Analysts on Wall Street project that Business First (BFST) will announce quarterly earnings of $0.46 per share in its forthcoming report, representing a decline of 30.3% year over year. Revenues are projected to reach $75.4 million, increasing 25.3% from the same quarter last year.

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This represents how the covering analysts, as a whole, have reassessed their initial estimates during this timeframe.

Ahead of a company's earnings disclosure, it is crucial to give due consideration to changes in earnings estimates. These revisions serve as a noteworthy factor in predicting potential investor reactions to the stock. Numerous empirical studies consistently demonstrate a strong relationship between trends in earnings estimate revision and the short-term price performance of a stock.

While investors typically rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to gauge how the business may have fared during the quarter, examining analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics often helps gain a deeper insight.

Given this perspective, it's time to examine the average forecasts of specific Business First metrics that are routinely monitored and predicted by Wall Street analysts.

The consensus among analysts is that 'Net Interest Margin' will reach 3.5%. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 3.5%.

The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Efficiency Ratio' will likely reach 73.4%. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 63.4%.

The consensus estimate for 'Total other income (Non-Interest Income)' stands at $11.23 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $6.41 million.

Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Net Interest Income' should arrive at $64.18 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $53.76 million.

View all Key Company Metrics for Business First here>>>

Business First shares have witnessed a change of -1.4% in the past month, in contrast to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.4% move. With a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), BFST is expected closely follow the overall market performance in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

Business First Bancshares, Inc. (BFST) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research