Business First BancsharesBFST +2.00%64 Pretax Margin % is 33.10% as of Mar. 2026, which is 9% above its 10-year median of 30.44. GuruFocus rates BFST with a GF Score™ of 64/100 and a GF Value™ of $25.70 (Modestly Overvalued). The stock has 5 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,527 Banks companies, Business First Bancshares ranks worse than 51.15% on this metric.
The historical rank and industry rank for Business First Bancshares's Pretax Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
BFST'
s Pretax Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 15.63 Med: 30.44 Max: 36.61
Current: 34.43
BFST's Pretax Margin % is ranked worse than 51.15% of 1527
companies
in the Banks industry
Industry Median: 34.88
vs BFST: 34.43
Business First Bancshares (NAS:BFST) Pretax Margin % Explanation
The pretax margin, as know as pretax profit margin, is widely used to measure the operating efficiency of a company before deducting taxes.
The pretax margin is sometimes preferred over the net margin as tax expenditures can make profitability comparisons between companies misleading.
It is a useful tool to compare companies operating in the same sector and less effective when comparing companies from other sectors as each industry generally has different operating expenses and sales patterns.
The long term trend of the pretax margin is a good indicator of the competitiveness and health of the business.
Business First Bancshares Pretax Margin % Related Terms
Business First Bancshares Pretax Margin % Historical Data
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
BFST vs MCBS, FMCB, MBWM: Pretax Margin % Comparison
For the Banks - Regional subindustry, Business First Bancshares's Pretax Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Pretax Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
Business First Bancshares Pretax Margin % vs Banks Industry
For the Banks industry and Financial Services sector, Business First Bancshares's Pretax Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where Business First Bancshares's Pretax Margin % falls into.
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
Business First Bancshares (BFST) has a Pretax Margin % of 33.10% as of Mar. 2026. Pre-Tax margin is the ratio of total pre-tax income to net sales. View historical data on Business First Bancshares and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 30.44. Over the past decade, Business First Bancshares' Pretax Margin % has ranged from 15.63 to 36.61. According to the industry distribution chart, Business First Bancshares ranks #781 out of 1527 companies in the Banks industry, placing it in the top 51.1%.
Is Business First Bancshares' Pretax Margin % too high?
Business First Bancshares' current Pretax Margin % of 33.10% is near median its 10-year median of 30.44. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 15.63 to a high of 36.61. The Banks industry median Pretax Margin % is 34.88. Business First Bancshares' value of 33.10% is 5.1% below this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, Business First Bancshares ranks #781 out of 1527 companies in the Banks industry, which is below the industry midpoint. Overall, Business First Bancshares has a GF Score™ of 64/100 and is considered Modestly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Business First Bancshares' Pretax Margin % compare to MCBS and FMCB?
According to the Banks industry distribution chart, Business First Bancshares ranks #781 out of 1527 companies for Pretax Margin %. This places Business First Bancshares in the lower half of its industry. The industry median Pretax Margin % is 34.88. Business First Bancshares' value of 33.10% is 5.1% below this benchmark. Historically, Business First Bancshares' own Pretax Margin % has ranged from 15.63 to 36.61 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 30.44 vs. the industry median of 34.88, Business First Bancshares has consistently been below the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Pretax Margin % for a Banks company?
The median Pretax Margin % among Banks companies is 34.88, based on 1,527 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Pretax Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Pretax Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Business First Bancshares's current Pretax Margin % of 33.10% is 5.1% below the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Pretax Margin % mean?
A high Pretax Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Pre-Tax margin is the ratio of total pre-tax income to net sales. View historical data on Business First Bancshares and its competitors. For the Banks industry, the median Pretax Margin % is 34.88 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. Business First Bancshares's current Pretax Margin % is 33.10%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 30.44. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Business First Bancshares stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Business First Bancshares (BFST) is currently considered Modestly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $25.70, compared to a current price of $30.15 — trading 17.3% above its estimated fair value. The current Pretax Margin % is 33.10%, which is near median its 10-year median of 30.44 and 5.1% below the Banks industry median of 34.88. Business First Bancshares' overall GF Score™ is 64/100 with 5 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Pretax Margin % calculated?
Pretax Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Business First Bancshares (BFST), the current Pretax Margin % is 33.10% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is Business First Bancshares (BFST) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Business First Bancshares stock appears to be overvalued.
The current stock price of $30.15 is trading 17.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of $25.70.
GuruFocus considers Business First Bancshares to be Modestly Overvalued.
Key valuation signals for BFST:
Pretax Margin %: 33.10% (near median its 10-year median of 30.44)
GF Value™: $25.70 vs. price of $30.15 (17.3% above fair value)
Industry Position: 5.1% below the Banks median (#781 of 1527)
No single metric tells the full story. See the BFST stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
Business First Bancshares Inc is a bank holding company. The company's services include personal and commercial banking, treasury management, and wealth solutions. It provides a range of financial services to small-to-midsized businesses and professionals. The company generates the majority of its revenues from interest income on loans, customer service and loan fees, and interest income from securities.
64GF Score
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