Farmers & Merchants Bancorp: Rising NIM Supports Re-Rating

Sorrento Research 156 Followers Follow Summary Farmers & Merchants Bancorp is rated Buy, trading at a 44% discount to its recent valuation peak and a 5% discount to the sector median. FMAO's forward ROE is 3x the sector median, with 14% expected ROE growth and a 20% EPS CAGR, supporting a compelling valuation case. Net interest margin reached 3.48% (+26 bps YoY), with 42% of loans set to reprice in the next year, positioning NIM for further upside. Dividends have increased for 32 consecutive years, now yielding 2.6%, and the bank remains well-capitalized with a tier 1 ratio of 8.99%. JulyVelchev/iStock via Getty Images Summary Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. ( FMAO ) is rated as a BUY, where future net interest margin could be further supported by the repricing of 42% of the bank's loan book over the next year. The stock This article was written by Sorrento Research 156 Followers Follow I am a specialist in global equities after having been a sellside analyst outside of the US for 13 years. In addition, I have also spent time covering US hardware and semiconductor stocks on the sellside while working in the US. I have covered the casino, automotive, industrial, consumer and technology sectors. I have also worked on the buyside as a fund manager in long only and as an analyst in hedge funds all covering Asian equities where I have developed a keen understanding of Asian companies and economies with a focus on China. From a global equities perspective, I enjoy covering companies globally by examining key metrics such as financial statements strength, valuation upside, and conducting proper analysis of the competitive advantages of the company. Throughout my career, I have found and written on undiscovered small cap companies which have increased in equity value by multiple times. I would like to write for Seeking Alpha where my goal is to help investors cut through the noise and to focus on fundamentals and the company’s competitive outlook instead of the momentum trade. Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.