Business First Bancshares reports Q1 EPS 65c, consensus 61c

Reports Q1 tangible book value per share $20.84. Reports Q1 net charge-offs .02%. “We are excited to start the year off with solid earnings,” said Jude Melville, chairman, president and CEO of Business First Bancshares (BFST). “We increased our capital, our reserves, and our per share tangible book value at healthy rates, while demonstrating diversity of our revenue streams and growth of margins in our core spread business. We are also proud of our less tangible development, continuing to integrate our latest acquisition and implementing a number of technological initiatives including preparation for our core conversion in the second quarter, investments that will enable us to provide high quality and more efficient service for our client base into the future.”