1st Source has been treading water for the past six months, recording a small return of 1.4% while holding steady at $60.48.
Is now the time to buy SRCE? Or does the price properly account for its business quality and fundamentals? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Why Does 1st Source Spark Debate?
Tracing its roots back to 1863 during the Civil War era, 1st Source Corporation (NASDAQ: SRCE) is a regional bank holding company that provides commercial, consumer, specialty finance, and wealth management services across Indiana, Michigan, and Florida.
Two Things to Like:
1. Outstanding Long-Term EPS Growth
Analyzing the long-term change in earnings per share (EPS) shows whether a company's incremental sales were profitable – for example, revenue could be inflated through excessive spending on advertising and promotions.
1st Source’s EPS grew at an astounding 12% compounded annual growth rate over the last five years, higher than its 4.1% annualized revenue growth. This tells us the company became more profitable on a per-share basis as it expanded.
2. Stellar ROE Showcases Lucrative Growth Opportunities
Return on equity, or ROE, tells us how much profit a company generates for each dollar of shareholder equity, a key funding source for banks. Over a long period, banks with high ROE tend to compound shareholder wealth faster through retained earnings, buybacks, and dividends.
Over the last five years, 1st Source has averaged an ROE of 12.1%, excellent for a company operating in a sector where the average shakes out around 7.5% and those putting up 15%+ are greatly admired. This shows 1st Source has a strong competitive moat.
One Reason to be Careful:
Long-Term Revenue Growth Disappoints
Two primary revenue streams drive bank earnings. While net interest income, which is earned by charging higher rates on loans than paid on deposits, forms the foundation, fee-based services across banking, credit, wealth management, and trading operations provide additional income.
Unfortunately, 1st Source’s 4.1% annualized revenue growth over the last five years was mediocre. This wasn’t a great result compared to the rest of the bank sector, but there are still things to like about 1st Source. 
Final Judgment
1st Source’s merits more than compensate for its flaws, but at $60.48 per share (or 1.2× forward P/B), is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More Than 1st Source
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