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Upturn AI SWOT - About
BFST 
Business First Bancshares Inc (BFST)
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Upturn Advisory Summary
09/17/2025: BFST (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
Upturn Star Rating
Not Recommended Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.
Number of Analysts
5 Analysts rated it
Limited analyst coverage, niche firm, research info may be scarce.
1 Year Target Price $30.75
1 Year Target Price $30.75
| 4 | Strong Buy |
| 1 | Buy |
| 0 | Hold |
| 0 | Sell |
| 0 | Strong Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -11.65% | Avg. Invested days 34 | Today’s Advisory WEAK BUY |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  2.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 09/17/2025 |
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 708.10M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 9.53 | 1Y Target Price 30.75 |
Price to earnings Ratio 9.53 | 1Y Target Price 30.75 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 5 | Beta 0.84 | 52 Weeks Range 19.84 - 29.66 | Updated Date 09/16/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 19.84 - 29.66 | Updated Date 09/16/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) 2.29% | Basic EPS (TTM) 2.51 |
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin 26.44% | Operating Margin (TTM) 36.09% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 1.05% | Return on Equity (TTM) 10.18% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 9.53 | Forward PE 9.68 | Enterprise Value 880379584 | Price to Sales(TTM) 2.43 |
Enterprise Value 880379584 | Price to Sales(TTM) 2.43 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 4.53 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA - | Shares Outstanding 29603000 | Shares Floating 28108316 |
Shares Outstanding 29603000 | Shares Floating 28108316 | ||
Percent Insiders 4.79 | Percent Institutions 51.74 |
Upturn AI SWOT
Business First Bancshares Inc
Company Overview
History and Background
Business First Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 2006. It operates as the bank holding company for Business First Bank, providing commercial and personal banking services. The bank has grown through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.
Core Business Areas
- Commercial Banking: Offers a range of lending products, deposit accounts, and treasury management services to businesses.
- Personal Banking: Provides checking and savings accounts, mortgages, consumer loans, and wealth management services to individuals.
- Mortgage Banking: Originates and services residential mortgage loans.
Leadership and Structure
Jude Melville serves as the President and CEO. The company operates with a board of directors overseeing strategic decisions and executive management executing the business plan.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Commercial Loans: Loans to businesses for working capital, equipment purchases, and real estate. Market share data is not publicly available. Competitors: Hancock Whitney, Iberiabank, Regions Bank.
- Mortgage Loans: Residential mortgage loans for home purchase and refinancing. Market share data is not publicly available. Competitors: Major national mortgage lenders, regional banks, credit unions.
- Deposit Accounts: Checking, savings, and money market accounts for businesses and individuals. Market share data is not publicly available. Competitors: All banks and credit unions in its operating area.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The banking industry is highly competitive and subject to regulatory changes, interest rate fluctuations, and economic conditions. Increased consolidation and technological advancements are reshaping the industry.
Positioning
Business First Bancshares focuses on serving small to medium-sized businesses and individuals in Louisiana and surrounding states. Its competitive advantage lies in its local market knowledge and personalized service.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The total addressable market for banking services in Business First Bancshares' operating region is estimated to be in the billions of dollars. The company is positioned to capture a portion of this market through its branch network and online banking platform.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Strong local market presence
- Experienced management team
- Solid asset quality
- Relationship-focused banking model
Weaknesses
- Limited geographic diversification
- Dependence on regional economy
- Smaller scale compared to larger competitors
- Reliance on net interest income
Opportunities
- Expansion into new markets
- Increased adoption of digital banking
- Growing demand for commercial lending
- Acquisitions of smaller banks
Threats
- Economic downturn
- Increased competition from larger banks
- Rising interest rates
- Regulatory changes
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- HWC (Hancock Whitney Corp)
- IBOC (Iberiabank Corp)
- RF (Regions Financial Corp)
Competitive Landscape
Business First Bancshares competes with larger regional and national banks, as well as smaller community banks. Its advantages include local market knowledge and personalized service, while its disadvantages include smaller scale and limited geographic diversification.
Major Acquisitions
Merchants & Farmers Bank
- Year: 2018
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 48.7
- Strategic Rationale: Expanded the company's footprint in southwest Louisiana.
American Bankshares, Inc.
- Year: 2023
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 51.3
- Strategic Rationale: Acquisition of American Bankshares, Inc. Expands Presence in Texas and Louisiana.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Business First Bancshares has grown through organic expansion and acquisitions in recent years.
Future Projections: Analyst estimates for future growth vary depending on economic conditions and the company's strategic initiatives.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives may include branch expansions, digital banking enhancements, and acquisitions of other banks.
Summary
Business First Bancshares is a regional bank with a solid local presence and experienced management. While its smaller size limits its competitiveness against larger banks, its relationship-focused banking model offers a distinct advantage. Careful management of credit risk and interest rate exposure is crucial for sustained success. Economic conditions in Louisiana and Texas heavily influence its performance.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company reports
- SEC filings
- Analyst reports
- Financial news sources
Disclaimers:
This analysis is based on publicly available information and is not financial advice. Market conditions and company performance are subject to change. Investors should conduct their own due diligence.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About Business First Bancshares Inc
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquaters Baton Rouge, LA, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 2018-04-09 | Chairman, President & CEO Mr. David R. Melville III | ||
Sector Financial Services | Industry Banks - Regional | Full time employees 849 | Website https://www.b1bank.com |
Full time employees 849 | Website https://www.b1bank.com | ||
Business First Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for b1BANK that provides various banking products and services in Louisiana and Texas. 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 working capital, term, equipment financing, asset acquisition, expansion and development, borrowing base, and other loan products, as well as commercial lines of credit, accounts receivable factoring, agricultural financing, and letters of credit; 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 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, interest-rate swaps, small business administration products, online and mobile banking, e-statements, and bank-by-mail services. Business First Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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