Business First Bancshares (BFST) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $728.54M
• Dividend Yield: 2.24%
• Average Volume (3M): 104.12K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 9.5
• Beta (1Y): 0.98
• Revenue Growth: 17.99%
• EPS Growth: 11.08%
• Country: US
• Employees: 849
• Sector: Financial
• Sector Strength: 70
• Industry: Banks - Regional
• EPS (TTM): 0.72
• Shares Outstanding: 29,615,370
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 118,026
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 104,117
• PEG Ratio: -0.78
• Price to Book (P/B): 0.84
• Price to Sales (P/S): 1.47
• P/FCF Ratio: 11.28
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.23
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 1.89
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 12.68
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 8.24
• 1Y Price Target: $30.00
• Price Target Upside: 21.65% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 1
• EPS Forecast (FY): 2.67
• Revenue Forecast (FY): $319.76M

• Rating: 75 Outperform
• Price Target: $28.00 ▲(13.54% Upside)

Business First Bancshares shows strong financial performance with solid profitability and cash flow management, supported by a positive earnings call sentiment. The stock's valuation is attractive, and technical indicators suggest bullish momentum. However, challenges like declining revenue and potential delays in loan sales slightly temper the overall outlook.

Business First Bancshares Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Business 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 Money

Business First Bancshares generates revenue primarily through net interest income, which is derived from the interest earned on loans, investments, and other interest-earning assets, minus the interest paid on deposits and borrowings. Key revenue streams include commercial loans, mortgage loans, personal loans, and various fees associated with banking services. Additionally, the bank earns non-interest income from service fees, transaction fees, and other financial services. Strategic partnerships with local businesses and community organizations help enhance customer acquisition and retention, further contributing to the company's earnings. Economic conditions, interest rate fluctuations, and regulatory changes also play a significant role in shaping its revenue landscape.

Business First Bancshares Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Business First Bancshares shows solid profitability with healthy margins and a stable balance sheet. However, slowing revenue growth and declining free cash flow growth rate are concerns that need attention.

Income Statement

Business First Bancshares shows a solid performance in its income statement with consistent revenue growth and strong profit margins. The TTM data indicates a revenue growth rate of 3.03%, which is a positive sign, although it has slowed compared to previous years. The gross profit margin remains healthy at 58.19%, and the net profit margin is stable at 15.62%. EBIT and EBITDA margins are also robust, indicating efficient operations. However, the slight decrease in growth rate could be a concern if it continues.

Balance Sheet

The balance sheet of Business First Bancshares reflects a stable financial position with a manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72 in the TTM period. The return on equity is 9.70%, which is decent but has seen a slight decline. The equity ratio stands at a healthy level, indicating a strong capital base. However, the increase in total debt over the years suggests a need for careful monitoring of leverage.

Cash Flow

Cash flow analysis shows mixed results. The free cash flow growth rate has declined by 26.2% in the TTM period, which is concerning. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is positive, indicating that the company is generating sufficient cash from its operations. The free cash flow to net income ratio is nearly 1, suggesting efficient cash management. The decline in free cash flow growth needs attention.

Breakdown	TTM	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	475.04M	457.75M	385.62M	264.08M	203.11M	168.78M
Gross Profit	70.69M	259.50M	242.94M	216.65M	178.51M	135.24M
EBITDA	108.81M	88.31M	95.26M	73.41M	68.72M	39.95M
Net Income	81.99M	65.11M	71.04M	54.26M	52.14M	29.99M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	7.95B	7.86B	6.58B	5.99B	4.73B	4.16B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	1.39B	347.76M	1.11B	1.04B	1.09B	789.74M
Total Debt	494.89M	483.26M	635.07M	560.12M	187.59M	105.99M
Total Liabilities	7.08B	7.06B	5.94B	5.41B	4.29B	3.75B
Stockholders Equity	878.44M	799.47M	644.26M	580.48M	433.37M	409.96M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	92.76M	59.84M	80.78M	61.80M	52.47M	26.37M
Operating Cash Flow	92.49M	61.40M	92.43M	69.58M	56.44M	29.34M
Investing Cash Flow	-39.76M	-294.91M	-521.14M	-700.52M	-675.35M	-475.30M
Financing Cash Flow	90.48M	326.50M	502.08M	715.31M	538.15M	505.72M

Business First Bancshares Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Positive
• Last Price: 24.66
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Positive
• 200DMA: Positive
• MACD: Negative
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For BFST, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 24.66 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 24.05, above the 50-day MA of 24.14, and above the 200-day MA of 24.38, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.26 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 56.07 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 52.53 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for BFST.

Business First Bancshares Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
FSBC	78 Outperform	$733.35M	12.74	13.95%	2.32%	22.24%	18.63%
HTB	76 Outperform	$692.34M	10.96	10.91%	0.89%	0.21%	14.85%
BFST	75 Outperform	$728.54M	9.50	10.39%	2.24%	17.99%	11.08%
TRST	75 Outperform	$731.04M	12.95	8.35%	3.73%	5.75%	20.52%
MPB	70 Outperform	$666.31M	11.80	7.31%	2.77%	12.09%	-15.97%
Sector *	68 Neutral	$18.00B	11.42	9.92%	3.81%	9.73%	1.22%
GSBC	67 Neutral	$633.93M	9.30	11.18%	2.85%	0.67%	17.88%

Business First Bancshares Corporate Events

Business First Bancshares Reports Positive Earnings Call

The recent earnings call for Business First Bancshares presented a generally positive outlook, highlighting several achievements such as improved earnings, operational successes, and increased dividends. Despite some challenges, including a decline in total loans and potential delays in SBA loan sales due to the government shutdown, the overall sentiment was positive, with highlights slightly outweighing the lowlights.

Business First Bancshares Reports Q3 2025 Earnings

Business First Bancshares, Inc., the parent company of b1BANK, operates in the financial services sector, providing commercial and personal banking products and services across Louisiana and Texas.

Business First Bancshares Q3 2025 Financial Results Announced

On October 23, 2025, Business First Bancshares announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2025, reporting a net income of $21.5 million, an increase from the previous quarter. The company also declared dividends for both preferred and common shareholders, reflecting its strong financial performance and operational execution, including the successful conversion of Oakwood Bank systems. The board approved a $0.01 increase in the quarterly common dividend, and the company saw growth in deposits and securities, despite a decrease in loans held for investment. The company’s credit quality metrics stabilized, and shareholders’ equity increased, driven by earnings and positive fair value adjustments in the securities portfolio.

The most recent analyst rating on (BFST) stock is a Buy with a $27.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Business First Bancshares stock, see the BFST Stock Forecast page.