---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001624322-25-000005"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "BFST"
cik: "0001624322"
company_name: "Business First Bancshares, Inc."
filed_at: "2025-01-23T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-27T14:27:54.921243+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Business First Q4 net income $15.1M, FY net income $59.7M; Oakwood acquisition adds scale

## Summary
- Q4 net income available to common $15.1M ($0.51 diluted EPS); core net income $19.5M ($0.66 diluted EPS).
- Net interest margin expanded to 3.61% from 3.51% linked quarter; cost of funds declined 14 bps to 2.93%.
- Deposits grew $870.4M (15.43%) including Oakwood; organic deposit growth $156.8M (2.78%).
- Loans increased $761.3M (14.58%) including Oakwood; organic loan growth $62.8M (1.20%).
- Common dividend declared $0.14/share, preferred $18.75/share, payable Feb 28, 2025; record Feb 15, 2025.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001624322-25-000005
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: BFST
- cik: 0001624322
- company_name: Business First Bancshares, Inc.
- filed_at: 2025-01-23T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000162432225000005/0001624322-25-000005-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000162432225000005/bfst-20250123.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001624322-25-000005
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001624322-25-000005.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001624322-25-000005.txt

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