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Business First Bancshares ( (BFST) ) has issued an update.
On January 22, 2026, Business First Bancshares reported unaudited results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025, highlighting a strong year of earnings growth and balance sheet expansion. Quarterly net income available to common shareholders was $21.0 million, slightly down from the prior quarter, while core net income rose to $23.5 million, reflecting improved underlying profitability; for the full year, net income jumped to $82.5 million, with core net income of $83.5 million, both significantly higher than 2024. The bank posted robust loan and deposit growth in the fourth quarter, with loans held for investment up 2.8% and deposits up 2.95%, driven largely by commercial and real estate activity in Louisiana and a sizable contribution from Texas-based lending, while net interest margin remained stable around the mid‑3% range as funding costs eased. Shareholder value improved through a board-approved stock repurchase program and rising book and tangible book value per share, and the board declared both preferred and common dividends tied to fourth-quarter performance, though credit metrics showed some pressure from a single deteriorated $25.8 million commercial real estate relationship that pushed nonperforming loan and asset ratios higher and necessitated continued provisioning for credit losses.
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.
The score is primarily driven by solid financial performance (profitability and improving free cash flow) and supportive valuation (low P/E with a dividend). These positives are tempered by weaker near-term technical momentum (RSI/Stoch signaling weakness and price below the 20-day average), while a generally positive earnings outlook and the completed merger integration provide additional support.
To see Spark’s full report on BFST stock, click here.
More about Business First Bancshares
Business First Bancshares, Inc., headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is a bank holding company and the parent of b1BANK, operating in commercial and retail banking. The company focuses on loan and deposit services, including commercial and residential real estate lending, with a notable concentration of its loan portfolio in Texas and strong regional activity in Southwest and Southeast Louisiana.
Average Trading Volume: 119,218
Technical Sentiment Signal: Buy
Current Market Cap: $791M
For a thorough assessment of BFST stock, go to TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.