First Merchants (FRME) Insider Larry Myers Sells $420K of Stock

Larry Myers sold 10,000 shares of First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ: FRME) on June 12, 2026, at an average price of $42.00 per share, totaling $420,000. This transaction was not part of a pre-planned trading arrangement.

Insider Buying and Selling at First Merchants Corporation

Larry Myers has been active in trading First Merchants stock this year. On June 12, 2026, he sold 10,000 shares at $42.00 each. The day before, on June 11, he sold another 10,000 shares at $41.50 per share. Earlier in the year, on February 26, he sold 5,000 shares at $41.50. Other insiders, including Mung Chiang and Clark Kellogg, bought shares on March 31, 2026, at $38.73 each.

Other Institutional Activity in First Merchants Corporation

Institutional investors have also been adjusting their positions in First Merchants Corporation. BlackRock, Inc. increased its holdings by 255,670 shares, bringing its total to 4,899,356 shares valued at about $189.75 million. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP added 277,977 shares, ending with 3,596,017 shares worth $139.27 million. Meanwhile, Vanguard Portfolio Management LLC established a position with 3,359,034 shares valued at $130.10 million. Earnest Partners LLC reduced its stake by 54,782 shares, holding 2,255,590 shares valued at $87.36 million.

First Merchants Corporation Stock Up 3.0%

Shares of First Merchants Corporation are trading near $42.09. The company has a market capitalization of approximately $2.59 billion, with a P/E ratio of 12.14 and a forward P/E of 9.03. The stock's beta is 0.865, indicating lower volatility compared to the broader market. Over the past year, the stock has traded between $34.66 and $43.22. Its 50-day moving average is $40.33, and the 200-day moving average is $38.85.

Recent Earnings

For its recent quarter, First Merchants Corporation reported revenue of $637.81 million, with a slight decline of 2.5% from the previous period. The company achieved a net margin of 31.17% and a return on equity of 7.95%. Earnings per share came in at $3.39. The next earnings announcement is scheduled for July 22, 2026.

Dividend

First Merchants Corporation pays an annual dividend of $1.48, providing a yield of 3.6%. The dividend payout ratio stands at 42.48%, indicating a balanced approach to returning capital to shareholders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Piper Sandler maintained its 'buy' rating on First Merchants Corporation on February 4, 2026, with a price target of $49. The consensus among analysts is a 'buy' recommendation, with an average target price of $47.60 based on five opinions.

About First Merchants Corporation

First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company based in Muncie, Indiana. It operates First Merchants Bank, offering a wide range of financial services, including commercial and consumer banking, wealth management, and investment services. The company serves customers across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan through various banking locations and digital platforms. Founded in 1893, it employs over 2,000 people under the leadership of CEO Mark K. Hardwick.

Bottom Line

Larry Myers' recent sale of shares in First Merchants Corporation is a notable transaction for investors to watch. The company's stock remains a point of interest with its solid financial metrics and positive analyst ratings. As always, it's important to remember that insider transactions are just one piece of the puzzle, and 13F filings provide a backward-looking view of institutional holdings.