Options Activity Puts First Bancorp in Focus

Heightened options activity around First Bancorp (FBNC), particularly the August 21, 2026 call contracts with unusually high implied volatility, has drawn fresh attention to the stock and its near term price swings.

At a share price of $64.43, First Bancorp has paired a 6.9% 30 day share price return and 26.6% year to date share price return with a 37.4% 1 year total shareholder return. This suggests momentum has been building as traders reassess both growth potential and risk, especially in light of recent high implied volatility around the August 2026 call options.

If you are weighing how this options driven interest compares with opportunities elsewhere in financials, it could be a useful moment to broaden your search and review the 18 top founder-led companies

After First Bancorp’s strong recent run and options traders bracing for bigger swings, the next fork in the road is simple: buy at today’s price, or hold fire for a potentially better entry once valuation is clearer.

Price-to-Earnings of 22.1x: Is It Justified for First Bancorp?

On traditional valuation metrics, First Bancorp currently trades on a P/E of 22.1x, which sits above both its closest peers and the wider US Banks industry.

The P/E multiple compares the company’s share price to its earnings per share, so a higher P/E typically reflects investors placing a richer price on each dollar of current earnings. For a bank like First Bancorp, that often ties back to expectations around future earnings growth, perceived earnings quality, and the stability of its business model.

What stands out is how far this 22.1x P/E stretches beyond reference points. It is higher than the peer group average P/E of 13.3x and also above the broader US Banks industry average of 12.5x, which suggests the market is pricing in meaningfully stronger earnings prospects or lower perceived risk than for many banking peers. Compared with an estimated fair P/E of 17.3x, the current multiple is also above the level that regression based analysis suggests the market could potentially lean toward over time.

Result: Price-to-Earnings of 22.1x (OVERVALUED)

However, the current P/E premium means any disappointment in First Bancorp’s earnings profile, or a reset in sector sentiment, could quickly pressure both the stock and its options pricing.

Another View: What Our DCF Model Says About First Bancorp

While the 22.1x P/E suggests First Bancorp screens as expensive, the SWS DCF model points to a fair value of $52.99 versus today’s $64.43 share price. This also indicates the stock is overvalued. If both methods lean the same way, what is driving buyers at current levels?

Simply Wall St performs a discounted cash flow (DCF) on every stock in the world every day (check out First Bancorp for example). We show the entire calculation in full. You can track the result in your watchlist or portfolio and be alerted when this changes, or use our stock screener to discover 47 high quality undervalued stocks. If you save a screener we even alert you when new companies match - so you never miss a potential opportunity.

Next Steps

Given the mixed signals around First Bancorp, does the balance of risks and rewards line up with your own expectations, or tell a different story entirely? If you want to move quickly from headline impressions to a data grounded view, start by weighing the 3 key rewards and 1 important warning sign

Looking For More Ideas Beyond First Bancorp?

If you want to stress test what you see in First Bancorp against other opportunities, use targeted stock lists to quickly spot different risk and return profiles.

• Target reliable income by scanning for companies with resilient cash flows and sizeable yields using the 8 dividend fortresses.
• Hunt for quality on sale by comparing First Bancorp with the 47 high quality undervalued stocks that pair solid fundamentals with cheaper valuation multiples.
• Protect your downside by focusing on the 84 resilient stocks with low risk scores that combine steadier balance sheets with lower overall risk scores.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.