BFST

Avidia Bancorp, Inc. (AVBC) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.47 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.38 per share. This compares to a loss of $0.05 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +23.68%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $0.34 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.39, delivering a surprise of +14.71%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. Avidia Bancorp, Inc., which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry, posted revenues of $31.16 million for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.57%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $27.96 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Avidia Bancorp, Inc. shares have added about 32.1% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 13.3%. While Avidia Bancorp, Inc. has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Avidia Bancorp, Inc. was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.35 on $30.43 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $1.44 on $118.64 million in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - Northeast is currently in the top 26% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. One other stock from the same industry, Business First (BFST), is yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on October 26. This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.74 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +2.8%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.4% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. Business First's revenues are expected to be $93.62 million, up 15.7% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Avidia Bancorp, Inc. (AVBC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

The market expects Norwood Financial Corp. (NWFL) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates. The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 27. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise. This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.95 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +1.1%. Revenues are expected to be $29.95 million, up 30.4% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.53% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only. A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP. Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell). For Norwood Financial, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.53%. On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2. So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Norwood Financial will beat the consensus EPS estimate. While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number. For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Norwood Financial would post earnings of $0.87 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.86, delivering a surprise of -1.15%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates just once. An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Norwood Financial doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release. Business First (BFST), another stock in the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.74 for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +2.8%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $93.62 million, up 15.7% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for Business First has been revised 0.4% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.35%. This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Business First will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Norwood Financial Corp. (NWFL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Bank OZK (OZK) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.5 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.45 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.59 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +3.45%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this bank would post earnings of $1.46 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.49, delivering a surprise of +2.05%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. Bank OZK, which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry, posted revenues of $439.24 million for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.68%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $449.94 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Bank OZK shares have lost about 1.8% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 12.4%. While Bank OZK has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Bank OZK was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.45 on $434.97 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $5.83 on $1.72 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - Northeast is currently in the top 27% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. One other stock from the same industry, Business First (BFST), is yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on October 26. This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.74 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +2.8%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.4% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. Business First's revenues are expected to be $93.62 million, up 15.7% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Bank OZK (OZK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when Business First (BFST) reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates. The earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 26, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise. This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.74 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +2.8%. Revenues are expected to be $93.62 million, up 15.7% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.41% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only. A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP. Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell). For Business First, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -1.35%. On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2. So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Business First will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number. For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Business First would post earnings of $0.71 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.71, delivering no surprise. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times. An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Business First doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release. Among the stocks in the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry, Eastern Bankshares, Inc. (EBC), is soon expected to post earnings of $0.49 per share for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +32.4%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $308.79 million, up 27.9% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for Eastern Bankshares has been revised 0.7% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, an equal Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Eastern Bankshares will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times. Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) : Free Stock Analysis Report Eastern Bankshares, Inc. (EBC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Applied Digital Corporation APLD reported a first-quarter fiscal 2027 loss from continuing operations of 76 cents per share, wider than the 7-cent loss a year ago. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a 26-cent loss by 192.3%, as higher operating costs, interest expense and fair-value losses pressured results. Revenues rose 322% year over year to $341.9 million, beating the $134 million consensus by 154.95%. High-performance computing (HPC) tenant fit-out services and new rental revenue led growth. APLD had 1.41 GW of critical IT load under lease across five campuses, representing $36 billion of base-term contracted revenues. The HPC Hosting Business generated $262.6 million in revenues, including $183.5 million from tenant fit-out services, $65.8 million of base rent and $13.3 million from tenant recoveries. Segment operating profit was $33.4 million for the quarter. Phase 1 of Building 2 at Polaris Forge 1, representing 75 MW, became ready for service on July 1, lifting live capacity at the campus to 175 MW. A second 75 MW phase became ready on Oct. 1, after quarter-end, taking live capacity to 250 MW. Applied Digital Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Applied Digital Corporation Quote The Data Center Hosting Business generated $37.8 million in revenues compared with $37.9 million a year earlier. The 106 MW Jamestown facility and 180 MW Ellendale facility were operating at full capacity as of Aug. 31. Segment operating profit rose 121% year over year to $13.3 million, primarily reflecting lower cost of revenues from more advantageous power pricing. Reported assets for the business totaled $111.9 million at quarter-end. Services cost of revenues increased 318% year over year to $245.7 million, mainly due to higher tenant fit-out expenses and ChronoScale GPU hardware costs. Data center rental and other cost of revenues totaled $43.9 million, including $22.4 million of depreciation and amortization and $13.3 million of reimbursable tenant recovery expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses climbed 289% to $114.7 million. The increase reflected $51.7 million of higher stock-based compensation, $12.1 million of additional professional service expense and $9.9 million of higher personnel costs. Interest expense surged 866% to $77.4 million, while interest income rose to $35.8 million. APLD also recorded a $49.5 million loss on the change in fair value of derivatives and an $11.4 million loss on the change in fair value of its Babcock & Wilcox investment. Adjusted revenues, which exclude ChronoScale, rose to $300.4 million from $64.2 million. Adjusted operating income was $37.8 million compared with an adjusted operating loss of $3.6 million a year ago, while adjusted operating margin improved to 13% from negative 6%. Adjusted net loss from continuing operations narrowed to $4.1 million, or 1 cent per share, from $7.6 million, or 3 cents. Adjusted EBITDA increased to $64.4 million from $0.5 million, while net operating income was $58.8 million with an 89% margin. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $3.7 billion as of Aug. 31, while debt stood at $6.4 billion. Operating activities provided $63.9 million of cash compared with $81.5 million used a year ago. Investing activities used $2.08 billion, largely reflecting $2.07 billion of purchases of property, equipment and other assets. Financing activities provided $1.54 billion, supported by long-term debt borrowings and preferred stock issuance during the quarter. APLD closed $1.59 billion of 7% senior secured notes due 2031 to fund construction of the third 150 MW HPC building at Polaris Forge 1 and repay the $300 million bridge facility. The company also expanded revolving commitments to $430 million during the quarter. Subsequent to quarter-end, Applied Digital secured up to approximately 1 GW of potential power capacity in Finland and entered a power purchase agreement with Base Electron for capacity and energy from an approximately 1,200 MW natural gas-fired generation facility planned in North Dakota. Management expects initial Polaris Forge 2 operations to lift the delivered critical IT load across its North Dakota campuses to 300 MW by the end of calendar 2026. Currently, Applied Digital has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). American Assets Trust AAT, Business First Bancshares BFST and Civista Bancshares CIVB are some better-ranked stocks in the broader Zacks Finance sector, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. American Assets Trust's shares have gained 13.4% year to date. AAT is set to report its third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 27. Business First Bancshares' shares have returned 16.4% year to date. BFST is set to report its third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 26. Civista Bancshares' shares have risen 21.8% year to date. CIVB is set to report third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 22. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) : Free Stock Analysis Report American Assets Trust, Inc. (AAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Civista Bancshares, Inc. (CIVB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Make better investment decisions with Simply Wall St's easy, visual tools that give you a competitive edge. Business First Bancshares (BFST) has drawn fresh attention after reporting second quarter and six month 2026 results, affirming both common and preferred dividends, and updating investors on recent share repurchases. See our latest analysis for Business First Bancshares. At a share price of $31.16, Business First Bancshares has seen momentum build recently, with a 20.40% year to date share price return and a 25.46% total shareholder return over the past year, alongside ongoing dividends and buybacks that appear to be influencing sentiment. If the recent move in Business First Bancshares has you reassessing your watchlist, it could be a good moment to scan the market for other banks or financials with similar traits via the 18 top founder-led companies For Business First Bancshares, recent earnings, dividends, and buybacks sit alongside a share price that is below both analyst targets and one estimate of fair value. Is the market’s caution still warranted as the valuation picture comes into focus? Against the last close of $31.16, the most followed narrative on Business First Bancshares points to a fair value of $32.40, with that view built on detailed revenue, margin, and valuation assumptions that stretch out to 2029. Read the complete narrative. Want to see what is sitting behind that cost and growth story, and how it connects to a richer profit margin profile and a higher future earnings multiple? The full narrative lays out the step by step assumptions that underpin the $32.40 fair value and the required re rating path. Result: Fair Value of $32.40 (UNDERVALUED) Have a read of the narrative in full and understand what's behind the forecasts. However, Business First Bancshares still faces concentration in commercial real estate and a tight Louisiana and Texas footprint, which could amplify any local credit or economic stress. Find out about the key risks to this Business First Bancshares narrative. If this combination of optimism and caution around Business First Bancshares leaves you uncertain, take a closer look now and consider both perspectives using the 4 key rewards and 2 important warning signs If Business First Bancshares has you thinking more seriously about where to put your money to work, do not stop at a single stock. The Simply Wall Street Screener can quickly surface focused shortlists tailored to what matters most to you. Use it to widen the field and help avoid missing opportunities that fit your style. Pinpoint proven value by scanning a curated list of quality companies that screen as attractively priced using the 49 high quality undervalued stocks. Explore income ideas by sorting through potential yield opportunities via the 9 dividend fortresses. Prioritise resilience by filtering for companies that stand out on stability and fundamentals with the 79 resilient stocks with low risk scores. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include BFST. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]

Our analysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here. Management attributed the quarter's success to a return to normalized loan production and disciplined pricing, which drove an 8-basis point expansion in net interest margin. A strategic loan sale was executed at the end of the quarter to create future margin opportunities by redeploying proceeds into higher-earning assets over the next two periods. The bank achieved a 30% reduction in nonperforming loans, driven by the resolution of specific commercial real estate and business relationships, aligning with previous forecasts. Management highlighted significant industrial tailwinds in Louisiana, specifically citing Meta's $50 billion data center project as a catalyst for regional commercial banking demand. The decline in total deposits was characterized as partly strategic, reflecting a purposeful paydown of higher-cost brokered deposits to optimize the funding mix. Expense increases were linked to non-recurring items, including upfront marketing spend and legal fees associated with resolving a large non-performing credit. The bank anticipates high single-digit annualized loan growth for the remainder of 2026, supported by a significant pipeline in the Houston area. Guidance assumes no further interest rate cuts in 2026, with management maintaining a relatively neutral balance sheet position to manage various rate scenarios. Core noninterest expenses are expected to trend downward to approximately $58 million in Q3 and $57 million in Q4 as Progressive Bank cost synergies are realized. Management expects continued improvement in credit quality, targeting a reduction of nonperforming loans to approximately $50 million or below by year-end. The bank is targeting a 1.25% Return on Average Assets (ROAA) by the fourth quarter, contingent on successful pipeline execution and continued margin expansion. The Progressive Bank system conversion is scheduled for mid-August, which is expected to trigger the majority of projected cost savings. A $85 million subordinated debt issuance was completed to redeem $52 million in callable debt, resulting in a 50-basis point boost to total risk-based capital. Management identified the callable event of preferred stock in September of the following year as a primary future use of capital to reduce financing costs. The Financial Services Group, while growing 20% year-over-year, remains subject to 'lumpy' revenue due to the timing of swap fees and SBA business deals. One stock. Nvidia-level potential. 30M+ investors trust Moby to find it first. Get the pick. Tap here. The sale is expected to provide a 4-basis point benefit to net interest margin going forward as liquidity is redeployed. Management does not expect a drag on net interest income because the robust loan pipeline should replace the sold assets within the third quarter. Management noted that seasonal outflows from municipal and commercial accounts in Q2 have already begun to return in July at rates consistent with the Q2 average. Opportunities to further lower deposit costs exist through repricing maturing brokered and organic CDs in the second half of the year. Management expects a 10% to 20% further resolution of nonperforming loans in Q3, with annualized charge-offs likely staying in the high single digits. The 'watch list' of criticized credits has already declined from $450 million at year-end to $330 million, indicating a stabilizing credit environment. Organic growth in Houston and Dallas remains the primary capital priority, followed by the planned redemption of preferred stock next year. Share repurchases will remain opportunistic, specifically when the stock price provides a favorable valuation relative to other capital uses.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Net Income: $22.8 million GAAP net income; $23.3 million non-GAAP core net income. Earnings Per Share (EPS): $0.70 GAAP EPS; $0.71 non-GAAP core EPS. Net Interest Margin: Increased by 8 basis points to 3.73% GAAP; core net interest margin increased to 3.68%. Loan Production: Returned to normalized rate, contributing to increased net interest income. Non-Performing Loans: Reduced by about 30% during the quarter. Revenue from Financial Services Group: Running roughly 20% ahead of last year's pace. Total Loans Held for Investment: Decreased by $24.8 million or 1.5% annualized. Total Deposits: Decreased by $229.4 million, with a $237.9 million decrease in interest-bearing deposits offset by an $8.5 million increase in non-interest-bearing deposits. Core Efficiency Ratio: 63.9% for the quarter. Core Loan Yields: 6.58%, up 4 basis points from the prior quarter. Non-Interest Expense: $59.5 million GAAP; $58.4 million core non-interest expense. Non-Performing Loans Ratio: Decreased to 1.26% of loans held for investment. Non-Performing Assets Ratio: Decreased to 1.23% of total assets. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Sign with BFST. Is BFST fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator. Release Date: July 23, 2026 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Business First Bancshares Inc (NASDAQ:BFST) reported a solid second quarter with a return to normalized loan production rates, contributing to a healthy increase in net interest income. The company successfully expanded its margin by eight basis points, partly due to disciplined loan and deposit pricing. Non-performing loans were reduced by about 30%, aligning with the company's forecasted progress. Revenue from the financial services group is running approximately 20% ahead of last year's pace at the halfway mark of the year. The company remains on track for a successful conversion of its Progressive Bank Partnership, expected to enhance its branch network significantly in northeast Louisiana. Deposits declined during the quarter, with a portion of the decline being strategic, but also reflecting seasonal trends. Expenses were higher than normal, driven by upfront marketing spend and elevated legal fees related to resolving a large non-performing credit. Total loans held for investment decreased by 1.5% annualized on a linked quarter basis. The company experienced a decrease in interest-bearing deposits, largely driven by outflows from commercial money market accounts and broker deposits. Non-interest income was relatively consistent with expectations but showed slower swap fee revenue, indicating potential volatility in non-interest revenue streams. Q: Can you provide more details on the balance sheet repositioning and its impact on liquidity and margins for the rest of the year? A: Gregory Robertson, CFO, explained that the transaction occurred at the end of the quarter, with minimal immediate impact. They expect to gain about four basis points in margin going forward by redeploying liquidity into the market. Jude Melville, CEO, added that they anticipate a high single-digit annualized increase in assets for the third and fourth quarters, with the liquidity being put to work quickly. Q: Regarding the deposit decline in Q2, was it strategic or seasonal, and what are the expectations for the rest of the year? A: Gregory Robertson noted that the $237 million outflow in interest-bearing deposits was mainly from municipals and commercial money market accounts, which is seasonal. They have seen a lot of this decrease return in the current quarter. The broker deposits were paid down due to their high cost, and borrowings were increased in anticipation of loan fundings. Q: What are the expectations for expenses in the third quarter, especially regarding advertising and legal fees? A: Gregory Robertson expects expenses to be slightly down in the third quarter, closer to $58 million, and then closer to $57 million in the fourth quarter. The advertising and legal fees are expected to decrease compared to the second quarter. Q: With the Progressive acquisition complete, will there be more share repurchases in the coming quarters? A: Gregory Robertson stated that share repurchases could continue if the price remains favorable. The primary capital use will be for organic growth opportunities, particularly in Houston, and potentially paying down preferred stock next year. Q: Can you elaborate on the opportunities arising from Meta's investment in Louisiana? A: Jude Melville explained that while they are not directly banking the data center, there are opportunities with vendors and service providers involved in the project. The investment is expected to have a positive economic impact on the community, benefiting small businesses and creating broader opportunities for the bank across Louisiana. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Business First (BFST) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.71 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate . This compares to earnings of $0.66 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post earnings of $0.69 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.73, delivering a surprise of +5.8%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times. Business First, which belongs to the Zacks Banks - Northeast industry, posted revenues of $91.81 million for the quarter ended June 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.47%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $81.46 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates three times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Business First shares have added about 16.6% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 9.6%. While Business First has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Business First was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.76 on $93.64 million in revenues for the coming quarter and $3.03 on $368.75 million in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Banks - Northeast is currently in the top 37% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. One other stock from the same industry, CF Bankshares Inc. (CFBK), is yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. This company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.89 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +15.6%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. CF Bankshares Inc.'s revenues are expected to be $16.3 million, up 4.6% from the year-ago quarter. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) : Free Stock Analysis Report CF Bankshares Inc. (CFBK) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research