---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001628280-26-003073"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "BFST"
cik: "0001624322"
company_name: "Business First Bancshares, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-01-22T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T08:46:48.267524+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Business First Bancshares Q4 net income $21M, FY2025 EPS $2.79; dividend $0.15

## Summary
- Q4 GAAP net income $21.0M ($0.71 diluted EPS); core net income $23.5M ($0.79).
- FY2025 net income $82.5M ($2.79 diluted EPS), up $0.53 YoY; core $83.5M ($2.83).
- Quarterly common dividend $0.15/share, payable Feb. 28, 2026; preferred $18.75/share.
- Loans grew $168.4M (+2.8% QoQ); deposits $191.7M (+2.95%). NIM stable at 3.71%.
- NPL ratio rose to 1.24% from single $25.8M CRE credit; tangible book value $23.36.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001628280-26-003073
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: BFST
- cik: 0001624322
- company_name: Business First Bancshares, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-01-22T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000162828026003073/0001628280-26-003073-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1624322/000162828026003073/bfst-20260122.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-26-003073
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-26-003073.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-26-003073.txt

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