Catalyst Bancorp Inc(CLST)

upturn advisory logo
EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$17.88
11/04/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for CLST

11/04/2026: CLST (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

Catalyst Bancorp Inc is a regional bank holding company providing essential retail and commercial banking services, primarily within Louisiana. Its main strengths include deep local community roots and a solid capital position established through its recent public transition. The primary growth opportunity lies in expanding its commercial loan portfolio and enhancing digital capabilities to drive operational efficiency. Investors face risks related to geographic concentration, intense competition from larger regional banks, and sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations. This stock may suit investors looking for exposure to community banking, though it requires monitoring of loan portfolio quality and the competitive landscape for deposits.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorWeak fitThe company is a mature, slow-growing community bank rather than a high-growth technology or sector disrupter.
Momentum investorWeak fitLow trading volume and limited price catalysts generally do not attract momentum strategies.
Value investorMixed fitValue investors may be interested if the stock trades at a significant discount to tangible book value.
Dividend investorMixed fitIncome seekers may find the yields acceptable, but the dividend history is relatively short.
Low-risk investorMixed fitWhile community banks are generally stable, small-cap banking stocks carry liquidity and concentration risks.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMediumThinly traded micro-cap or small-cap bank stocks can experience significant price swings based on low trading volume.
Valuation riskMediumPricing relative to book value is a key concern for bank investors, as it dictates long-term return potential.
Competition risk (Regional Banking)HighThe bank faces intense pressure from larger regional peers that can offer more aggressive pricing and advanced digital services.
Business qualityMediumThe bank relies on a stable but localized economic base which lacks the diversification of national entities.
Dividend incomeMediumDividend sustainability depends on the bank's ability to maintain earnings stability in varying interest rate environments.
Execution riskMediumSuccess depends on the management team's ability to navigate credit cycles and manage operational costs effectively.

Price Behavior

Steady Uptrend
PRICE PATH

Steady Uptrend

The stock demonstrates consistent and steady upward price momentum.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit 26.27%
Avg. Invested days 97
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 2.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 3.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/04/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
CLST receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid unit economics, and solid company fundamentals. The rating is constrained by soft analyst coverage, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
CLST has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with moderate financial health, solid growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong earnings growth (+166.4%) supports the fundamentals score.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
CLST's financial health is supported by solid cash strength, including free-cash-flow generation (20.2% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 3-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Earnings growth is CLST's strongest growth driver at +166.4% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). Revenue growth (+55.3%, strong) and free-cash-flow growth (+13.0%, solid) are also constructive, though not equally high across every growth measure.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 27.5% and approximately 63.9% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 17.89% supports management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Stilwell Value LLC 9.03%
GRAHAM CAPITAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC 4.86%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.70%
Knott David M Jr 2.83%
BlackRock Inc 1.71%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
CLST generates approximately $728 of gross profit, $163 of operating income, and $202 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Solid margins and strong cash conversion support the rating, although capital efficiency remains weak.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 18.05%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
CLST has a liquid, relatively low-volatility profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while valuation that is moderately attractive rather than deeply discounted.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Low VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 70.08M USD
Price to earnings Ratio 25.1
1Y Target Price -
Price to earnings Ratio 25.1
1Y Target Price -
Volume (30-day avg) 3.2K shares
Beta 0.11
52 Weeks Range 14.00 - 20.50
Updated Date 11/04/2026
52 Weeks Range 14.00 - 20.50
Updated Date 11/04/2026
Dividends yield (FY) -
Basic EPS (TTM) 0.69

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Net Interest IncomeInterest earned on mortgage and commercial loans minus interest paid on customer deposits.The company earns the spread between the interest it collects from borrowers and what it pays to depositors.
Non-Interest IncomeService fees, account charges, and other banking-related income streams.This is a secondary revenue source generated from customer transactions and account maintenance fees.

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-10-29
When -
Estimate -
Actual 0.51

Profitability

Profit Margin 16.92%
Operating Margin (TTM) 21.43%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) 0.55%
Return on Equity (TTM) 3.08%

Valuation

Trailing PE 25.1
Forward PE -
Enterprise Value 57.03M
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.71
Enterprise Value 57.03M
Price to Sales(TTM) 4.71
Enterprise Value to Revenue 9.93
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 4.05M
Shares Floating 2.59M
Shares Outstanding 4.05M
Shares Floating 2.59M
Percent Insiders 17.89
Percent Institutions 27.52

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.