Business First Bancshares Reports Q4 Earnings Beat, Shares Rise

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) reported fourth-quarter net income of $22.4 million, or 71 cents per share, on January 22, 2026, surpassing analyst expectations. Adjusted earnings, excluding non-recurring costs, reached 79 cents per share, compared to the Zacks Investment Research consensus estimate of 72 cents. Revenue totaled $130 million, with net interest income of $83.1 million, both exceeding forecasts. For the full year, BFST posted profit of $87.9 million, or $2.79 per share, on revenue of $324.7 million. Shares rose to $28.17 in final trading Thursday, up 11% over the past 12 months and nearly 8% year-to-date. The results reflect strong performance amid a stable lending environment.