Business First Bancshares (BFST) vs Univest Financial (UVSP)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Univest Financial (UVSP) has outperformed Business First Bancshares (BFST) over the past year, gaining 36.3% versus a gain of 28.6%. Over five years, UVSP leads with a +44.2% price change compared with +20.1% for BFST. Univest Financial is the larger company by market cap ($1.13 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 10.4x for Univest Financial). Univest Financial offers the higher dividend yield (2.20% vs 1.97%).
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 | UVSP |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $30.44 | $40.89 |
| Market cap | $990.82M | $1.13B |
| 1-day change | -0.98% | -1.16% |
| YTD return | +16.45% | +24.89% |
| 1-year return | +28.60% | +36.25% |
| 5-year return | +20.13% | +44.18% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 10.83 | 11.96 |
| Forward P/E | 9.15 | 10.40 |
| EPS (TTM) | $2.81 | $3.42 |
| Dividend yield | 1.97% | 2.20% |
| Annual dividend | $0.60 | $0.90 |
| 52-week high | $32.53 | $45.46 |
| 52-week low | $22.56 | $28.04 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -6.41% | -10.05% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +14.65% | +11.27% |
| Average volume | 217.52K | 236.09K |
| Shares outstanding | 32.55M | 27.58M |
| Employees | 821 | — |
| Sector | Financial Services | Financial Services |
| Industry | Banks - Regional | Banks - Regional |
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.
Financial Services · Banks - Regional · 821 employees
About Univest Financial
UVSP stock →Univest Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Univest Bank and Trust Co. that provides banking services in the United States.
Financial Services · Banks - Regional
BFST vs UVSP FAQ
Which is bigger, Business First Bancshares or Univest Financial?
Univest Financial (UVSP) is larger, with a market capitalization of $1.13B compared with $990.82M for Business First Bancshares (BFST).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BFST or UVSP?
UVSP returned +36.25% 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, BFST or UVSP?
BFST has the lower trailing P/E at 10.8, versus 12.0 for UVSP. 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 Univest Financial?
Univest Financial has the higher yield at 2.20%, compared with 1.97% for Business First Bancshares.
Are Business First Bancshares and Univest Financial in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Banks - Regional industry within the Financial Services sector.