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Bank First National Corporation (BFC)
NASDAQ:BFC

Bank First National (BFC) AI Stock Analysis

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BFC

Bank First National

(NASDAQ:BFC)

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Neutral 65 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:65Neutral
Price Target:
$145.00
â–²(4.21% Upside)
Action:DowngradedDate:02/28/26
The score is primarily held back by the latest-year cash flow deterioration and reduced capital efficiency (ROE decline) despite strong reported profitability and conservative leverage. Valuation is supported by a strong dividend yield and a reasonable P/E, while technicals suggest near-term weakness/oversold conditions. Recent corporate events are constructive (completed merger and governance additions), but integration execution remains a key watch item.
Positive Factors
Strong Profitability & Margins
Bank First reported high net margins (~29.7% in 2025), indicating durable profitability and operating leverage in core banking activities. Sustained margins support internal capital build, dividend capacity, and the ability to absorb credit volatility, underpinning long-term earnings resilience.
Consistent Revenue and EPS Growth
Mid-single-digit revenue growth with double-digit EPS expansion reflects improving top-line traction and efficient cost conversion. This trend suggests steady loan demand and fee income growth, enabling incremental profitability and scale benefits over the medium term as the franchise expands.
Conservative Leverage / Balance-Sheet Resilience
Improving debt-to-equity and a meaningful equity increase bolster loss-absorbing capacity and regulatory headroom. A conservative leverage profile enhances resilience to credit cycles, supports continued lending activity, and provides flexibility for organic growth or disciplined acquisitions.
Negative Factors
Deteriorated Operating & Free Cash Flow
A shift to negative operating and free cash flow in 2025 is a structural concern: earnings are not translating into cash, reducing financial flexibility. Persistent cash deficits could constrain dividend coverage, capital deployment, or require external funding, elevating execution risk over months.
Declining Capital Efficiency (ROE)
A sharp ROE decline signals weaker capital efficiency and returns to shareholders. Combined with a large equity increase, this suggests earnings must scale materially to restore prior returns; failure to do so could pressure strategic choices and long-term shareholder value creation.
Merger Integration & Systems Conversion Risk
The Centre 1 Bancorp merger expands the franchise but requires a May 2026 systems conversion and integration of operations. Such transitions carry durable operational risks—customer attrition, IT outages, higher expenses—that can depress margins and credit performance if not executed cleanly.

Bank First National (BFC) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Bank First National Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionBank First Corporation operates as a holding company for Bank First N.A. that provides consumer and commercial financial services to businesses, professionals, consumers, associations, individuals, and governmental authorities in Wisconsin. The company offers checking, savings, money market, cash management, retirement, and health savings accounts; other time deposits; certificates of deposit; and residential mortgage products. It also provides credit cards; ATM processing; insurance; data processing and other information technology; investment and safekeeping; treasury management; and online, telephone, and mobile banking services. The company's loan products include real estate loans, including commercial real estate, residential mortgage, and home equity loans; commercial and industrial loans for working capital, accounts receivable, inventory financing, and other business purposes; construction and development loans; residential 1-4 family loans; and consumer loans for personal and household purposes, including secured and unsecured installment loans, and revolving lines of credit. It operates through 21 offices in Manitowoc, Outagamie, Brown, Winnebago, Sheboygan, Waupaca, Ozaukee, Monroe, and Jefferson counties in Wisconsin. The company was formerly known as Bank First National Corporation and changed its name to Bank First Corporation in June 2019. Bank First Corporation was founded in 1894 and is headquartered in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
How the Company Makes MoneyBank First National generates revenue primarily through interest income from loans and mortgages, which constitutes a significant portion of its earnings. The bank lends money to individuals and businesses at interest rates higher than the rates it pays on deposits, capturing the spread between these rates. Additionally, BFC earns non-interest income through fees associated with account services, ATM transactions, and various financial products. The bank also engages in investment activities, contributing to its revenue through interest and gains from securities. Strategic partnerships with local businesses and community organizations enhance its service offerings and customer base, further boosting its financial performance.

Bank First National Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Strong profitability and solid revenue growth support fundamentals, and leverage looks conservative. However, the latest year shows a major deterioration in cash flow (slightly negative operating and free cash flow) and a sharp drop in ROE, which materially reduces overall financial quality.
Income Statement
82
Very Positive
Profitability is a clear strength: the company posts consistently strong margins, with net profit margin near ~29.7% in 2025 (annual) and solid operating profitability. Revenue growth has also been robust over time (notably strong expansion in 2023 and 2025), supporting earnings growth. The key weakness is that profitability has moderated from peak levels in 2023 (lower margins and EBIT/EBITDA levels vs. that high-water mark), suggesting some normalization in the earnings power versus the prior year’s exceptional performance.
Balance Sheet
74
Positive
Leverage appears conservative, with debt-to-equity improving meaningfully in 2025 (annual) versus prior years, which supports balance-sheet resilience for a regional bank. However, return on equity declined sharply in 2025 (annual) versus 2023–2024 levels, indicating weaker capital efficiency. Stockholders’ equity also shows a very large jump in 2025 (annual) relative to prior years, which may be beneficial for safety but can dilute returns if earnings do not scale accordingly.
Cash Flow
38
Negative
Cash flow quality is the weakest area: 2025 (annual) shows slightly negative operating cash flow and free cash flow, a major deterioration versus consistently positive cash generation in 2020–2024. Free cash flow growth is deeply negative in 2025 (annual), and cash generation no longer supports reported profitability in that period. Strength-wise, the prior-year track record (2020–2024) was healthy, with positive operating cash flow and free cash flow, but the latest year introduces meaningful volatility and execution risk.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue240.45M223.24M186.47M130.77M116.78M
Gross Profit169.14M155.44M132.79M116.12M105.38M
EBITDA93.76M87.56M107.19M63.61M63.15M
Net Income71.50M65.56M74.51M45.21M45.44M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets4.42B4.50B4.22B3.66B2.94B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments219.77M414.29M407.44M424.38M509.55M
Total Debt123.55M147.37M127.14M122.63M66.63M
Total Liabilities2.76B3.86B3.60B3.21B2.61B
Stockholders Equity643.84M639.68M619.80M453.10M322.65M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-115.73M58.62M39.46M33.14M31.57M
Operating Cash Flow-214.00K65.85M52.95M40.01M40.28M
Investing Cash Flow57.36M-252.94M269.00M-177.81M-93.89M
Financing Cash Flow-73.81M200.95M-193.82M-39.71M180.24M

Bank First National Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price139.14
Price Trends
50DMA
135.59
Positive
100DMA
131.16
Positive
200DMA
125.93
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.17
Positive
RSI
46.01
Neutral
STOCH
30.65
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For BFC, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 139.14 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 144.13, above the 50-day MA of 135.59, and above the 200-day MA of 125.93, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.17 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 46.01 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 30.65 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for BFC.

Bank First National Risk Analysis

Bank First National disclosed 40 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Bank First National 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

Bank First National Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (68)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
75
Outperform
$1.23B10.3712.35%2.57%5.21%24.51%
71
Outperform
$1.25B10.2313.05%3.70%-13.17%-16.37%
69
Neutral
$1.45B9.4610.78%1.34%1.31%2.02%
68
Neutral
$18.00B11.429.92%3.81%9.73%1.22%
67
Neutral
$1.21B8.9016.91%2.99%-3.05%-0.51%
65
Neutral
$1.56B16.7611.18%3.99%14.13%-12.75%
64
Neutral
$1.34B8.365.70%2.68%15.55%-28.10%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
BFC
Bank First National
139.14
41.65
42.73%
PFBC
Preferred Bank
90.26
8.51
10.41%
RBCAA
Republic Bancorp
70.54
6.72
10.53%
WABC
Westamerica Bancorporation
51.36
2.93
6.05%
CNOB
ConnectOne Bancorp
26.61
3.11
13.22%
BY
Byline Bancorp
31.92
4.78
17.63%

Bank First National Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesM&A Transactions
Bank First National Adds Veteran Director Amid Merger Integration
Positive
Jan 20, 2026

On January 20, 2026, Bank First Corporation announced that veteran community banker Steven M. Eldred had been elected to the boards of both Bank First and Bank First Corporation, effective January 13, 2026, for a three-year term to begin following shareholder approval at the company’s June 15, 2026 annual meeting. Eldred’s appointment, made in connection with Bank First’s merger with Centre 1 Bancorp, Inc., brings more than 40 years of experience in community banking, extensive board tenure, and deep civic and regional ties in the Beloit area, reinforcing the bank’s emphasis on community-focused governance and strategic growth as it integrates FNBT and advances its position in its Midwest markets.

The most recent analyst rating on (BFC) stock is a Hold with a $138.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Bank First National stock, see the BFC Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesM&A Transactions
Bank First Completes Merger with Centre 1 Bancorp
Positive
Jan 2, 2026

On January 1, 2026, Bank First Corporation completed its previously announced merger with Centre 1 Bancorp, Inc., in which Centre was merged into Bank First Corporation and Centre’s banking subsidiary, The First National Bank and Trust Company, was merged into Bank First, N.A., with Bank First as the surviving bank. Former Centre shareholders received 0.9200 shares of Bank First common stock for each Centre share, leading to the issuance of approximately 1,382,978 new Bank First shares, while existing Bank First shares were unaffected. Announced publicly on January 2, 2026, the transaction significantly broadens Bank First’s franchise and capabilities: First National Bank and Trust will operate as a division of Bank First until a planned systems conversion in May 2026, after which all locations will move to a unified Bank First brand and digital platform, and the combined organization will span 38 branches with roughly $6 billion in assets, strengthening its competitive position and service offering in Wisconsin and the Stateline area of Illinois. As part of integrating leadership and governance, Centre’s Chairman and CEO Steve Eldred will join the boards of Bank First Corporation and Bank First, N.A.

The most recent analyst rating on (BFC) stock is a Buy with a $146.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Bank First National stock, see the BFC 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: Feb 28, 2026