On July 28, 2023, Matt Olney, an esteemed analyst at Stephens & Co., expressed his optimistic outlook on Business First Bancshares (NASDAQ:BFST). With an Overweight rating, Olney not only reaffirmed his confidence in the company but also decided to raise the price target from $18 to $25. As a Managing Director in the Institutional Equities and Research team at Stephens, Olney’s expertise and insights hold significant weight in the financial industry.
Business First Bancshares, Inc.
BFST
Buy
Updated on: 07/12/2023
Healthy 
BFST Stock Shows Positive Performance with Revenue Growth: July 28, 2023
On July 28, 2023, BFST stock, belonging to Mid Penn Bancorp Inc, displayed a positive performance, with an increase of $0.47 or 1.92%. The stock opened at $19.20 and fluctuated throughout the day, reaching a high of $22.44 and a low of $19.20. The trading volume was relatively low, with only 1,733 shares traded, compared to the average volume of 71,980 shares over the past three months.
BFST’s market capitalization stood at $405.8 million, indicating its position as a mid-sized company in the finance sector. However, the company experienced a decline in earnings growth both last year and this year, with -8.08% and -17.06% respectively. It is important to note that no projections for earnings growth over the next five years were provided.
Despite the decline in earnings growth, BFST managed to achieve a significant revenue growth rate of 30.44% last year. This positive revenue growth suggests that the company has been successful in increasing its sales and generating more income.
In terms of valuation, BFST’s P/E ratio is 8.8, indicating that investors are willing to pay $8.8 for every dollar of earnings. The Price/Sales ratio is 1.91, suggesting that the stock is trading at a reasonable price relative to its sales. Furthermore, the Price/Book ratio is 0.79, implying that the stock is undervalued compared to its book value.
Looking ahead, BFST’s next reporting date is scheduled for October 25, 2023. Analysts are forecasting an EPS of $0.51 for the upcoming quarter. In the previous fiscal year, the company reported an annual revenue of $264.8 million and a profit of $54.3 million, resulting in a net profit margin of 20.49%. These figures indicate that BFST has been able to maintain a healthy profit margin, which is a positive sign for investors.
Mid Penn Bancorp Inc, the parent company of BFST, operates in the regional banks industry. Its corporate headquarters are located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
In conclusion, on July 28, 2023, BFST stock showed a positive performance, with a notable increase of $0.47 or 1.92%. Despite a decline in earnings growth, the company achieved significant revenue growth last year. Investors should keep an eye on BFST’s upcoming reporting date and the EPS forecast for the next quarter to gain a better understanding of its future performance.
BFST Stock Performances on July 28, 2023: Analysts Expectations Met
BFST stock performances on July 28, 2023 were in line with the expectations of analysts. According to data from CNN Money, the 12-month price forecasts for Business First Bancshares Inc had a median target of 21.25, with a high estimate of 25.00 and a low estimate of 20.00. The median estimate represented a -1.39% decrease from the last price of 21.55.
The consensus among 6 polled investment analysts was to buy stock in Business First Bancshares Inc. This rating had remained steady since July, indicating a continued positive outlook for the company.
In terms of financial performance, Business First Bancshares Inc reported earnings per share of $0.51 for the current quarter. Sales for the quarter were $60.1 million. The reporting date for these figures was October 25.
Investors may find this information useful when considering their investment decisions in Business First Bancshares Inc.
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