Home 
Today's Top Picks 
Top Performers 
Watchlist 
My Robo Portfolios 
ETF Zone 
Help & Tutorial 
Cancel anytime
- Chart
- Upturn Summary
- Highlights
- Valuation
- Analyst Ratings
Upturn AI SWOT - About
Business First Bancshares Inc (BFST)
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- Pass (Skip investing)
Stock price based on last close (see disclosures)
- ALL
- YEAR
- MONTH
- WEEK
Upturn Advisory Summary
06/27/2025: 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
Moderately tracked stock, growing coverage, gaining market and investor attention.
1 Year Target Price $29.9
1 Year Target Price $29.9
| 4 | Strong Buy |
| 1 | Buy |
| 0 | Hold |
| 0 | Sell |
| 0 | Strong Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -0.21% | Avg. Invested days 35 | Today’s Advisory WEAK BUY |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  3.0 | Stock Returns Performance  1.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 06/27/2025 |
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 731.98M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 10.14 | 1Y Target Price 29.9 |
Price to earnings Ratio 10.14 | 1Y Target Price 29.9 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 5 | Beta 0.8 | 52 Weeks Range 19.96 - 29.83 | Updated Date 06/30/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 19.96 - 29.83 | Updated Date 06/30/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) 2.26% | Basic EPS (TTM) 2.43 |
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin 26.05% | Operating Margin (TTM) 34.14% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 1% | Return on Equity (TTM) 9.77% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 10.14 | Forward PE 9.68 | Enterprise Value 786906432 | Price to Sales(TTM) 2.65 |
Enterprise Value 786906432 | Price to Sales(TTM) 2.65 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 4.06 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA - | Shares Outstanding 29695000 | Shares Floating 28136593 |
Shares Outstanding 29695000 | Shares Floating 28136593 | ||
Percent Insiders 4.7 | Percent Institutions 49.29 |
Analyst Ratings
Rating 3 | Target Price 29.9 | Buy 1 | Strong Buy 4 |
Buy 1 | Strong Buy 4 | ||
Hold - | Sell - | Strong Sell - | |
Strong Sell - |
Upturn AI SWOT
Business First Bancshares Inc
Company Overview
History and Background
Business First Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It began as a community bank focused on serving small to medium-sized businesses and has grown through organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.
Core Business Areas
- Commercial Banking: Offers a range of commercial lending products, including term loans, lines of credit, and commercial real estate financing.
- Retail Banking: Provides deposit accounts, consumer loans, and other retail banking services to individuals and families.
- Wealth Management: Offers wealth management and trust services through its subsidiaries.
Leadership and Structure
The company is led by Jude Melville, President and CEO. The organizational structure includes various departments overseeing commercial lending, retail banking, operations, and wealth management, all reporting to the executive team.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Commercial Loans: Commercial loans are a primary offering, serving small and medium-sized businesses. Market share data is not readily available for specific loan types, but Business First Bancshares competes with larger national and regional banks. Competitors: Hancock Whitney Corporation (HWC), IBERIABANK (now part of First Horizon), and local credit unions.
- Deposit Accounts: Offers various deposit accounts including checking, savings, and money market accounts. Market share data is not available. Competitors: Chase, Bank of America, and regional banks.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The banking industry is currently navigating a complex environment, including rising interest rates, increased regulatory scrutiny, and competition from fintech companies. Regional banks are focused on maintaining capital ratios and managing credit risk.
Positioning
Business First Bancshares positions itself as a relationship-focused community bank with a strong understanding of the Louisiana market. Its competitive advantage lies in personalized service and local expertise.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The TAM for banking services in the Louisiana market is significant, estimated in the billions of dollars. Business First Bancshares is positioned to capture a portion of this market through its community-focused approach and strategic acquisitions.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Strong local market knowledge
- Experienced management team
- Relationship-focused banking model
- Solid capital base
Weaknesses
- Limited geographic diversification
- Smaller scale compared to national banks
- Dependence on the Louisiana economy
- Relatively small market capitalization
Opportunities
- Further expansion within Louisiana and adjacent states
- Increased demand for community banking services
- Potential acquisitions of smaller banks
- Growth in wealth management services
Threats
- Rising interest rates
- Increased competition from larger banks and fintech companies
- Economic downturn in Louisiana
- Regulatory changes
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- HWC
- FHN
- CADE
Competitive Landscape
Business First Bancshares faces competition from larger regional and national banks, as well as smaller community banks and credit unions. Its advantages include local expertise and personalized service, while its disadvantages include limited scale and geographic diversification.
Major Acquisitions
American National Bank of Louisiana
- Year: 2021
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 30.6
- Strategic Rationale: Expanded presence in key Louisiana markets and increased deposit base.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Historical growth has been driven by organic expansion and acquisitions, primarily within the Louisiana market.
Future Projections: Analyst projections vary, but generally anticipate continued growth in revenue and earnings, driven by loan growth and expansion into new markets.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives include expanding its footprint through branch openings and acquisitions of smaller banks in strategic markets.
Summary
Business First Bancshares appears to be a stable community bank with a strong focus on the Louisiana market. Its growth strategy through strategic acquisitions and organic expansion seems effective. However, it needs to be mindful of the increasing competition and the economic conditions in Louisiana.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- SEC Filings (10-K, 10-Q)
- Company Website
- Financial News Sources
- Analyst Reports
Disclaimers:
This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Market data and analyst estimates are subject to change.
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.
Note: This website is maintained by Upturn Corporation, which is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Such registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Investing in securities has risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. No assurance is provided as to any particular investment return, and you may lose money using our services. You are strongly advised to consult appropriate counsel before making any investments in companies you learn about through our services. You should obtain appropriate legal, tax, investment, accounting, and other advice that takes into account your investment portfolio and overall financial situation. You are solely responsible for conducting due diligence on a potential investment. We do not affect trades for you. You will select your own broker through which to transact. Investments are not FDIC insured, they are not guaranteed, and they may lose value. Please see the Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Disclosure for more information.