Fact based stock research
Business First Bancshares (NasdaqGS:BFST)
US12326C1053
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For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Business First Bancshares stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 57 (better than 57% compared with investment alternatives), Business First Bancshares (Regional Banks, USA) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Business First Bancshares are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 71 (better than 71% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 53) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 45), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 57, is a buy recommendation based on Business First Bancshares's financial characteristics. As the company Business First Bancshares's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 71) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 53), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 45) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Regional Banks |
| Index | Sound Pay USA, NASDAQ |
| Size class | Small |
This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.
26-Dec-2024. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
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Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: Business First Bancshares
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 56 |
|
51 |
|
36 |
|
71 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 53 |
|
95 |
|
100 |
|
53 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 21 |
|
5 |
|
11 |
|
45 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
79 |
|
100 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | n/a |
|
71 |
|
74 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 57 (better than 57% compared with investment alternatives), Business First Bancshares (Regional Banks, USA) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Business First Bancshares are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 71 (better than 71% of alternatives), show above-average growth (Growth Rank of 53) but are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 45), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 57, is a buy recommendation based on Business First Bancshares's financial characteristics. As the company Business First Bancshares's key financial metrics exhibit excellent performance in two areas, such as good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 71) and above-average growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 53), it could be argued that the risk-taking in financing (Obermatt Safety Rank of only 45) indicates that the company is optimistic about the future and sees debt as an opportunity to boost returns. More debt means more shareholder returns if everything goes well. However, higher debt burdens are risky when interest rates rise or the business deteriorates in a crisis. If you believe the company's future is market-typical or even better, this could be an argument for a share purchase. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 56 |
|
51 |
|
36 |
|
71 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 53 |
|
95 |
|
100 |
|
53 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 21 |
|
5 |
|
11 |
|
45 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 51 |
|
53 |
|
38 |
|
57 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 71 (better than 71% compared with alternatives), Business First Bancshares shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators above average for Business First Bancshares. Price-to-Sales (P/S) is 85, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 85% of comparable companies, indicating a good value regarding Business First Bancshares's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price to Profits (or Price / Earnings, P/E), more favorable than for 73% of alternatives, and it's also true for the Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 54. But, compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields are expected to be lower than average; only 27% of all competitors have even lower dividend yields than Business First Bancshares (a Dividend Yield Rank of 27). 73% alternative investments in the same business provide a higher dividend yield. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 71, is a buy recommendation based on Business First Bancshares's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. The below-average dividend yield may be a good sign, as it could mean the company has more attractive investment opportunities for the generated cash than to pay it out as dividends. A low dividend yield can also indicate a growth phase. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 71 |
|
85 |
|
71 |
|
85 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 61 |
|
67 |
|
60 |
|
73 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 43 |
|
41 |
|
43 |
|
54 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 35 |
|
29 |
|
20 |
|
27 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 56 |
|
51 |
|
36 |
|
71 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 53 (better than 53% compared with alternatives), Business First Bancshares shows an above-average growth dynamic in its industry. Investors also speak of positive momentum. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for Business First Bancshares. Sales Growth has a rank of 87 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 87% of its competitors. Capital Growth is also above 44% of competitors with a rank of 59. But Profit Growth only has a rank of 44, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 56% of its competitors. And Stock Returns have also been below average with a rank of only 25. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 53, is a buy recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Profits are sometimes low if the company invests in the future. The positive revenue and capital investment outlook confirms such an interpretation. Both revenues and capital are solid growth indicators, and lower profits in such a case would be encouraging. But the investors see it differently by punishing the share price. Sometimes, Mister Market is not very reliable, because it is not uncommon for it to be volatile. Investors should look out for signs of growth expenditure that could justify low profit growth, and they may also find reasons why recent stock price developments don't confirm the growth outlook of operations. While operating growth indicators are not perfect, they are more reliable indicators for future performance than stock prices that can repeatedly surprise investors. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is mixed here. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 65 |
|
81 |
|
82 |
|
87 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | n/a |
|
43 |
|
84 |
|
44 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | n/a |
|
100 |
|
95 |
|
59 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 49 |
|
57 |
|
81 |
|
25 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 53 |
|
95 |
|
100 |
|
53 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 45 (better than 45% compared with alternatives), the company Business First Bancshares has financing practices on the riskier side, which means that their overall debt burden is above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of Business First Bancshares is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators where two out of three are above average for Business First Bancshares.Leverage is at 86, meaning the company has a below-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has less debt than 86% of its competitors.Refinancing is at a rank of 67, meaning that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 67% of its competitors. Liquidity is at 1, meaning that the company generates less profit to service its debt than 99% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is on the riskier side regarding debt service. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 45 (worse than 55% compared with alternatives), Business First Bancshares has a financing structure that is riskier than that of its competitors. Low leverage and low refinancing risk mean a safer financing situation. However, low liquidity means that current company cash flows are low in relation to the level of debt. This is a sign of caution in case it is expected for profits to remain low. Investors should compare Obermatt’s Value, Growth, and Sentiment Ranks before deciding. They may also want to investigate why cash flows are expected to be low, making debt service for Business First Bancshares more challenging. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 18 |
|
34 |
|
12 |
|
86 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 51 |
|
29 |
|
81 |
|
67 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 57 |
|
16 |
|
7 |
|
1 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 21 |
|
5 |
|
11 |
|
45 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
95 |
|
89 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | n/a |
|
18 |
|
50 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | n/a |
|
59 |
|
94 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | n/a |
|
82 |
|
89 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | n/a |
|
79 |
|
100 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for Business First Bancshares from December 26, 2024.
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