Business First Bancshares (BFST) vs Equity Bancshares (EQBK)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Business First Bancshares (BFST) has outperformed Equity Bancshares (EQBK) over the past year, gaining 28.6% versus a gain of 16.1%. Over five years, EQBK leads with a +36.3% price change compared with +20.1% for BFST. Business First Bancshares is the larger company by market cap ($999.6 million vs $977.9 million), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Equity Bancshares trades at a lower forward P/E (8.7x vs 9.2x for Business First Bancshares). Business First Bancshares offers the higher dividend yield (1.95% vs 1.52%).
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 | BFST | EQBK |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $30.71 | $47.49 |
| Market cap | $999.61M | $977.94M |
| 1-day change | +0.89% | +1.04% |
| YTD return | +16.45% | +5.26% |
| 1-year return | +28.60% | +16.11% |
| 5-year return | +20.13% | +36.31% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 10.93 | 27.94 |
| Forward P/E | 9.23 | 8.68 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.81 | $1.70 |
| Dividend yield | 1.95% | 1.52% |
| Annual dividend | $0.60 | $0.72 |
| 52-week high | $32.53 | $52.27 |
| 52-week low | $22.56 | $38.60 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -5.58% | -9.14% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.64% | +16.42% |
| Average volume | 216.78K | 113.90K |
| Shares outstanding | 32.55M | 20.59M |
| Employees | 821 | 909 |
| 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
- BFST has outperformed EQBK by 12.5 percentage points over the past year.
- Equity Bancshares trades at a higher earnings multiple (27.9x vs 10.9x trailing P/E).
About Business First Bancshares
BFST stock →Business First Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for b1BANK that provides various banking products and services in Louisiana and Texas.
Finance · Major Banks · 821 employees
About Equity Bancshares
EQBK stock →Equity Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Equity Bank that provides a range of banking, mortgage banking, and financial services to individual and corporate customers.
Finance · Major Banks · 909 employees
BFST vs EQBK FAQ
Which is bigger, Business First Bancshares or Equity Bancshares?
Business First Bancshares (BFST) is larger, with a market capitalization of $999.61M compared with $977.94M for Equity Bancshares (EQBK).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BFST or EQBK?
BFST returned +28.60% over the past 12 months, compared with +16.11% for EQBK (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BFST or EQBK?
BFST has the lower trailing P/E at 10.9, versus 27.9 for EQBK. 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, Business First Bancshares or Equity Bancshares?
Business First Bancshares has the higher yield at 1.95%, compared with 1.52% for Equity Bancshares.
Are Business First Bancshares and Equity Bancshares in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.