Keefe Bruyette analyst Michael Perito downgraded Farmers National Banc to Market Perform citing valuation following the recent rally in the shares. The analyst has a $16 price target for the stock.

Reports Q1 net interest income for the three months ended March 31 totaled $31.7 M ompared to $36.6M in the first quarter of 2023. Average earning assets have declined $69.3M when comparing the first quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2023 due to the runoff in investment securities exceeding the growth in loan balances. In addition, the net interest margin has declined from 3.07% in the first quarter of 2023 to 2.70% in the first quarter of 2024. The decline in net interest margin between the first quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2023 was due to increased funding costs outstripping the increase in yields on earning assets. This increase in funding costs has been due to the rapid increase in deposit rates due to intense competition for deposits, the Federal Reserve's rate hiking cycle, and runoff of deposit balances which are being replaced with more costly wholesale funding. .Kevin J. Helmick, President and CEO, stated, "I am encouraged by the solid start to 2024 as we focus on leveraging the investments we made over the past year, pursuing actions to strategically improve our balance sheet, and maintaining the Company's longstanding commitment to strong asset quality. While we expect the economic and interest rate environment to remain fluid in 2024, we believe we are well positioned to help our local communities build a better future by continuing to provide our customers with leading financial services."