Simmons First National Corporation Price & Performance (SFNC)

Empire State Realty Trust, Simmons First National, and Crown Castle all traded ex-dividend starting March 14. Empire State's quarterly dividend of $0.035 represents a 1.7% annualized yield. Investors observed price adjustments reflecting the dividend payouts, with Empire State's shares forecasted to open 0.43% lower due to the dividend adjustment.12

Simmons First National's dividend sustainability is under scrutiny as its earnings per share have dropped 13% annually over five years. While the company maintains a 69% payout ratio, analysts question its ability to sustain or grow dividends amid declining profits. The firm has increased dividends by an average of 6.8% annually over the past decade.23

Jackson Creek Investment Advisors recently purchased 66,171 shares of Simmons First National, reflecting continued institutional interest. The bank's shares opened at $20.56, with a market cap of $2.59 billion. Simmons First National has a 52-week trading range between $16.03 and $25.95, highlighting its stock's volatility over the past year.34