SmarterDividends
BFST

Business First Bancshares, Inc.

BFST

Financial Services · Banks - Regional · Stock · quarterly payer

$31.31

Undervalued · +32% Add to Portfolio

Forward Yield

1.92%

Annual Dividend

$0.60

Payout Ratio

21%

5-Yr Growth

7.3%

Ex-Date

Aug 14, 2026

Frequency

Quarterly

Key facts about BFST's dividend

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Oct 18, 2026, Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) has a forward dividend yield of 1.92%, based on an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and a share price of $31.31.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, BFST's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is A (84 out of 100), which rates the dividend as very safe.
  • By SmarterDividends' count, Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) has raised its dividend for 7 consecutive years as of Oct 18, 2026.
  • BFST has never cut its regular dividend in the payment history SmarterDividends has on record.
  • BFST's most recent ex-dividend date was Aug 14, 2026, for a dividend of $0.15 per share.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, BFST pays out 21% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
  • BFST's dividend has grown at an average rate of 7.3% a year over the past five years.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, BFST's 1.92% yield is 14% below its five-year average yield of 2.24%.
  • As of Oct 18, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for BFST is $41.31 per share, 32% above the $31.31 share price, so BFST screens as undervalued.
  • Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) pays its dividend quarterly, 4 times a year.
  • Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) has raised its regular dividend 4 times and cut it 0 times across the 34 payments on record since 2018. Its most recent change was a 7.1% increase to $0.150 per share, going ex-dividend on Nov 14, 2025.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "BFST Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Oct 18, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/BFST

Summary

As of Oct 18, 2026, Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) yields 1.92% ($0.60 a year per share), has a dividend safety grade of A (84/100) and has 7 consecutive years of dividend increases on record.

Is BFST a good dividend stock?

Yes

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 1.92% ($0.60/yr), with 7 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Advantages

  • Never cut its dividend on record
  • Comfortable payout ratio (21%)
  • Strong 7.3% 5-yr dividend growth
  • Top-tier dividend safety score

Risks

  • Single-stock concentration risk — diversify

Key Data

Dividend Yield
1.92%
Payout Ratio
21%
Annual Dividend
$0.60
5-Yr Avg Growth
7.3%
Ex-Dividend Date
Aug 14, 2026
Years of Growth
7
Frequency
quarterly
Beta
0.78
Market Cap
$1.0B
P/E Ratio
11.1
5-Yr Total Return
14%
52-Week Range
$22.81 – $32.53
Dividend Safety
A · 84/100
Ever Cut?
No

BFST dividend raises and cuts

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) has raised its regular dividend 4 times and cut it 0 times across the 34 payments on record since 2018. Its most recent change was a 7.1% increase to $0.150 per share, going ex-dividend on Nov 14, 2025.

Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Nov 14, 2025Raise$0.140 → $0.150+7.1%
Nov 14, 2023Raise$0.120 → $0.140+16.7%
May 13, 2021Raise$0.100 → $0.120+20.0%
May 14, 2019Raise$0.0800 → $0.100+25.0%
Every BFST payment →Download every raise and cut (CSV)
BFST ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Aug 14, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →BFST dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BFST a good dividend stock?

Yes. Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 1.92% ($0.60/yr), with 7 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Is BFST undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, BFST's fair value is about $41.31 versus a $31.31 share price — so it looks undervalued (+32% vs. fair value).

Is BFST's dividend safe?

BFST has a dividend-safety grade of A (84/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 7-year growth streak, a clean no-cut history, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is BFST's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for BFST is about $41.31 per share, roughly 32% above the current $31.31 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is BFST a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data BFST screens as "yes" and undervalued. Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 1.92% ($0.60/yr), with 7 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will BFST cut its dividend?

BFST earns a dividend-safety grade of A (84/100), with no dividend cut on record. A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does BFST pay a dividend?

Yes. Business First Bancshares, Inc. pays a quarterly dividend of about $0.60 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 1.92%.

What is BFST's dividend yield?

As of Oct 18, 2026, BFST's forward dividend yield is 1.92%, based on a $0.60 annual dividend and a $31.31 share price.

What is BFST's dividend per share?

As of Oct 18, 2026, BFST pays $0.60 per share per year, distributed on a quarterly basis.

What is BFST's dividend payout ratio?

As of Oct 18, 2026, BFST's payout ratio is 21% of trailing 12-month earnings — a comfortable level that leaves room to keep raising the dividend.

How many years has BFST grown its dividend?

As of Oct 18, 2026, BFST has increased its dividend for 7 consecutive years.

When is the next BFST ex-dividend date?

As of Oct 18, 2026, BFST's next ex-dividend date hasn't been announced. The most recent was Aug 14, 2026, for $0.15 per share.

Income Calculator

At $0.60 / yr per share

Per payment (quarterly)$15.00
Annual$60.00
Monthly avg$5.00

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