Transaction details
On January 29, 2026, Donald Chad Carter, who serves as Executive Vice President of Correspondent Banking at Business First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: BFST), sold 3,778 shares of the company's common stock. The shares were executed between $27.27 and $27.28 per share, producing total proceeds of $103,026.
Share price and valuation context
Since the disposition, BFST has traded up to $28.17, moving closer to its 52-week high of $28.84. The shares currently trade at a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.06. Market capitalization for Business First Bancshares stands at $921.71 million.
Insider holdings after the sale
Following the transaction, Carter directly owns 13,863 shares of Business First Bancshares. That total includes 6,799 shares held within the company 401(k) plan and 1,156 unvested restricted shares. In addition to those direct holdings, he retains 6,636 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs).
Dividend and valuation signals
Business First Bancshares has paid dividends for nine consecutive years and currently yields 2.17%. Analysis indicates the stock is trading slightly below its Fair Value, and three analysts have recently revised earnings estimates upward, reflecting shifts in near-term expectations.
Recent operating results and analyst action
In its fourth-quarter 2025 report, Business First Bancshares delivered earnings per share of $0.79, surpassing the expected $0.71. Revenue for the quarter came in at $83.09 million versus a forecast of $81.41 million. Following those results, Stephens raised its price target on the stock to $35.00 from $34.00 and maintained an Overweight rating, citing excellent fees, strong loan growth, and favorable balance sheet repricing trends.
Context for investors
The insider sale, the company’s recent outperformance on EPS and revenue, and analyst adjustments together form the factual backdrop investors have to consider. The facts reported here are limited to the transaction, the company’s financial metrics and the stated analyst actions.