the business sits in a sector our ethical screen rejects outright, so we pass regardless of the numbers.
The shares trade at 13.1 times forward earnings with an 8% return on equity and a modest 9% gap to our fair value estimate. Analyst chatter calls it a buy at a $67 target, but none of that moves the needle once the sector rule bites. Unknown competitive edge and low returns on equity only reinforce the decision to step aside.
Banks carry hidden cyclical and regulatory risks that can turn a low multiple into a value trap when credit losses rise. Currency swings and policy shifts add further pressure that the headline figures do not capture. Analysis, not advice.
| Forward P/E | 12.9xfairly priced for its growth rate |
| Trailing P/E | 20.2xa premium valuation |
| EPS, trailing | 3.22 |
| EPS, forward | 5.05 |
| Revenue growth | +16.0%steady growth |
| Profit margin | 32.4%highly profitable on every dollar of sales |
| Return on equity | 8.1%a modest return on shareholder capital |
| Dividend yield | 155.00% |
| Beta | 0.82steadier than the market |
| Short interest, float | 0.06% |
| 52-week range | 45.96 - 66.78 |
| Market cap | $2.7B |
| Employees | 1,353 |
The risks · The main risks here are ordinary market swings and the chance our fair-value read proves too optimistic.
Plain-English interpretation of our own screen data. Analysis, not advice.
Where & How to TradeFBNC trades on Nasdaq. As a listed security it is accessible through almost any international broker offering its home market. New to this, or investing from abroad? Our guide to accessing global markets covers brokers, currencies and the practical steps.
Every Entry, As Written
The framework reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved up 4.3% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 8% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are up 46%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 29%. The street (4 analysts) rates it none, with a mean price target of $66.
The framework reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns. Our composite framework grades it B, carrying a low risk profile. Technically it is holding around 8% above its long-term trend line with momentum reading neutral. Over the past year the shares are up 46%. Our forward projection puts the odds of a 10% gain over the next month near 29%. The street (4 analysts) rates it none, with a mean price target of $66.
The framework reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Price has moved down 0.0% since our last review. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns.
The framework reads markdown. Price is trending lower. Sellers are in control and the prior trend has reversed. Ethical screening: FAIL. This security does not pass our values-based screening criteria. The risk-adjusted return profile shows excellent risk-adjusted returns.
Each entry above was written on its date, before the outcome. A journal you can prune is not a journal.
Screened names in the same industry · explore each on its own page.
| Period | Price then | Price return | Divs per share | $1,000 became | Total return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | $58.47 | +3.9% | · | $1,039 | +3.9% |
| 2 months | $58.63 | +3.6% | · | $1,036 | +3.6% |
| 3 months | $53.47 | +13.6% | $0.24 | $1,140 | +14.0% |
| 6 months | $52.90 | +14.8% | $0.47 | $1,157 | +15.7% |
| 1 year | $41.54 | +46.2% | $0.93 | $1,484 | +48.4% |
| 2 years | $28.88 | +110.3% | $1.81 | $2,165 | +116.5% |
| 3 years | $30.57 | +98.7% | $2.69 | $2,075 | +107.5% |
| 5 years | $37.92 | +60.2% | $4.39 | $1,718 | +71.8% |
Historical returns from market close data. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
This entry now belongs to the ledger. Whatever FBNC does next, these words stay.
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