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Business First Bancshares Inc (BFST)
NASDAQ:BFST

Business First Bancshares (BFST) AI Stock Analysis

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Business First Bancshares

(NASDAQ:BFST)

66Neutral
Business First Bancshares demonstrates solid financial performance and attractive valuation, indicating a stable financial position with good growth prospects. Technical analysis suggests caution due to current bearish trends. The earnings call and recent corporate events reflect a balanced outlook with a focus on profitability and strategic growth. Despite some credit quality concerns and deposit outflows, the company remains well-positioned in its industry.

Business First Bancshares (BFST) vs. S&P 500 (SPY)

Business First Bancshares Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionBusiness First Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for b1BANK that provides various banking products and services. It offers various deposit products and services, including checking, demand, money market, time, and savings accounts; and certificates of deposits, remote deposit capture, and direct deposit services. The company also provides commercial and industrial loans, such as commercial lines of credit, letters of credit, working capital, term, equipment financing, asset acquisition, expansion and development, borrowing base, and other loan products; construction and development loans; commercial real estate loans; residential real estate loans comprising first and second lien 1-4 family mortgage loans, and home equity lines of credit; and consumer loans, including secured and unsecured installment and term loans. In addition, it offers wealth management products, including mutual funds, annuities, individual retirement accounts, and other financial products, as well as other fiduciary services and private banking products and services. Further, the company provides a range of other financial services comprising debit and credit cards, treasury and cash management, merchant, automated clearing house, lock-box, receivables factoring, correspondent banking, and other treasury services, as well as employee and payroll benefits solutions; and drive-through banking facilities, automated teller machines, night depository, personalized checks, electronic funds transfer, domestic and foreign wire transfer, traveler's checks, vault, loan and deposit sweep accounts, online and mobile banking, e-statements, and bank-by-mail services. As of March 01, 2022, it operates approximately 48 full-service banking centers and three loan production offices across Louisiana, and in the Dallas and Houston markets. Business First Bancshares, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
How the Company Makes MoneyBusiness First Bancshares generates revenue primarily through interest income from its lending activities, which include commercial, real estate, and consumer loans. The company earns money by charging interest on these loans, which constitutes the majority of its income. Additionally, BFST makes money through non-interest income streams such as service charges on deposit accounts, fees from treasury management and other financial services, and investment securities gains. Strategic partnerships and a commitment to community banking further enhance BFST's ability to drive growth and maintain a stable, diversified revenue base.

Business First Bancshares Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Business First Bancshares exhibits strong financial health with consistent revenue growth and effective cost management reflected in its profit margins. The balance sheet is robust, with substantial equity and no debt as of 2024, reducing financial risk. Cash flow performance is solid, though impacted by investment activities.
Income Statement
72
Positive
Business First Bancshares has demonstrated strong revenue growth over the years, with Total Revenue increasing from $90.9 million in 2019 to $414.8 million in 2024. The Gross Profit Margin remains high at 100% due to the nature of banking revenue. However, the Net Profit Margin has shown some fluctuations, reaching 15.7% in 2024, slightly down from previous years. EBIT margins are unavailable, but the trend in Net Income suggests effective cost management.
Balance Sheet
68
Positive
The company's balance sheet is characterized by a strong equity base, with Stockholders’ Equity increasing steadily to $799.5 million in 2024. The Equity Ratio improved to 10.2% in 2024, indicating a solid equity position relative to Total Assets. The absence of Total Debt in 2024 suggests prudent financial management. Nonetheless, the Debt-to-Equity Ratio in prior years reflected moderate leverage, which has since been mitigated.
Cash Flow
65
Positive
Operating Cash Flow has shown variability but remains positive, with $61.4 million in 2024. The Free Cash Flow to Net Income Ratio is consistent, indicating healthy cash generation relative to earnings. However, the Free Cash Flow Growth Rate has been inconsistent, impacted by significant fluctuations in Investing Cash Flow, reflecting investment activities. Operating Cash Flow to Net Income Ratio remains robust, underscoring efficient cash management.
Breakdown
Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income StatementTotal Revenue
414.76M247.42M227.54M186.56M149.21M
Gross Profit
414.76M245.83M227.54M186.56M149.21M
EBIT
-275.69M129.73M103.09M64.56M36.78M
EBITDA
0.000.000.000.000.00
Net Income Common Stockholders
65.11M71.04M54.26M52.14M29.99M
Balance SheetCash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
1.21B377.24M1.04B1.09B789.74M
Total Assets
7.86B6.58B5.99B4.73B4.16B
Total Debt
460.63M616.19M525.86M168.47M84.17M
Net Debt
141.54M390.08M373.12M100.09M-64.97M
Total Liabilities
7.06B5.94B5.41B4.29B3.75B
Stockholders Equity
799.47M644.26M580.48M433.37M409.96M
Cash FlowFree Cash Flow
61.40M80.78M61.80M52.47M26.37M
Operating Cash Flow
61.40M92.43M69.58M56.44M29.34M
Investing Cash Flow
-294.91M-521.14M-700.52M-675.35M-475.30M
Financing Cash Flow
326.50M502.08M715.31M538.15M505.72M

Business First Bancshares Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price23.05
Price Trends
50DMA
24.20
Negative
100DMA
25.32
Negative
200DMA
25.18
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.27
Negative
RSI
47.79
Neutral
STOCH
53.23
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For BFST, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 23.05 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 22.63, below the 50-day MA of 24.20, and below the 200-day MA of 25.18, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.27 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 47.79 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 53.23 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for BFST.

Business First Bancshares Risk Analysis

Business First Bancshares disclosed 57 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Business First Bancshares 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

Business First Bancshares Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
ESESQ
79
Outperform
$699.14M15.7019.66%0.74%16.18%13.78%
75
Outperform
$700.35M10.7016.05%3.06%8.80%30.31%
73
Outperform
$686.92M8.8113.55%3.35%12.26%-6.93%
73
Outperform
$691.08M10.738.84%4.41%5.19%-10.86%
66
Neutral
$682.53M9.489.77%2.39%18.34%-4.12%
CPCPF
65
Neutral
$696.61M12.0110.94%4.04%4.39%4.94%
63
Neutral
$12.37B9.567.95%79.17%12.62%-5.26%
* Financial Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
BFST
Business First Bancshares
23.05
2.82
13.94%
CPF
Central Pacific Financial
25.69
6.18
31.68%
HAFC
Hanmi Financial
22.87
7.95
53.28%
MBWM
Mercantile Bank
42.31
6.03
16.62%
ESQ
Esquire Financial Holdings
82.92
35.76
75.83%
MCBS
MetroCity Bankshares
27.57
4.02
17.07%

Business First Bancshares Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Apr 24, 2025
(Q1-2025)
|
% Change Since: -2.50%|
Next Earnings Date:Jul 24, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong profitability, capital management, and noninterest revenue growth, alongside successful integration efforts. However, concerns were raised regarding balance sheet contraction, credit quality issues, and challenges in achieving loan and deposit growth. The sentiment is balanced.
Q1-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Profitability and Core Net Interest Margin Expansion
Profitability remains consistent with core ROAA exceeding 1%. Core net interest margin expanded by eight basis points for the linked quarter.
Capital and Expense Management
Continued build in capital levels with TCE exceeding expectations and TRBC ratio over 13%. Improved expense management with better-than-expected expense trends.
Noninterest Revenue Growth
Strong noninterest revenue with significant contributions from swap fees, SBA loan gains on sales, and SPIC investments.
Successful Integration of Oakwood Bank
Integration of Oakwood Bank proceeding as expected with conversion set for September. Positive cultural fit with the Oakwood team.
Improvement in Funding Costs
Total interest-bearing deposits cost declined 18 basis points from the linked quarter. Weighted average total cost of deposits for the first quarter was 2.69%, down 12 basis points.
Negative Updates
Balance Sheet Contraction
Loans remained flat on a linked quarter basis, while deposits decreased by $53 million.
Credit Quality Concerns
Modest negative credit migration due to two C&I relationships. NPAs increased by 27 basis points from 0.42% in Q4 to 0.69% in Q1.
Challenges in Loan Growth
Higher paydowns and payoffs, particularly from construction loans, led to flat loan balances.
Deposit Outflows
Net decreases in noninterest-bearing deposits of $48.7 million. Customer withdrawals rather than full account closures were the primary driver.
Company Guidance
During the Business First Bancshares, Inc. Q1 2025 earnings call, the company provided several key metrics and insights into their financial performance and strategic direction. The core Return on Average Assets (ROAA) exceeded 1%, while new and renewed loan yields averaged 7.71%. The core net interest margin expanded by eight basis points compared to the previous quarter, driven by a downward trend in funding costs. The company's tangible common equity (TCE) ratio surpassed a certain threshold, and the total risk-based capital (TRBC) ratio exceeded 13%. Noninterest revenue was bolstered by strong swap fees and Small Business Administration (SBA) loan gains, with investments in IT and infrastructure contributing to improved efficiency ratios. Despite a $53 million decline in deposits, the company maintained flat loan growth, prioritizing net interest margin over volume. Additionally, two commercial and industrial (C&I) relationships experienced negative credit migration, but overall credit quality remained stable. The call highlighted the successful integration of Oakwood Bank, with a full conversion expected in September. Looking ahead, the company aims to continue its focus on expense management and explore opportunities for growth within its current footprint.

Business First Bancshares Corporate Events

DividendsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Business First Bancshares Reports Strong Q1 2025 Results
Positive
Apr 24, 2025

On April 24, 2025, Business First Bancshares announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, reporting a net income of $19.2 million, an increase from the previous quarter. The company highlighted solid earnings, capital growth, and strategic investments in technology and acquisitions, which are expected to enhance service efficiency. The board declared dividends for both preferred and common shareholders, reflecting strong financial performance. Despite a slight decrease in deposits and some credit quality regression, the company saw improvements in net interest margin and noninterest income, driven by successful loan sales and equity investments.

Spark’s Take on BFST Stock

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

Business First Bancshares is fundamentally strong, with a solid financial position and promising growth as highlighted in the earnings call. However, current technical indicators suggest caution due to bearish trends. Valuation metrics show the stock is attractively priced, providing a balance between risk and potential return.

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

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
Business First Bancshares Appoints Alejandro M. Sanchez as Director
Positive
Apr 2, 2025

On March 27, 2025, Business First Bancshares, Inc. and its subsidiary b1BANK appointed Alejandro M. Sanchez as an independent director. Mr. Sanchez brings extensive experience from his previous roles, including serving as President and CEO of the Florida Bankers Association and as a director for TRUSTCO BANK. His appointment is expected to enhance the strategic direction of Business First, leveraging his expertise in financial regulation and crisis management.

Glossary
OutperformA stock rated as "Outperform" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider this stock a good buying opportunity.
NeutralA stock rated as "Neutral" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly attractive nor unattractive for investment. Investors may consider holding onto the stock, as it is not expected to either significantly outperform or underperform the market.
UnderperformA stock rated as "Underperform" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests that the stock may deliver lower returns compared to the average returns of other stocks in the same sector or market index. Investors might consider selling the stock or avoiding it as an investment.

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.