First Busey (BUSE) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $2.16B
• Dividend Yield: 4.15%
• Average Volume (3M): 588.98K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 22.8
• Beta (1Y): 0.98
• Revenue Growth: 11.25%
• EPS Growth: -45.72%
• Country: US
• Employees: 1,965
• Sector: Financial
• Sector Strength: 75
• Industry: Banks - Regional
• EPS (TTM): -0.44
• Shares Outstanding: 89,490,550
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 437,956
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 588,984
• PEG Ratio: 2.64
• Price to Book (P/B): 1.19
• Price to Sales (P/S): 0.00
• P/FCF Ratio: 8.51
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 0.85
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 1.01
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 4.79
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 23.41
• 1Y Price Target: $27.00
• Price Target Upside: 10.61% Upside
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 5

• Rating: 76 Outperform
• Price Target: $27.00 ▲(10.61%Upside)

First Busey's stock score is bolstered by strong financial performance, particularly in revenue growth and cash flow generation. Positive technical indicators and recent corporate events further enhance the outlook. Valuation is a potential concern due to a high P/E ratio, but the attractive dividend yield mitigates some of this risk.

First Busey Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

First Busey Corporation (BUSE) is a financial holding company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, operating primarily through its banking subsidiary, Busey Bank. The company provides a range of financial services to individual and business clients, including retail and commercial banking, wealth management, and trust services. It serves its customers through a network of branches located in Illinois, Missouri, and Florida, and offers a comprehensive suite of financial products designed to meet the diverse needs of its clientele.

How the Company Makes Money

First Busey Corporation generates revenue primarily through its banking operations by providing a variety of financial services. Key revenue streams include interest income from loans and investments, non-interest income from services such as wealth management, asset management, and fees from deposit accounts. The company earns interest income by extending loans to individuals and businesses, and investing in securities, while non-interest income is derived from service charges, trust services, and other fee-based financial services. Significant factors contributing to its earnings include the management of interest rate spreads between deposits and loans, as well as strategic partnerships and acquisitions that enhance its service offerings and geographic reach.

First Busey Financial Statement Overview

Summary

First Busey's financial statements indicate strong revenue growth and efficient operations as evidenced by high EBIT margins. The balance sheet is solid with low leverage and stable equity, though ROE has seen a decline. Cash flow generation is robust, providing a solid foundation for future growth. However, there are minor concerns with declining net profit margins and ROE, which could affect long-term profitability if trends continue.

Income Statement

The income statement shows a strong EBIT margin at 97.55% for 2024, indicating efficient operations relative to revenue. However, net profit margin has decreased slightly to 21.71% from 24.11% in 2023. The revenue growth rate is substantial at 930.14%, primarily due to a significant increase in total revenue from the previous year. This growth trajectory is positive, but the decline in net margins could indicate pressures on profitability.

Balance Sheet

The balance sheet reflects a strong equity position with an equity ratio of 11.48%, though slightly lower than previous years. The debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.01, suggesting minimal leverage and financial risks. Return on equity stands at 8.22%, down from previous years, indicating reduced profitability on equity. Overall, the balance sheet is stable with low leverage, but there is room for improvement in ROE.

Cash Flow

Cash flow metrics show robust operating cash flow to net income ratio at 1.57, indicating healthy cash generation. The free cash flow to net income ratio is at 1.57 as well, demonstrating strong free cash flow relative to earnings. Free cash flow growth is positive but modest compared to prior periods, suggesting stability in cash flow management.

Breakdown	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	461.44M	439.44M	445.62M	403.50M	401.20M
Gross Profit	461.44M	440.67M	450.05M	403.50M	401.20M
EBITDA	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Net Income	113.69M	122.56M	128.31M	123.45M	100.34M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	12.05B	12.28B	12.34B	12.86B	10.54B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	1.94B	2.22B	227.16M	4.82B	2.95B
Total Debt	313.58M	336.18M	687.90M	368.68M	310.68M
Total Liabilities	10.66B	11.01B	11.19B	11.54B	9.27B
Stockholders Equity	1.38B	1.27B	1.15B	1.32B	1.27B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	171.84M	163.86M	160.80M	156.97M	158.98M
Operating Cash Flow	178.27M	173.39M	165.79M	162.01M	163.17M
Investing Cash Flow	657.90M	550.99M	-290.86M	-829.19M	-729.54M
Financing Cash Flow	-858.09M	-231.96M	-483.86M	814.74M	725.61M

First Busey Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Positive
• Last Price: 24.41
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Positive
• 200DMA: Positive
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For BUSE, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 24.41 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 23.66, above the 50-day MA of 22.84, and above the 200-day MA of 23.25, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.46 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 60.49 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 45.84 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for BUSE.

First Busey Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
EFSC	82 Outperform	$2.14B	11.50	10.80%	2.08%	7.26%	9.76%
OFG	80 Outperform	$1.98B	10.72	15.20%	2.73%	4.15%	4.39%
NBTB	76 Outperform	$2.26B	14.47	9.55%	3.15%	12.11%	16.58%
BUSE	76 Outperform	$2.16B	22.76	3.32%	4.15%	11.25%	-45.72%
PPBI	70 Outperform	$2.10B	14.44	4.94%	6.10%	23.09%	1086.91%
TRMK	70 Neutral	$2.30B	355.29	3.28%	2.53%	-17.96%	-95.37%
Sector *	64 Neutral	$6.54B	11.13	7.19%	5.10%	23.85%	5.18%

First Busey Corporate Events

First Busey Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend

On July 8, 2025, First Busey Corporation announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share on its common stock, to be paid on July 25, 2025, to stockholders of record as of July 18, 2025. This declaration reflects the company’s commitment to returning value to its shareholders and may influence investor sentiment and market perception of the company’s financial health.

The most recent analyst rating on (BUSE) stock is a Hold with a $28.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on First Busey stock, see the BUSE Stock Forecast page.

First Busey Redeems $125M Subordinated Notes

On May 29, 2025, First Busey Corporation held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders where 76.8% of shares were represented. The stockholders elected 13 directors, approved executive officer compensation, and ratified RSM US LLP as the independent accounting firm for 2025. Additionally, the board approved an amendment to increase the share repurchase program by 2,000,000 shares, allowing for up to 2,987,275 shares to be repurchased. On June 1, 2025, Busey redeemed $125 million of its 5.25% Subordinated Notes due 2030, impacting its financial strategy.

The most recent analyst rating on (BUSE) stock is a Hold with a $28.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on First Busey stock, see the BUSE Stock Forecast page.

First Busey Completes $207.48 Million Share Issuance

On May 20, 2025, First Busey Corporation completed the issuance of 8,600,000 depositary shares, representing a 1/40th interest in its 8.25% Fixed-Rate Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, raising approximately $207.48 million. This strategic move enhances Busey’s capital structure and positions it for future growth, while the partial exercise of underwriters’ options indicates strong market interest.

The most recent analyst rating on (BUSE) stock is a Hold with a $28.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on First Busey stock, see the BUSE Stock Forecast page.

First Busey Announces Public Offering of Depositary Shares

On May 13, 2025, First Busey Corporation announced an underwritten public offering of 8,000,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th ownership interest in its 8.25% Fixed Rate Series B Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock. The offering aims to raise funds to redeem existing subordinated notes and support corporate growth. The shares are expected to be listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, and the offering is anticipated to close on or about May 20, 2025.

The most recent analyst rating on (BUSE) stock is a Hold with a $28.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on First Busey stock, see the BUSE Stock Forecast page.

First Busey Reports Q1 Results Post CrossFirst Acquisition

On April 22, 2025, First Busey Corporation announced its first-quarter financial results, highlighting the impact of its acquisition of CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc. completed on March 1, 2025. This acquisition is expected to positively influence future financial performance by expanding Busey’s market presence and operational capabilities. The merger resulted in a net loss of $30 million for the quarter, but adjusted figures show a positive outlook with a net income of $39.9 million. The acquisition was accretive to tangible book value, surpassing initial projections.