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BayFirst Financial Corp (BAFN)
NASDAQ:BAFN
US Market

BayFirst Financial Corp (BAFN) AI Stock Analysis

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BAFN

BayFirst Financial Corp

(NASDAQ:BAFN)

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Neutral 61 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:61Neutral
Price Target:
$8.50
▲(6.92% Upside)
The score is held back primarily by mixed fundamentals (higher leverage, weaker operating margin trends, and deteriorating free cash flow growth) and a challenging earnings backdrop with losses tied to restructuring. Technicals are neutral-to-weak with the stock below key longer-term moving averages. Offsetting factors include solid revenue growth, a ~4% dividend yield, and the strategic SBA 7(a) exit/loan sale that may improve risk profile, though liquidity-preservation actions add caution.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth Trajectory
A 50.9% TTM revenue gain signals durable top-line expansion across lending and mortgage activities, supporting scale and diversification of interest and fee income. Sustained revenue growth improves capacity to absorb restructuring costs and funds reinvestment in core community-banking initiatives over the next 2-6 months.
Operating Cash Flow Strength
Consistently strong operating cash flow and nearly 1x FCF-to-net income indicate efficient cash conversion from earnings. This durable cash generation supports liquidity, funds core lending and deposit growth, and provides flexibility to execute the strategic pivot away from SBA exposure without immediate capital raises.
Balance-sheet De-risking via SBA Sale
The $94.6M SBA 7(a) loan sale materially reduces concentration and unguaranteed SBA exposure, raising capital ratios. Improved regulatory capital and lower portfolio risk strengthen the franchise's ability to pursue community banking growth and reduce earnings volatility over the medium term.
Negative Factors
Higher Leverage
Rising leverage (D/E 0.57) with falling ROE signals higher financial risk and reduced shareholder returns. Elevated debt levels constrain capital flexibility, increase interest burden, and limit capacity for organic growth or acquisitions, making balance-sheet repair and deleveraging a multi-quarter priority.
Large Net Loss and Restructuring
A sizable net loss driven by a $7.3M restructuring charge reflects a costly business transition away from SBA lending. Such losses erode capital and require several quarters to reverse, delaying return to normalized profitability and pressuring credit metrics and management bandwidth during the strategic reset.
Negative Free Cash Flow Growth
Negative free cash flow growth, even with solid operating cash flow, indicates higher investing or financing outflows and weaker cash available for debt reduction or shareholder returns. Persisting FCF declines can necessitate external financing or covenant concessions, limiting strategic options over ensuing quarters.

BayFirst Financial Corp (BAFN) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

BayFirst Financial Corp Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionBayFirst Financial Corp (BAFN) is a financial services holding company based in the United States, primarily engaged in providing a range of banking and financial services through its subsidiary, BayFirst National Bank. The company operates in various sectors, including commercial banking, mortgage banking, and wealth management. Its core products and services include personal and business loans, deposit accounts, mortgage origination and servicing, and investment advisory services, catering to both individual and commercial clients.
How the Company Makes MoneyBayFirst Financial Corp generates revenue through multiple key streams. The primary source of income is interest income from loans, which includes personal loans, commercial loans, and mortgages. The company earns interest on the loans it issues to borrowers, which is a critical aspect of its banking operations. Additionally, BayFirst generates non-interest income through fees associated with banking services, such as account maintenance fees, transaction fees, and service charges. The mortgage division contributes further revenue through origination and servicing fees, as well as secondary market sales of mortgages. Strategic partnerships with other financial institutions and service providers enhance its product offerings and can lead to additional revenue opportunities. Overall, the combination of interest and non-interest income streams forms the backbone of BayFirst's revenue model.

BayFirst Financial Corp Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 30, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Jan 29, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Negative
The earnings call presented a challenging quarter for BayFirst Financial Corp. with significant net losses and restructuring charges as the company transitions away from its SBA 7(a) lending business. While there were positive signs such as an increase in deposit balances and a reduction in net charge-offs, the lowlights, including decreased net interest margin and higher nonperforming assets, were more prominent.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strategic Transition to Community Banking
BayFirst Financial Corp. is exiting the SBA 7(a) lending business, which previously contributed to operating losses, and selling a large portion of this portfolio to Banesco USA. The transition aims to refocus on being a premier community bank in the Tampa Bay area.
Increase in Deposit Balances
Total deposit balances increased by $7.7 million or 0.7% during the third quarter of 2025 and by $59.3 million or 5.3% over the past year to $1.17 billion, with more than 84% of deposits insured by the FDIC.
Net Charge-offs Reduction
Net charge-offs, primarily from unguaranteed SBA 7(a) balances, were $3.3 million, which was a reduction of $3.5 million compared to the second quarter.
Negative Updates
Significant Net Loss
The company reported a net loss of $18.9 million in the third quarter, compared to a net loss of $1.2 million in the second quarter.
Restructuring Charges
A restructuring charge of $7.3 million was recorded, including $2.9 million to write off assets and prepaid expenses related to the SBA 7(a) lending business, and $3.9 million in personnel-specific costs.
Decreased Net Interest Margin
The net interest margin decreased by 45 basis points to 3.61% in the third quarter, impacted by onetime adjustments.
Noninterest Income Decline
Noninterest income was a negative $1 million for the third quarter, a significant decrease from $10.8 million in the second quarter, primarily due to the decrease of gains on the sale of SBA 7(a) loans.
Higher Nonperforming Assets
Nonperforming assets were 1.97% of total assets as of September 30, 2025, up from 1.79% at June 30, 2025.
Company Guidance
During the BayFirst Financial Corp. Q3 2025 Conference Call, CEO Tom Zernick outlined the company's strategic shift to exit the SBA 7(a) lending business and focus on their core community banking model. The company reported a net loss of $18.9 million for the third quarter, a significant increase from the $1.2 million loss in the previous quarter, largely due to a $7.3 million restructuring charge and adjustments related to the sale of a substantial portion of their SBA 7(a) portfolio to Banesco USA. This sale, priced at a 3% discount, is expected to close later in the quarter, though it has been delayed by a federal government shutdown. The company also saw a decrease in loans held for investment by $127.1 million and a slight increase in total deposits by $7.7 million during the quarter. Despite a dip in net interest margin to 3.61%, Zernick expressed confidence in achieving a 4% target by reducing deposit costs and appropriately pricing loans. The company aims for a positive return on assets of 40 to 70 basis points in 2026, supported by a focus on resolving nonperforming loans and improving credit quality.

BayFirst Financial Corp Financial Statement Overview

Summary
BayFirst Financial Corp demonstrates solid revenue growth and profitability improvements in the TTM period. However, increased leverage and declining cash flow growth present potential risks. The company needs to manage its debt levels and improve operational efficiency to sustain its financial health.
Income Statement
BayFirst Financial Corp has shown a strong revenue growth trajectory, particularly in the TTM period with a 50.9% increase. The gross profit margin remains robust at 49.18%, although it has decreased from previous years. Net profit margin has improved to 7.62% in the TTM, indicating better profitability. However, the EBIT and EBITDA margins have declined compared to the previous year, suggesting potential operational challenges.
Balance Sheet
The company's debt-to-equity ratio has increased to 0.57 in the TTM, indicating higher leverage compared to previous years. Return on equity has decreased to 8.66%, reflecting reduced profitability on shareholder investments. The equity ratio remains stable, suggesting a balanced asset structure, but the increased debt level poses a risk.
Cash Flow
Operating cash flow remains strong, although it has decreased in the TTM. Free cash flow growth has turned negative, indicating potential cash management issues. The free cash flow to net income ratio is nearly 1, showing efficient cash conversion, but the decline in free cash flow growth is a concern.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue90.77M125.24M110.85M66.41M63.35M134.09M
Gross Profit43.61M65.73M68.32M58.54M59.55M106.92M
EBITDA18.20M25.71M14.79M12.01M16.05M20.84M
Net Income8.20M12.60M5.70M-349.00K24.62M12.70M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets1.35B1.29B1.12B938.89M917.10M1.54B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments0.0088.94M102.61M113.28M143.00M57.76M
Total Debt71.11M22.40M20.96M37.37M12.71M13.63M
Total Liabilities1.26B1.18B1.02B847.01M820.80M1.47B
Stockholders Equity89.73M110.92M100.71M91.88M96.29M71.07M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow97.48M388.84M447.21M432.19M482.27M-110.87M
Operating Cash Flow97.46M390.53M454.80M440.25M495.39M-107.82M
Investing Cash Flow-324.87M-515.93M-641.28M-510.61M207.62M-933.38M
Financing Cash Flow96.81M144.80M178.82M26.67M-648.66M985.98M

BayFirst Financial Corp Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price7.95
Price Trends
50DMA
8.13
Negative
100DMA
8.62
Negative
200DMA
11.62
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.12
Negative
RSI
36.38
Neutral
STOCH
32.37
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For BAFN, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 7.95 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 7.86, below the 50-day MA of 8.13, and below the 200-day MA of 11.62, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.12 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 36.38 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 32.37 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for BAFN.

BayFirst Financial Corp Risk Analysis

BayFirst Financial Corp disclosed 59 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. BayFirst Financial Corp reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

BayFirst Financial Corp Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
73
Outperform
$49.94M3.7715.03%14.91%0.81%
71
Outperform
$55.25M11.968.21%3.21%0.32%37.93%
68
Neutral
$53.37M10.684.54%3.87%6.89%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
61
Neutral
$31.11M-2.43-11.14%4.10%1.63%-508.72%
55
Neutral
$49.11M20.184.74%1.10%12.12%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
BAFN
BayFirst Financial Corp
7.57
-5.65
-42.74%
ASRV
Ameriserv Financial
3.23
0.68
26.67%
HFBL
Home Federal Bancorp Of Louisiana
17.89
4.92
37.93%
OPHC
Optimumbank Holdings
4.33
-0.16
-3.56%
TCBS
Texas Community
16.85
1.94
13.01%
PBBK
PB Bankshares
19.81
4.63
30.50%

BayFirst Financial Corp Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
BayFirst Financial amends debt terms to preserve liquidity
Negative
Jan 6, 2026

On December 29, 2025, BayFirst Financial Corp. amended the terms of its $6.0 million 4.5% subordinated notes due June 30, 2031, effective December 26, 2025, so that instead of making cash interest payments, the company will capitalize interest by adding it to the principal balance through June 30, 2026, and, if amounts remain unpaid at that date, may either pay holders an additional 3% of outstanding principal or increase the principal by 3%. As of December 31, 2025, the notes carried a principal of $6.0 million at 4.5% interest and the company also obtained agreement from First National Bankers Bank on December 30, 2025, to defer a quarterly interest payment on a $1.6 million term loan at 6.75% from December 10, 2025, to March 10, 2026, signaling a strategy to preserve liquidity and manage near-term cash outflows by restructuring and deferring interest obligations to creditors.

The most recent analyst rating on (BAFN) stock is a Hold with a $8.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on BayFirst Financial Corp stock, see the BAFN Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
BayFirst Financial Schedules Q4 2025 Results Release
Neutral
Dec 31, 2025

On December 31, 2025, BayFirst Financial Corp. announced plans to release its fourth-quarter 2025 financial results after the market close on January 29, 2026, followed by a management-hosted conference call and simultaneous webcast on January 30, 2026, to discuss the results. The scheduled disclosure and investor call underscore the company’s efforts to maintain transparency with shareholders and the broader market, providing stakeholders with a formal opportunity to assess BayFirst’s year-end performance and outlook in the context of its regional banking operations.

The most recent analyst rating on (BAFN) stock is a Hold with a $8.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on BayFirst Financial Corp stock, see the BAFN Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and Strategy
BayFirst Financial Exits SBA 7(a) Lending Business
Positive
Dec 15, 2025

On December 15, 2025, BayFirst Financial Corp. announced the completion of a $94.6 million loan sale to Banesco USA, marking its exit from the SBA 7(a) lending business. This strategic move is part of BayFirst’s efforts to derisk its balance sheet and enhance long-term growth and shareholder value. The sale improves the Bank’s total capital ratio to 10.1% and tier 1 leverage ratio to 6.8%. BayFirst continues to focus on its community bank mission, aiming to expand its presence in the Tampa Bay region through stable banking products and services.

The most recent analyst rating on (BAFN) stock is a Hold with a $8.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on BayFirst Financial Corp stock, see the BAFN Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
BayFirst Financial Reports Q3 2025 Loss Amid Restructuring
Negative
Nov 6, 2025

On October 31, 2025, BayFirst Financial Corp. held a conference call to discuss its financial results for the third quarter of 2025. The company reported an $18.9 million net loss, largely due to restructuring charges and the sale of its SBA 7(a) loan portfolio to Banesco USA. This strategic shift aims to derisk the balance sheet and focus on sustainable growth through community banking. Despite the losses, BayFirst is optimistic about returning to profitability in 2026 and enhancing shareholder value by strengthening its community banking operations.

The most recent analyst rating on (BAFN) stock is a Hold with a $9.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on BayFirst Financial Corp stock, see the BAFN Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 07, 2026