Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) P/E Ratio History
Premium ValuationTrading at 10.9x vs 5Y avg 9.3x · 85th percentile · Premium to historical baseline · Data 2018–2026
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P/E Ratio Analysis
As of July 8, 2026, Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.9x, with a stock price of $30.31 and trailing twelve-month earnings per share of $2.77.
The current P/E is 17% above its 5-year average of 9.3x. Over the past five years, BFST's P/E has ranged from a low of 5.9x to a high of 11.4x, placing the current valuation at the 85th percentile of its historical range.
Compared to the Financial Services sector median P/E of 14.3x, BFST trades at a 24% discount to its sector peers. The sector includes 800 companies with P/E ratios ranging from 0.0x to 157.0x.
The PEG ratio of 0.98 (P/E divided by 23% EPS growth) suggests the stock may be undervalued relative to its earnings growth. Peter Lynch popularized the rule that a PEG below 1.0 indicates an attractive entry point.
Relative to the broader market, BFST trades at a notable discount to the S&P 500 median P/E of 25.9x. Investors should consider the company's growth prospects, competitive position, and earnings quality when evaluating whether the current valuation is justified.
For a comprehensive intrinsic value estimate using discounted cash flow analysis, see our BFST DCF Valuation Calculator →
Note: P/E ratio is just one valuation metric. It does not account for balance sheet strength, cash flow quality, or growth sustainability. Always conduct comprehensive due diligence before making investment decisions.
BFST Cross-Benchmark Valuation
How does the current P/E compare to sector peers and the broader market?
BFST P/E vs Peers
Commercial and middle-market focused banks peers sorted by market cap
| Company | Market Cap | P/E Ratio | PEG Ratio | EPS Growth (1Y) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5B | 17.0 | 1.69 | +22% | |
| $5B | 19.6 | 4.35 | +13% | |
| $5B | 15.4 | 0.35Best | +431%Best | |
| $6B | 11.9 | 0.91 | +20% | |
| $2B | 15.4 | 3.86 | +10% | |
| $2B | 29.0 | - | -44% | |
| $4B | 16.1 | 0.85 | +11% | |
| $3B | 12.5 | 1.55 | +2% | |
| $538M | 11.7Lowest | 0.75 | +28% |
Lower P/E can signal a discount or weaker growth expectations; PEG adds growth context.
BFST Historical P/E Data (2018–2026)
Quarterly P/E ratios calculated from closing price and TTM EPS
| Quarter | Period End | Price | TTM EPS | P/E Ratio | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 Q1 | - | $27.04 | $2.82 | 9.6x | -19% |
| FY2025 Q4 | Dec 31 2025 | $26.14 | $2.79 | 9.4x | -21% |
| FY2025 Q3 | - | $23.61 | $2.59 | 9.1x | -23% |
| FY2025 Q2 | Jun 30 2025 | $24.65 | $2.51 | 9.8x | -17% |
| FY2025 Q1 | Mar 31 2025 | $24.35 | $2.43 | 10.0x | -16% |
| FY2024 Q4 | - | $25.70 | $2.26 | 11.4x | -4% |
| FY2024 Q3 | Sep 30 2024 | $25.67 | $2.32 | 11.1x | -7% |
| FY2024 Q2 | Jun 30 2024 | $21.76 | $2.43 | 9.0x | -25% |
| FY2024 Q1 | Mar 31 2024 | $22.28 | $2.54 | 8.8x | -26% |
| FY2023 Q4 | Dec 31 2023 | $24.65 | $2.60 | 9.5x | -20% |
| FY2023 Q3 | Sep 30 2023 | $18.76 | $2.70 | 6.9x | -41% |
| FY2023 Q2 | Jun 30 2023 | $15.07 | $2.55 | 5.9x | -50% |
| FY2023 Q1 | Mar 31 2023 | $17.13 | $2.43 | 7.0x | -41% |
| FY2022 Q4 | Dec 31 2022 | $22.14 | $2.30 | 9.6x | -19% |
| FY2022 Q3 | Sep 30 2022 | $21.53 | $2.22 | 9.7x | -18% |
| FY2022 Q2 | - | $21.31 | $2.11 | 10.1x | -15% |
| FY2022 Q1 | - | $24.33 | $2.34 | 10.4x | -12% |
| FY2021 Q4 | Dec 31 2021 | $28.31 | $2.52 | 11.2x | -5% |
| FY2021 Q3 | - | $23.39 | $2.60 | 9.0x | -24% |
| FY2021 Q2 | Jun 30 2021 | $22.95 | $2.56 | 9.0x | -24% |
| FY2021 Q1 | Mar 31 2021 | $23.93 | $1.83 | 13.1x | +10% |
| FY2020 Q4 | - | $20.36 | $1.58 | 12.9x | +9% |
| FY2020 Q3 | Sep 30 2020 | $15.00 | $1.33 | 11.3x | -5% |
| FY2020 Q2 | - | $15.35 | $1.27 | 12.1x | +2% |
| FY2020 Q1 | - | $13.50 | $1.66 | 8.1x | -31% |
| FY2019 Q4 | - | $24.93 | $1.73 | 14.4x | +21% |
| FY2019 Q3 | Sep 30 2019 | $24.40 | $1.59 | 15.3x | +29% |
| FY2019 Q2 | Jun 30 2019 | $25.45 | $1.52 | 16.7x | +41% |
| FY2019 Q1 | Mar 31 2019 | $24.54 | $1.35 | 18.2x | +53% |
| FY2018 Q4 | Dec 31 2018 | $24.23 | $1.39 | 17.4x | +47% |
| FY2018 Q3 | Sep 30 2018 | $26.55 | $1.04 | 25.6x | +116% |
| FY2018 Q2 | Jun 30 2018 | $26.35 | $0.95 | 27.9x | +135% |
Average P/E for displayed period: 11.9x
Intrinsic Valuation
DCF models, multiple analysis, and analyst estimates.
Historical Returns
8+ years return with dividends reinvested.
DCA Calculator
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Peer Comparison
Compare growth, multiples, and margins vs sector.
BFST — Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying BFST stock.
What is BFST's P/E ratio?
Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) trailing twelve-month P/E ratio is 10.9x, based on TTM diluted EPS of $2.77. The 5-year average P/E is 9.3x and the historical range spans 5.9x to 11.4x.
Is BFST stock overvalued or undervalued?
BFST trades at 10.9x P/E, near its 5-year average of 9.3x. The 85th percentile ranking within the 5.9x–11.4x historical range places valuation within normal bounds.
Is BFST stock expensive?
BFST is fairly valued relative to its own history. The current P/E of 10.9x is near the 5-year average of 9.3x (85th percentile of historical range).
What is BFST's historical P/E range?
Over the past 5 years, BFST's P/E ratio has ranged from 5.9x to 11.4x, with a median of 9.6x and an average of 9.3x. The current P/E of 10.9x places the stock at the 85th percentile of this range. Full historical data spans 2018–2026.
How does BFST's P/E compare to the S&P 500?
BFST trades at 10.9x P/E versus the S&P 500 median of 25.9x. The 58% discount to the market suggests lower growth expectations or perceived higher risk.
How does BFST's valuation compare to Financial Services peers?
Business First Bancshares, Inc. P/E of 10.9x compares to the Financial Services sector median of 14.3x. The discount suggests lower growth expectations, weaker margins, or higher perceived risk relative to peers. See the peer comparison table on this page for ticker-by-ticker P/E and PEG.
What is BFST's PEG ratio?
BFST PEG ratio is 0.98, based on a P/E of 10.9x and EPS growth of 23.0%. A PEG below 1.0 indicates the valuation is supported by the earnings growth rate — typically considered attractive.
What is BFST's earnings yield?
BFST earnings yield is 9.17%, the inverse of its 10.9x P/E ratio. Earnings yield represents the percentage of each dollar invested that the company earns. It can be compared directly to bond yields to assess relative attractiveness of stocks versus fixed income.