BFST Earnings Prediction
The chart below shows how BFST performed 10 days before and after its earnings report, based on data from the past quarters. Typically, BFST sees a -2.88% change in stock price 10 days leading up to the earnings, and a +2.55% change 10 days following the report. On the earnings day itself, the stock moves by +0.20%. This data can give you a slight idea of what to expect for the next quarter's release.
BFST Key Earning Data
2024/Q4
Year Over Year
Quarter Over Quarter
Total Revenue
68.88M
22.80%
13.12%
Gross Margin
--
--
--
Operating Margin
31.17%
-14.95%
-17.91%
Net Margin
23.94%
-15.14%
-18.29%
EPS
0.51
-10.53%
-21.54%
No Data Available
BFST Earnings Analysis
Business First Bancshares Inc Corporation (BFST.O) Earnings Conference Call
Positive
Strong Q4 Operational Performance: Core net income for Q4 was $19.5 million, translating to an EPS of $0.66, reflecting strong operational performance despite one-time expenses.
Loan Growth Surge: Total loans held for investment increased by $761.3 million or 58% annualized in Q4, with organic growth of $62.8 million or 4.8% annualized, indicating robust demand for lending.
Deposit Growth Surge: Total deposits rose by $870.4 million or 61.4% annualized quarter over quarter, with organic deposit growth of $156.8 million or 11.1% annualized, showcasing strong customer confidence and retention.
Net Interest Margin Expansion: Net interest margin expanded by 10 basis points to 3.61% in Q4, with core net interest margin also increasing by 10 basis points to 3.56%, driven by improved funding costs and disciplined pricing strategies.
Non-Interest Income Diversification: Non-interest income for Q4 was $11.9 million, with contributions from the newly formed customer swap business line generating approximately $1.3 million in revenue, indicating successful diversification of revenue streams.
Negative
Net Income Analysis: 4th quarter GAAP net income was $15,100,000, which included $4,800,000 in one-time CECL provisions, indicating a significant impact on profitability from non-core items.
Rising Operational Costs: Core non-interest expense for Q4 increased by approximately $7,300,000 linked quarter to $48,900,000, primarily due to the full impact of Oakwood's expense base, suggesting rising operational costs.
Organic Loan Growth Slowdown: Organic loan growth was only $62,800,000 or 4.8% annualized, excluding acquired loans, indicating a slowdown in organic growth despite overall loan increases.
Non-Recurring Income Reliance: Total non-interest income for Q4 was $11,900,000, which included a one-off BOLI debt benefit of $300,000, suggesting reliance on non-recurring items for income generation.
Deposit Cost Trends: The weighted average total cost of deposits for Q4 was 2.81%, down only 13 basis points from the linked quarter, indicating limited improvement in funding costs despite efforts to manage deposit rates.
BFST FAQs
How does BFST typically perform around its earnings report dates?
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BFST Earning Call Sentiment
Earnings call transcript: Business First Q4 2024 beats expectations, stock rises
BFST.O
-0.12%Positive
The earnings call presents a positive outlook with strong loan and deposit growth, improved NIM, and robust non-interest income. The Q&A indicates confidence in margin expansion and fee income growth, despite competitive pressures. However, management's vague response to rate cuts introduces some uncertainty. Overall, the financial performance and strategic initiatives suggest a positive stock reaction, but the lack of market cap data limits precision.
