Business First Bancshares (BFST) vs Mercantile Bank (MBWM)
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 Mercantile Bank (MBWM) over the past year, gaining 30.1% versus a gain of 28.0%. Over five years, MBWM leads with a +71.6% price change compared with +21.2% for BFST. Mercantile Bank is the larger company by market cap ($1.01 billion vs $999.6 million), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Business First Bancshares trades at a lower forward P/E (9.2x vs 10.1x for Mercantile Bank). Mercantile Bank offers the higher dividend yield (2.65% vs 1.95%).
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 | MBWM |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $30.71 | $58.20 |
| Market cap | $999.61M | $1.01B |
| 1-day change | +0.89% | +0.29% |
| YTD return | +17.48% | +20.64% |
| 1-year return | +30.13% | +27.99% |
| 5-year return | +21.19% | +71.58% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 10.93 | 10.23 |
| Forward P/E | 9.23 | 10.11 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.81 | $5.69 |
| Dividend yield | 1.95% | 2.65% |
| Annual dividend | $0.60 | $1.54 |
| 52-week high | $32.53 | $62.95 |
| 52-week low | $22.56 | $42.75 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -5.58% | -7.55% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.64% | +8.54% |
| Average volume | 216.78K | 117.91K |
| Shares outstanding | 32.55M | 17.29M |
| Employees | 821 | 827 |
| 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.
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 Mercantile Bank
MBWM stock →Mercantile Bank Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Mercantile Bank that provides commercial and retail banking services to small- to medium-sized businesses and individuals in the United States. The company accepts various deposit products, such as checking, savings, and term certificate accounts; time deposits; and certificates of deposit.
Finance · Major Banks · 827 employees
BFST vs MBWM FAQ
Which is bigger, Business First Bancshares or Mercantile Bank?
Mercantile Bank (MBWM) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.01B compared with $999.61M for Business First Bancshares (BFST).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BFST or MBWM?
BFST returned +30.13% over the past 12 months, compared with +27.99% for MBWM (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BFST or MBWM?
MBWM has the lower trailing P/E at 10.2, versus 10.9 for BFST. 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 Mercantile Bank?
Mercantile Bank has the higher yield at 2.65%, compared with 1.95% for Business First Bancshares.
Are Business First Bancshares and Mercantile Bank in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.