---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001437749-23-029092"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "BFST"
cik: "0001624322"
company_name: "Business First Bancshares, Inc."
filed_at: "2023-10-26T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-09T08:35:21.752815+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Business First Bancshares Q3 net income $19.1M, EPS $0.76; raises common dividend to $0.14

## Summary
- Q3 net income available to common shareholders $19.1M ($0.76 diluted EPS), up 3.8% linked quarter and 38% YoY.
- Non-GAAP core net income $18.0M ($0.71 diluted EPS), up from $17.8M linked quarter and $16.4M YoY.
- Common dividend raised to $0.14 per share (up $0.02 from prior quarter), payable Nov 30 to holders of record Nov 15.
- Net interest margin 3.61% (ex-accretion 3.46%); deposits grew $176.3M (3.52%) and loans grew $21.5M (0.44%) from linked quarter.
- Credit quality strong with NPLs/loans 0.33% and NPAs/assets 0.27%; tangible book value per share increased to $17.03 from $16.87.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001437749-23-029092
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: BFST
- cik: 0001624322
- company_name: Business First Bancshares, Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-10-26T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 7.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000143774923029092/0001437749-23-029092-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000143774923029092/bfbi20231024_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-029092
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-029092.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001437749-23-029092.txt

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