Business First Bancshares holds annual shareholder meeting

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:BFST), a $720 million market cap banking institution based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, announced the results of its Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 22, 2025, according to a recent SEC filing. InvestingPro data shows the company has maintained profitability and raised its dividend for seven consecutive years, with additional insights available through the platform’s comprehensive analysis.

During the meeting, shareholders voted on several key issues. The first item was the election of directors to serve until the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. All nominated directors were elected with a majority of votes, though specific vote counts were not disclosed in the press release.

The second item on the agenda was a non-binding advisory vote on the compensation of the company’s named executive officers. Shareholders approved the compensation package with a significant majority.

Lastly, the appointment of Forvis Mazars, LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, was ratified by the shareholders.

The press release did not provide detailed vote totals or percentages for any of the matters submitted to a vote. It is customary for companies to report the outcomes of shareholder meetings in this manner, providing transparency and disclosure to the public and investors.

The announcement of the meeting results is a routine disclosure for publicly traded companies, which are required to hold annual shareholder meetings to vote on corporate governance matters and other important decisions.

Business First Bancshares, Inc. operates as the holding company for Business First Bank, providing banking products and services in Louisiana and surrounding regions. The company’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol BFST. Trading at a P/E ratio of 9.94 and offering a dividend yield of 2.37%, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock is currently undervalued, with a "GOOD" overall Financial Health Score. For detailed valuation metrics and additional ProTips, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report, available exclusively to InvestingPro subscribers.

In other recent news, Business First Bancshares Inc. reported strong financial results for the first quarter of 2025, exceeding market expectations. The company announced earnings per share of $0.65, surpassing the forecasted $0.61, and revenue of $79.21 million, which was higher than the anticipated $77.54 million. This performance was attributed to increased non-interest income, improved net interest income, and reduced operating expenses. Additionally, the company added finance expert Alejandro M. Sanchez to its Board of Directors, bringing extensive experience in financial consulting and regulatory compliance.

In terms of analyst activity, Stephens analyst Matt Olney revised the price target for Business First Bancshares to $32.00 from $34.00 while maintaining an Overweight rating, following the company’s strong quarterly performance. Despite the stagnant loan growth, Stephens predicts the net interest margin will continue to expand due to increased pricing on fixed-rate loans. Business First Bancshares also reported $7.8 billion in assets as of March 31, 2025, and continues to focus on IT and infrastructure investments to enhance its banking capabilities. The bank’s strategic focus on diversifying revenue sources and improving operational efficiency seems to be paying off as it navigates a competitive banking environment.

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