---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001437749-23-011351"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "BFST"
cik: "0001624322"
company_name: "Business First Bancshares, Inc."
filed_at: "2023-04-27T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-16T09:01:39.270543+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.6
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# BFST Q1 EPS $0.54; NIM compresses to 3.75%; loans grow 4.3%

## Summary
- Net income to common $13.7M ($0.54 diluted) vs $16.6M ($0.67) linked quarter; core EPS $0.55.
- Net interest margin 3.75% vs 4.06% linked quarter; NII $52.7M.
- Loans held for investment +$196.9M (4.3% qoq); deposits -$14.2M (0.3%).
- NPL ratio 0.36% vs 0.25% linked; $1.9M charge-off on acquired loan.
- Common dividend $0.12/share, preferred $18.75; payable May 31 to holders of record May 15.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001437749-23-011351
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: BFST
- cik: 0001624322
- company_name: Business First Bancshares, Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-04-27T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.6
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.6
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 7.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000143774923011351/0001437749-23-011351-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000143774923011351/bfbi20230426_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-011351
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-011351.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-011351.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  Business First Bancshares, Inc. reported quarter ended March 31, 2023 results: net income $13.7 million, EPS $0.54 per diluted common share.
  - Period: quarter ended March 31, 2023
  - Net income: $13.7 million
  - EPS: $0.54 per diluted common share
  - Result: reported results
  source text: Business First Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: BFST) (Business First), parent company of b1BANK, today announced its unaudited results for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, including net income available to common shareholders of $13.7 million, or $0.54 per diluted common share, decreases of $2.9 million and $0.13, respectively, from the linked quarter, and increases of $5.0 million and $0.13, respectively, from the quarter ended March 31, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000143774923011351/0001437749-23-011351-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.