Amerant Bancorp (AMTB) vs Business First Bancshares (BFST)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Amerant Bancorp (AMTB) has outperformed Business First Bancshares (BFST) over the past year, gaining 52.0% versus a gain of 28.6%. Over five years, BFST leads with a +20.1% price change compared with +9.7% for AMTB. Amerant Bancorp is the larger company by market cap ($1.12 billion vs $990.8 million), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Business First Bancshares trades at a lower forward P/E (9.1x vs 10.3x for Amerant Bancorp). Business First Bancshares offers the higher dividend yield (1.97% vs 1.26%).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AMTB | BFST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $28.67 | $30.44 |
| Market cap | $1.12B | $990.82M |
| 1-day change | -1.34% | -0.98% |
| YTD return | +46.95% | +16.45% |
| 1-year return | +52.01% | +28.60% |
| 5-year return | +9.68% | +20.13% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.93 | 10.83 |
| Forward P/E | 10.28 | 9.15 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.37 | $2.81 |
| Dividend yield | 1.26% | 1.97% |
| Annual dividend | $0.36 | $0.60 |
| 52-week high | $30.60 | $32.53 |
| 52-week low | $15.62 | $22.56 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -6.31% | -6.41% |
| Average volume | 373.60K | 217.52K |
| Shares outstanding | 39.19M | 32.55M |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Major Banks | Major Banks |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- AMTB has outperformed BFST by 23.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Amerant Bancorp trades at a higher earnings multiple (20.9x vs 10.8x trailing P/E).
AMTB vs BFST FAQ
Which is bigger, Amerant Bancorp or Business First Bancshares?
Amerant Bancorp (AMTB) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.12B compared with $990.82M for Business First Bancshares (BFST).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AMTB or BFST?
AMTB returned +52.01% over the past 12 months, compared with +28.60% for BFST (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, AMTB or BFST?
BFST has the lower trailing P/E at 10.8, versus 20.9 for AMTB. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Amerant Bancorp or Business First Bancshares?
Business First Bancshares has the higher yield at 1.97%, compared with 1.26% for Amerant Bancorp.
Are Amerant Bancorp and Business First Bancshares in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.