Business First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:BFST) Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.14

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:BFST) has announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, October 24th. According to the announcement, shareholders of record on Friday, November 15th, will receive a dividend of $0.14 per share on Saturday, November 30th. This dividend yields an annualized amount of $0.56, representing a yield of 2.16%. Notably, the ex-dividend date for this payment is also Friday, November 15th.

In recent years, Business First Bancshares has consistently increased its dividend payouts, with an average annual growth rate of 7.7% over the past three years. The company's dividend payout ratio stands at 21.5%, indicating that earnings sufficiently cover the dividend payments. Analysts project that Business First Bancshares will earn $2.60 per share in the coming year, suggesting that the company can continue meeting its $0.56 annual dividend commitment while maintaining a stable payout ratio.

Stock Performance

Recently, shares of NASDAQ:BFST rose by 3.7% during midday trading, climbing to $25.97. The trading volume for the day reached 75,196 shares, surpassing the average volume of 61,248 shares. The company’s 50-day moving average price stands at $24.84, while the 200-day moving average price is $22.73. Business First Bancshares has a market capitalization of $662.29 million, a PE ratio of 10.22, and a beta of 0.97. The company also has a quick ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 0.98, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Over the past year, the stock price has fluctuated from a low of $18.43 to a high of $26.93.

On the same day the dividend was announced, Business First Bancshares released its quarterly earnings results. The firm reported earnings of $0.68 per share for the quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations of $0.57 by $0.11. With revenues of $113.52 million, the company significantly surpassed the consensus estimate of $65.24 million. Additionally, Business First Bancshares reported a return on equity of 12.19% and a net margin of 15.90%. For comparison, during the same quarter of the previous year, the company earned $0.71 per share. Analysts anticipate that Business First Bancshares will record an EPS of $2.14 for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions

In related news, insider Warren McDonald disclosed a sale of 1,532 shares of company stock on Thursday, August 1st, at an average price of $25.71, totaling $39,387.72. After this transaction, McDonald now owns 20,595 shares of the company, valued at about $529,497.45. This represents a negligible decrease in his ownership stake. Another executive, EVP Saundra Strong, sold 6,300 shares on Tuesday, July 30th, at an average price of $25.32, worth $159,516.00. Post-sale, Strong holds 11,275 shares of the company, estimated at approximately $285,483. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold a total of 14,906 shares valued at $377,392, and insiders currently hold 6.45% of the company’s stock.

Market Analysts' Views

Market analysts have varying views on Business First Bancshares. Recently, Hovde Group raised its price target for the company from $29.00 to $30.00, maintaining an "outperform" rating on the stock. Currently, one analyst gives the stock a hold rating, while four others have assigned buy ratings. Based on these assessments, Business First Bancshares holds a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with a consensus price target set at $26.67.

Company Overview

Business First Bancshares, Inc. operates as a bank holding company for b1BANK, providing a wide range of banking products and services across Louisiana and Texas. Its offerings include various deposit services such as checking accounts, savings accounts, and certificates of deposit.

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