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Business First Bancshares ( (BFST) ) just unveiled an update.
On July 7, 2025, Business First Bancshares, Inc. announced a definitive agreement to acquire Progressive Bancorp, Inc., with the merger expected to close in early 2026. This acquisition will increase Business First’s total assets to approximately $8.5 billion and strengthen its market position in North Louisiana. The merger, unanimously approved by both companies’ boards, is anticipated to enhance Business First’s deposit and liquidity profiles, while maintaining the leading deposit market share among Louisiana-based banks. The transaction is subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, with Progressive shareholders set to own approximately 9.3% of the combined company post-merger.
The most recent analyst rating on (BFST) stock is a Buy with a $30.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Business First Bancshares stock, see the BFST Stock Forecast page.
Spark’s Take on BFST Stock
According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, BFST is a Outperform.
Business First Bancshares has a solid overall stock score driven by strong financial performance and a favorable valuation. While technical analysis presents mixed signals, the company’s strategic initiatives and positive corporate events bolster confidence. Challenges include maintaining loan and deposit growth amidst credit quality concerns, but overall, the company is well-positioned within its industry.
To see Spark’s full report on BFST stock, click here.
More about Business First Bancshares
Business First Bancshares Inc., through its banking subsidiary b1BANK, operates in the financial services industry, providing commercial and personal banking products and services across Louisiana and Texas. As of March 31, 2025, it has $7.8 billion in assets and $7.1 billion in assets under management. Progressive Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company for Progressive Bank, which offers a full range of banking products and services from nine branch locations across Louisiana, with $752 million in total assets as of March 31, 2025.
Average Trading Volume: 109,203
Technical Sentiment Signal: Strong Buy
Current Market Cap: $777.7M
Find detailed analytics on BFST stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.