Business First Bancshares (NASDAQ:BFST) Announces Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.07 EPS

Business First Bancshares (NASDAQ:BFST) announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.07, FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $69.44 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $81.41 million. Business First Bancshares had a return on equity of 11.41% and a net margin of 17.01%.

Here are the key takeaways from Business First Bancshares’ conference call:

• The company reported strengthened profitability with a full‑year core ROAA of 1.06%, Q4 core ROAA of 1.16%, full‑year EPS up 14% and Q4 EPS up 20% YoY, and a Q4 efficiency ratio below 60%.
• Capital and shareholder actions improved — tangible common equity rose 90 bps, consolidated CET1 rose 50 bps, tangible book value increased 17.3%, management resumed buybacks (~150k shares at ~$24.70) and increased the dividend for the seventh consecutive year.
• Balance‑sheet momentum — loans held for investment rose $168.4M (linked quarter) driven by ~$500M of new/renewed production, deposits increased $191.7M (public funds and money‑market inflows), management expects mid‑single‑digit loan growth in 2026, and the Progressive Bank acquisition (closed Jan 1) will lower Texas concentration to ~36% and add ~$1M quarterly non‑interest income.
• Credit metrics deteriorated due to one large Houston CRE medical relationship moved to non‑accrual (~$25.8M), lifting the NPL ratio to 1.24% and NPAs to 1.09%; management aims to keep reserves at/above 1% (ALLL + credit marks ~1.06% currently) and expects annualized net losses in the low‑ to mid‑teens (bps) next year.

Business First Bancshares Price Performance

NASDAQ BFST opened at $27.26 on Friday. Business First Bancshares has a 12 month low of $20.07 and a 12 month high of $28.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $807.17 million, a PE ratio of 9.77 and a beta of 0.86. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $26.64 and its 200 day simple moving average is $25.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 1.00.

Business First Bancshares Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, February 28th. Stockholders of record on Sunday, February 15th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 13th. Business First Bancshares’s dividend payout ratio is currently 23.17%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have weighed in on BFST. Raymond James Financial upped their price objective on shares of Business First Bancshares from $30.00 to $31.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 7th. DA Davidson initiated coverage on shares of Business First Bancshares in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $32.00 price objective for the company. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Business First Bancshares in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Stephens upped their price target on shares of Business First Bancshares from $34.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $32.67.

Business First Bancshares declared that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, October 28th that authorizes the company to repurchase $30.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to repurchase up to 4.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CFO Greg Robertson sold 1,400 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.41, for a total value of $36,974.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 67,835 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,791,522.35. The trade was a 2.02% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Rick D. Day acquired 1,600 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 28th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $24.21 per share, with a total value of $38,736.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 265,885 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,437,075.85. This trade represents a 0.61% increase in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this purchase is available in the SEC filing. Corporate insiders own 5.68% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its position in Business First Bancshares by 24.2% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 7,509 shares of the company’s stock worth $177,000 after buying an additional 1,462 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Business First Bancshares by 9.6% during the 3rd quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 12,240 shares of the company’s stock valued at $289,000 after acquiring an additional 1,074 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Business First Bancshares by 9.3% during the 2nd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 15,646 shares of the company’s stock worth $386,000 after acquiring an additional 1,327 shares in the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Business First Bancshares by 8.8% during the 2nd quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 15,604 shares of the company’s stock worth $385,000 after acquiring an additional 1,261 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of Business First Bancshares by 6.4% in the 2nd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 18,991 shares of the company’s stock worth $468,000 after acquiring an additional 1,135 shares during the last quarter. 47.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Key Stories Impacting Business First Bancshares

Here are the key news stories impacting Business First Bancshares this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 EPS beat and profitability upside — BFST reported $0.79 EPS (non-GAAP core EPS matched $0.79), beating the consensus ~$0.72 and showing year-over-year EPS improvement. This signals operating leverage and supports valuation. Business First (BFST) Beats Q4 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Core net income growth — On a non-GAAP basis, core net income rose to $23.5M (or $0.79 per diluted share), up versus the prior quarter, indicating better underlying earning power. Business First Bancshares, Inc., Announces Financial Results for Fiscal Year 2025 and Q4 2025
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend maintained/declared — The board declared a $0.15 quarterly dividend (ex-dividend Feb. 13; record Feb. 15), supporting income investors and returning capital to shareholders.
• Neutral Sentiment: 2026 growth posture: management expects mid-single-digit loan growth and is prioritizing execution — modest growth guidance reduces near-term upside but indicates disciplined credit/expense management. Business First Bancshares outlines 2026 focus on execution, expects mid-single-digit loan growth
• Neutral Sentiment: Full call materials and transcript available — Management commentary and the earnings transcript/slides are posted for investors who want detail on margin drivers, capital levels and credit trends. Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Top-line missed expectations — Revenue for the quarter was $69.4M versus consensus near $81.4M, a meaningful shortfall that likely caused investor disappointment despite the EPS beat. Business First Bancshares Earnings Summary

About Business First Bancshares

Business First Bancshares, Inc is the bank holding company for Business First Bank, a regional community bank headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, the company provides a full suite of commercial and retail banking services to small and medium-sized businesses, professionals and individual consumers. Business First Bancshares operates under a community-focused model, emphasizing personalized service, local decision-making and relationship banking.

The company’s primary business activities include commercial lending, treasury and cash management, and deposit services.