Business First Bancshares (BFST) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $719.38M
• Dividend Yield: 2.31%
• Average Volume (3M): 90.14K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 9.6
• Beta (1Y): 0.97
• Revenue Growth: 16.88%
• EPS Growth: 3.07%
• Country: US
• Employees: 849
• Sector: Financial
• Sector Strength: 70
• Industry: Banks - Regional
• EPS (TTM): 0.66
• Shares Outstanding: 29,714,157
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 93,801
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 90,141
• PEG Ratio: N/A
• Price to Book (P/B): N/A
• Price to Sales (P/S): N/A
• P/FCF Ratio: N/A
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.32
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 1.92
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 3.30
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 9.14
• 1Y Price Target: $30.00
• Price Target Upside: 23.92% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 2

• Rating: 72 Outperform
• Price Target: $27.00 ▲(11.52% Upside)

Business First Bancshares demonstrates strong financial performance and attractive valuation, but technical indicators suggest bearish momentum. The earnings call provided a balanced view with strategic positives and some operational challenges.

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 demonstrates strong financial performance with robust revenue and profit growth, effective cost management, and significant cash flow generation. However, a moderate reliance on equity financing presents potential risks in volatile markets.

Income Statement

Business First Bancshares has shown a robust revenue growth trajectory, with a Revenue Growth Rate of approximately 11.2% from 2024 to TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). The Gross Profit Margin stands at an impressive 57.5%, highlighting strong cost management and operational efficiency. Net Profit Margin improved to 15.1%, reflecting enhanced profitability. EBIT and EBITDA margins are also healthy at 19.2% and 20.3%, respectively, indicating effective core earnings strength.

Balance Sheet

The company's Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.53 suggests a balanced approach to leveraging, which is prudent in the banking industry. Return on Equity (ROE) is strong at 8.7%, showcasing solid profitability relative to shareholder equity. The Equity Ratio of 10.6% indicates moderate reliance on equity financing, which is typical for banks but can present risks in volatile markets.

Cash Flow

Business First Bancshares achieved a Free Cash Flow Growth Rate of 33.9% from 2024 to TTM, underscoring a significant improvement in cash generation capabilities. The Operating Cash Flow to Net Income Ratio of 1.14 highlights a good conversion of accounting profits into cash, while the Free Cash Flow to Net Income Ratio of 1.11 indicates strong cash flow generation relative to net income.

Breakdown	TTM	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	492.68M	457.75M	385.62M	264.08M	203.11M	168.78M
Gross Profit	286.71M	259.50M	242.94M	216.65M	178.51M	135.24M
EBITDA	103.68M	88.31M	95.26M	73.41M	68.72M	39.95M
Net Income	76.98M	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	1.42B	347.76M	1.11B	1.04B	1.09B	789.74M
Total Debt	613.15M	483.26M	635.07M	560.12M	187.59M	105.99M
Total Liabilities	7.10B	7.06B	5.94B	5.41B	4.29B	3.75B
Stockholders Equity	848.44M	799.47M	644.26M	580.48M	433.37M	409.96M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	79.92M	59.84M	80.78M	61.80M	52.47M	26.37M
Operating Cash Flow	81.48M	61.40M	92.43M	69.58M	56.44M	29.34M
Investing Cash Flow	-100.92M	-294.91M	-521.14M	-700.52M	-675.35M	-475.30M
Financing Cash Flow	307.15M	326.50M	502.08M	715.31M	538.15M	505.72M

Business First Bancshares Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Negative
• Last Price: 24.21
• 50DMA: Negative
• 100DMA: Negative
• 200DMA: Negative
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: 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 24.21 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 24.86, below the 50-day MA of 24.61, and below the 200-day MA of 24.72, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.06 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 45.63 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 32.62 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for BFST.

Business First Bancshares Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
ESQ	79 Outperform	882.97M	19.13	0.00%	0.65%	16.76%	12.84%
CPF	77 Outperform	835.08M	13.86	10.67%	3.46%	2.81%	6.88%
MCBS	76 Outperform	740.85M	11.28	15.15%	3.24%	4.92%	20.83%
MBWM	74 Outperform	763.68M	9.34	12.89%	3.15%	8.72%	-0.45%
HAFC	72 Outperform	758.87M	11.67	8.50%	4.21%	3.34%	-1.93%
BFST	72 Outperform	$719.38M	9.64	10.18%	2.31%	16.88%	3.07%
Sector *	68 Neutral	$18.00B	11.42	9.92%	3.81%	9.73%	1.22%

Business First Bancshares Corporate Events

Business First Announces Q2 2025 Financial Results

On July 28, 2025, Business First Bancshares, Inc. announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2025, reporting a net income of $20.8 million, an increase from the previous quarter. The company highlighted significant operational activities including a successful core conversion and branch optimization, positioning it for future growth. Additionally, Business First declared dividends for both preferred and common shareholders, and announced an agreement to acquire Progressive Bancorp, Inc., which is expected to enhance its market presence.

The most recent analyst rating on (BFST) stock is a Buy with a $30.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Business First Bancshares stock, see the BFST Stock Forecast page.