Catalyst Bancorp Announces Acquisition of Lakeside Bancshares

Catalyst Bancorp ( (CLST) ) has shared an update.

On April 7, 2026, Catalyst Bancorp and its subsidiary Catalyst Bank entered into a definitive share exchange and merger agreement to acquire Lakeside Bancshares and Lakeside Bank in an all-cash deal. Under the unanimously approved transaction, Lakeside shareholders are to receive $19.58 per share, or about $41.1 million in total, with closing targeted for the third quarter of 2026 subject to customary regulatory and shareholder approvals.

The deal will more than double Catalyst’s size, creating a combined institution with roughly $627.3 million in assets, $399.9 million in loans and $470.0 million in deposits based on year-end 2025 figures. Catalyst expects the merger to be sharply accretive to earnings per share once cost savings are realized, to enhance growth prospects in Southwest Louisiana, and to preserve Lakeside’s community banking focus while maintaining strong post-transaction capital ratios without raising new capital.

Directors of Lakeside Bancshares and Lakeside Bank have entered support agreements committing their shares in favor of the merger and signed restrictive covenants, reinforcing deal certainty and limiting competing bids. The transaction is seen as a strategic expansion for Catalyst in Southwest Louisiana, leveraging Lakeside’s local franchise and customer relationships while integrating operations under Catalyst’s larger platform.

The most recent analyst rating on (CLST) stock is a Buy with a $18.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Catalyst Bancorp stock, see the CLST Stock Forecast page.

Spark’s Take on CLST Stock

According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, CLST is a Neutral.

The score is driven primarily by the improved 2025 financial turnaround and a conservatively levered balance sheet, reinforced by positive technical trend signals. The main offset is valuation, with a relatively high P/E and no dividend yield provided, while multi-year earnings volatility keeps the overall assessment from scoring higher.

To see Spark’s full report on CLST stock, click here.

More about Catalyst Bancorp

Catalyst Bancorp, Inc., a Louisiana-based registered bank holding company, is the parent of Catalyst Bank, which operates six full-service branches across the Acadiana region and had $282.9 million in assets as of December 31, 2025. Catalyst Bank, formerly St. Landry Homestead Federal Savings Bank, provides commercial and retail banking services focused on fueling business growth and improving lives in south-central Louisiana.

Lakeside Bancshares, Inc. is a Louisiana bank holding company for Lakeside Bank, a full-service financial institution founded in 2010 that operates four branches in Calcasieu Parish. As of December 31, 2025, Lakeside reported $385.7 million in assets, $236.3 million in loans and $287.5 million in deposits, serving customers across Southwest Louisiana.

Average Trading Volume: 4,665

Technical Sentiment Signal: Buy

Current Market Cap: $68.28M

Find detailed analytics on CLST stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.