Lumida
/BFST
⌘K
Business First Bancshares Inc

Business First Bancshares Inc

BFST
$30.89USD↓-1.53%-0.48 today

MARKET CAP

1.0B

P/E (TTM)

10.7x

FWD P/E

9.7x

DAY RANGE

$31 – $31

52W RANGE

$23
$32

AI Summary

Stalk
StalkMedium

BFST remains in a Stage 2 advancing regime underpinned by higher highs and higher lows, but the recent Bullish Exhaustion pattern at peak signals waning upside momentum. Price has pulled back into rising 9/21 EMA support and is holding above those EMAs, creating a neutral short-term timing environment. Execution should be deferred—seeking pullbacks into the EMAs around the recent breakout zone for optimal entry. A decisive break below the 21 EMA and consolidation support would invalidate the medium-term bullish bias.

  • ↑Q1 2026 net income $22.2M ($0.68/share) with 1.10% ROAA.
  • ↑Progressive Bank deal expected to drive high single-digit loan growth in 2026.
  • ↓Organic loan portfolio declined by $102.7M (6.2% annualized) due to payoffs.
Full analysis →

The case for & against

Bull & Bear analysis

Bullish

Business First Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: BFST) operates as a community bank, delivering a suite of financial services primarily to commercial clients and community banks across Louisiana and Texas. The bank emphasizes strategic growth through acquisitions, including the recent acquisition of Progressive Bank, aimed at enhancing its market position and expanding operational efficiency. It participates in themes of regional banking and the evolving landscape of commercial banking, positioning itself well amidst competitive pressures and interest rate dynamics.

Bull says

  • ↑Q1 2026 net income $22.2M ($0.68/share) with 1.10% ROAA.
  • ↑Progressive Bank deal expected to drive high single-digit loan growth in 2026.
  • ↑Non-interest income from correspondent banking and swap fees enhances revenue diversification.
  • ↑Non-interest expenses declined; efficiency ratio target below 60% supports profitability.
  • ↑Guidance calls for low- to mid-single-digit margin expansion amid stable deposits.
  • ↑High earnings yield and strong momentum factors indicate attractive valuation.

Bear says

  • ↓Organic loan portfolio declined by $102.7M (6.2% annualized) due to payoffs.
  • ↓Non-performing assets ratio increased to 1.53%, pressuring credit quality.
  • ↓Declining institutional ownership and elevated short interest undermine investor confidence.
  • ↓Net interest margin down from prior peaks; floating rate exposure risks further compression.
  • ↓Integration of Progressive Bank adds one-off costs and operational complexity risks.
  • ↓Low analyst revisions and liquidity concerns point to potential downside.

Earnings Call · Q1 2026 · Mgmt. Guidance

Updated 04-27-2026bullish

Transcript signals

Bull points

  • From our perspective, first quarter results marked another quarter of strong financial performance, generating a 1.10 core ROAA and a core efficiency ratio of 62% for the quarter.
  • Total deposits increased $766.4 million due to increases in interest-bearing deposits and non-interest-bearing deposits of $513.3 million and $253 million, respectively.
  • Excluding acquired progressive deposits, organic deposit growth was $81.5 million or 4.4% annualized on a link quarter basis.

Bear points

  • The lower than expected loan growth was driven primarily by an overall increase in loan paydowns and payoffs.
  • If you recall in the previous quarter, we experienced slightly higher new and renewed loan production at $500 million, while paydowns and payoffs during the quarter were lower at just $332 million.
  • A driver to the lower than expected margin performance during the quarter was loan discount accretion falling lower than expected at $1.1 million, which is primarily caused by the lower actual rate marks from the progressive acquisition.
Read full transcript analysis ›