Mark Folse Acquires Shares in Business First Bancshares

Mark Folse, an insider at Business First Bancshares, Inc. (NasdaqGS: BFST), acquired 998 shares of the company on June 25, 2026. The transaction did not specify a price, but shares of the regional bank traded near $30.81 on Tuesday.

Insider Buying and Selling at Business First Bancshares, Inc.

Alongside Mark Folse's purchase, several other insiders were active around the same time. On June 26, 2026, Arthur Price, Joseph Vernon Johnson, and Rick Day each bought 1,016 shares. Meanwhile, Joseph Vernon Johnson, Steven Gerard White, and Patrick Mockler sold the same amount of shares on the same date.

Business First Bancshares, Inc. Stock Down 1.7%

Shares of Business First Bancshares, Inc. traded near $30.81 on Tuesday. The company, with a market cap of approximately $1.01 billion, boasts a P/E ratio of 10.93 and a forward P/E of 9.46. It has a beta of 0.791, indicating less volatility compared to the market. The stock's 52-week range is between $22.56 and $31.04, with a 50-day moving average of $28.18 and a 200-day moving average of $26.74.

Other Institutional Activity in Business First Bancshares

Institutional investors have been active in Business First Bancshares as well. BlackRock, Inc. increased its holdings by 156,648 shares, reaching a total of 2,446,961 shares valued at about $66.17 million, marking a 6.8% increase. Vanguard Capital Management LLC opened a new position with 1,431,162 shares worth approximately $38.70 million. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP added 81,833 shares, ending with 1,165,720 shares valued at $31.52 million, a 7.5% increase. Janus Henderson Group PLC slightly increased its stake by 3,540 shares, owning 989,686 shares worth $26.76 million, while American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position by 103,034 shares, totaling 890,391 shares valued at $24.08 million, a 13.1% increase.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Analysts remain bullish on Business First Bancshares, with DA Davidson maintaining a buy rating and a $33.00 price target as of January 26, 2026. Stephens & Co. also kept its buy rating with a $35.00 target on January 23, 2026. Raymond James maintained its buy rating with a $31.00 target on January 7, 2026. The consensus among analysts is a strong buy, with a target mean price of $32.40 based on five opinions.

About Business First Bancshares

Business First Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for b1BANK, providing banking products and services across Louisiana and Texas. The company offers a variety of deposit products, commercial and industrial loans, and wealth management services. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the company is led by CEO David R. Melville III and employs 821 people.

Bottom Line

Mark Folse's recent purchase of Business First Bancshares shares highlights ongoing insider interest in the company. With a steady performance and positive analyst sentiment, BFST remains a stock to watch. Remember, insider transactions are reported after they occur and may not reflect current holdings.