Investar Completes Acquisition of Wichita Falls Bancshares for Approximately $112.9 Million
Investar Holding announced the completion of its acquisition of Wichita Falls Bancshares. An Agreement and Plan of Merger relating to the acquisition was previously announced in July. The acquisition became effective as of January 1. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Wichita Falls common stock were converted into aggregate merger consideration consisting of $7.2M in cash and 3,955,334 shares of Company common stock for an aggregate transaction value of approximately $112.9M. This value is based on the Company's closing stock price on December 31, of $26.72 per common share. Additionally, David Flack and James Dunkerley, two former directors of Wichita Falls and FNB, were appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company and the Bank upon completion of the acquisition.
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- Dividend Increase: Investar has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share, marking a 9.1% increase from the previous $0.11, indicating robust performance in profitability and cash flow management.
- Yield Metrics: The forward yield of 1.65% provides investors with a stable return, enhancing the company's attractiveness in the capital markets amidst competitive pressures.
- Payment Schedule: The dividend is payable on July 31, with a record date of June 30 and an ex-dividend date also set for June 30, ensuring shareholders receive their earnings promptly.
- Financial Performance: Investar reported a non-GAAP EPS of $0.87 and revenue of $35.64 million, reflecting the company's competitive position and profitability in the market.
- Quarterly Cash Dividend: Investar Holding has declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per share, representing a 9% increase from the previous quarter, reflecting the company's stable profitability and commitment to shareholder returns.
- Dividend Payment Timeline: This dividend will be payable on July 31, 2026, to shareholders of record as of June 30, 2026, ensuring timely returns for investors and enhancing their confidence in the company.
- Preferred Stock Dividend: The company also announced a cash dividend of $16.25 per share for its preferred stock, based on an annual rate of 6.5%, further demonstrating its commitment to preferred shareholders.
- Banking Operations Overview: As of March 31, 2026, Investar Bank operates with 431 full-time employees and total assets of $3.9 billion, showcasing its strong market position across Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama.
- Dividend Increase: Investar Holding declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share, representing a 9% increase from the previous quarter, reflecting the company's ongoing profitability and commitment to shareholder returns, which is expected to boost investor confidence.
- Consistent Dividend Record: This marks the 51st quarterly dividend paid by the company, highlighting its uninterrupted cash dividend payments over the past 11 quarters, further solidifying its stable image in the market.
- Preferred Stock Dividend: The company also declared a cash dividend of $16.25 per share based on a 6.5% annual rate, demonstrating its commitment to preferred shareholders and enhancing the attractiveness of its capital structure.
- Business Overview: As of March 31, 2026, Investar Bank operates with 431 full-time employees and total assets of $3.9 billion, indicating robust operations and a strong market position in the banking sector.
- Profitability Improvement: Investar's Q1 2026 Non-GAAP EPS reached $0.87, a 50% increase from $0.58 in Q4 2025, indicating a significant enhancement in profitability that is likely to attract more investor interest.
- Return on Assets Growth: The return on average assets rose to 1.25% as of March 31, 2026, up from 0.83% in Q4 2025, reflecting improved efficiency in asset management, which is expected to strengthen the company's competitive position in the market.
- Loan and Deposit Growth: Total loans increased to $3.07 billion, a 41% rise compared to $2.18 billion in Q4 2025, while total deposits grew to $3.23 billion, up 37.6%, demonstrating the company's expanding market presence and increasing customer trust.
- Stock Repurchase Program: Investar repurchased 53,420 shares of its common stock at an average price of $28.63 per share during Q1 2026, reflecting the company's confidence in its stock value while creating additional value for shareholders.
- Dividend Declaration: Investar has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.11 per share, consistent with previous distributions, indicating the company's ongoing ability to maintain stable cash flows, which is likely to attract income-seeking investors.
- Yield Information: The forward yield of this dividend stands at 1.65%, reflecting the company's competitiveness in the current market environment and potentially increasing investor interest in its stock.
- Payment Schedule: The dividend is payable on April 30, with a record date of March 31 and an ex-dividend date also set for March 31, providing investors with a clear expectation for cash flow.
- Financial Performance Overview: Investar reported a non-GAAP EPS of $0.58 and revenue of $23.47 million, demonstrating robust performance in revenue growth and profitability, further solidifying its position in the market.
- Earnings Performance: Investar achieved a non-GAAP EPS of $0.58 and revenue of $23.47 million in Q4 2025, reflecting the company's stable profitability in the market, which is expected to boost investor confidence.
- Cost of Funds Decline: As of December 31, 2025, the overall cost of funds decreased by 13 basis points to 2.98%, with deposit costs also falling to 2.91%, which will help enhance the company's net interest margin and improve profitability.
- Loan Growth: Total loans increased by $25.5 million, or 1.2%, reaching $2.18 billion, with the business lending portfolio growing by $31.8 million, indicating the company's active expansion in the commercial lending market, which is expected to drive future revenue growth.
- Stock Buyback Program: Investar repurchased 28,470 shares of common stock at an average price of $23.94 per share during Q4 2025, demonstrating the company's confidence in its stock value while creating additional value for shareholders.








