Financial Position - As of December 31, 2025, the company had total assets of $2.8 billion, net loans of $2.1 billion, total deposits of $2.4 billion, and stockholders' equity of $301.1 million[20]. - Total deposits in Baton Rouge, Louisiana amount to $1,078 million, representing a market share of 4.2%[40]. - In Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, total deposits are $158 million, with a significant market share of 19.9%[40]. - The bank holds $141 million in deposits in Sumter County, Alabama, capturing 48.6% of the market[40]. - As of December 31, 2025, approximately 77% of total deposits of $2.4 billion were from southern Louisiana, with Texas and Alabama contributing approximately 6% and 17% respectively[133]. - As of December 31, 2025, the company had 9,798,948 shares outstanding and 226,602 shares subject to options granted under its incentive plan[174]. Revenue and Loan Composition - Income from lending activities comprised 83% of total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2025, compared to 81% in 2024 and 84% in 2023[25]. - Approximately 48% of total loans at December 31, 2025, were commercial real estate loans, with owner-occupied loans making up about 44% of this portfolio[27]. - Construction and development loans accounted for approximately 7% of total loans at December 31, 2025[26]. - Commercial and industrial loans represented approximately 27% of total loans at December 31, 2025[27]. - The consumer mortgage portfolio was approximately $224.5 million at December 31, 2025, following the exit from the consumer mortgage origination business in Q3 2023[30]. - Approximately 72% of the total loan portfolio was secured by real estate as of December 31, 2025, indicating significant exposure to the real estate market[137]. - The energy sector comprises approximately 4.7% of total loans as of December 31, 2025, suggesting some exposure to volatility in this industry[136]. Acquisitions and Growth Strategy - The company completed its acquisition of Wichita Falls Bancshares, Inc. on January 1, 2026, for an aggregate transaction value of $112.9 million, which included $7.2 million in cash and 3,955,272 shares of common stock[33]. - The company aims for growth through acquisitions and has identified significant opportunities for franchise expansion both organically and through strategic acquisitions[21]. - The company has completed eight whole-bank acquisitions since 2011, highlighting a strategy focused on growth through acquisitions despite associated risks[132]. - The company’s strategy includes organic growth and multi-state expansion, with operations extending into Texas and Alabama[127]. Regulatory Compliance and Capital Requirements - The bank is subject to regulatory capital requirements, including a minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 7% when including a 2.5% capital conservation buffer[58]. - As of December 31, 2025, the bank was in compliance with all applicable minimum regulatory capital requirements[59]. - The company met the requirements to be categorized as well-capitalized under the prompt corrective action framework as of December 31, 2025, with a leverage capital ratio of at least 5% and a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of at least 6.5%[67]. - The company is subject to restrictions on dividends, which require net income over the last four quarters to fully fund dividends and maintain minimum required capital adequacy ratios[74]. - The company must obtain prior approval from the Federal Reserve for significant acquisitions, including acquiring more than 5% of voting stock or merging with other bank holding companies[68]. - The company is required to submit a capital restoration plan if categorized as undercapitalized, which restricts its ability to increase average total assets or engage in new business lines[65]. Operational Risks and Challenges - The cumulative effect of laws and regulations significantly increases operational costs, negatively impacting profitability[101]. - Economic uncertainty and inflation have led to constrained loan demand in 2023 and 2024, affecting the company's credit risk and operational costs[122]. - High interest rates could lead to increased loan defaults and necessitate further increases to the ACL, adversely affecting financial performance[117]. - The company faces risks from geopolitical tensions and economic conditions that could disrupt operations and financial markets[110]. - The company faces intense competition from larger financial institutions, which may adversely affect profitability and long-term growth[156]. - The company faces risks related to fintech innovations, which could disrupt traditional banking practices and require adaptation to retain and acquire customers[169]. Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection - The company has implemented a privacy protection policy to comply with federal laws limiting the sharing of consumer financial information[86]. - Federal guidelines require the company to maintain a comprehensive information security program to protect customer information from unauthorized access[87]. - The company has adopted procedures to comply with regulatory cybersecurity guidance, enhancing its cyber risk management[89]. - The company is exposed to significant fraud risks, including identity theft and account takeover, which have become more sophisticated in recent years[159]. - The company has maintained a quarterly dividend on its common stock since 2011, but is not obligated to pay dividends on either common or preferred stock[202]. Shareholder Information and Stock Performance - The common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "ISTR," with approximately 732 holders of record as of March 12, 2026[201]. - The cumulative total shareholder return on the company's common stock was $179.78 as of December 31, 2025, compared to $100 at the end of 2020[208]. - The company has a share repurchase program with no expiration date, having approved an additional 350,000 shares and 300,000 shares for repurchase in July 2023 and September 2022, respectively[212]. - The total number of shares that may be purchased under the repurchase program is 381,396 shares[211]. - The company issued $32.5 million of Series A Preferred Stock in 2025 to support the acquisition of WFB and for general corporate purposes, including organic growth[154].

Core Viewpoint - Investar (ISTR) has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which significantly influence stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Correlation - The Zacks rating system emphasizes the importance of earnings estimate revisions, which are strongly correlated with near-term stock price movements [4][6]. - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, impacting their buying and selling decisions, which in turn affects stock prices [4]. Company Performance and Outlook - The upgrade reflects an improvement in Investar's underlying business, with rising earnings estimates suggesting a favorable trend that could lead to higher stock prices [5][10]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Investar indicates expected earnings of $3.19 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2026, with a 4.2% increase in estimates over the past three months [8]. Zacks Rating System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks historically generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - Only the top 5% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a "Strong Buy" rating, indicating superior earnings estimate revisions and potential for market-beating returns [9][10].

Group 1: New Gold Inc. (NGD) - New Gold Inc. is a gold mining company with a Zacks Rank 1, indicating strong performance potential [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for New Gold's current year earnings has increased by 5.3% over the last 60 days [1] - New Gold's shares have gained 79.8% over the last three months, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, which advanced by only 1.2% [1] - The company has a Momentum Score of A, reflecting strong momentum characteristics [1] Group 2: Investar Holding Corporation (ISTR) - Investar Holding Corporation is a bank holding company for Investar Bank, also holding a Zacks Rank 1 [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Investar's next year earnings has increased by 5.8% over the last 60 days [2] - Investar's shares have gained 16.2% over the last three months, again outperforming the S&P 500's 1.2% advance [2] - The company possesses a Momentum Score of B, indicating solid momentum characteristics [2]

Core Viewpoint - Investar (ISTR) reported a revenue increase of 3.6% year-over-year for the quarter ended December 2025, with earnings per share (EPS) showing a decline compared to the previous year [1] Financial Performance - Revenue for the quarter was $23.47 million, aligning with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0 million [1] - EPS was reported at $0.58, a decrease from $0.65 in the same quarter last year, but exceeded the consensus estimate of $0.54 by 8.41% [1] - Net Interest Margin stood at 3.2%, matching the average estimate [4] - Efficiency Ratio was reported at 69.3%, higher than the average estimate of 65.5% [4] - Total Noninterest Income was $1.84 million, below the average estimate of $2.71 million [4] - Net Interest Income was $21.63 million, slightly below the average estimate of $21.95 million [4] Stock Performance - Shares of Investar have returned +2.3% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.7% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the broader market [3]

Financial Performance - Investar reported net income of $5.4 million, or $0.51 per diluted common share, for Q4 2025, a decrease from $5.7 million, or $0.54 per share in Q3 2025, and $6.1 million, or $0.61 per share in Q4 2024[2]. - Core earnings per diluted common share for Q4 2025 were $0.58, compared to $0.54 in Q3 2025 and $0.65 in Q4 2024[3]. - Net income available to common shareholders was $5.410 million, a decrease of 4.3% from $5.651 million in the previous quarter and down 11.4% from $6.107 million year-over-year[49]. - Basic and diluted earnings per common share for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, were $0.55 and $0.51, respectively, down from $0.57 and $0.54 for the quarter ended September 30, 2025, and $0.62 and $0.61 for the quarter ended December 31, 2024[40]. - Core basic earnings per common share increased to $0.63, up 8.6% from $0.58 in the previous quarter, but down 4.5% from $0.66 year-over-year[49]. Interest Income and Margin - Net interest income for Q4 2025 was $21.6 million, an increase of $0.5 million or 2.3% from Q3 2025, and an increase of $4.1 million or 23.7% from Q4 2024[25]. - Total interest income for the quarter was $37.128 million, a slight increase of 0.1% from $37.095 million in the previous quarter and a 4.6% increase from $35.505 million year-over-year[49]. - The net interest margin improved to 3.20% in Q4 2025, a 4 basis point increase from Q3 2025 and a 55 basis point increase from Q4 2024[4]. - The yield on interest-earning assets was 5.49% for Q4 2025, compared to 5.53% in Q3 2025 and 5.38% in Q4 2024[27]. - For the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, the net interest margin improved to 3.07% from 2.63% in the previous year[62]. Loans and Deposits - Total loans increased by $25.5 million, or 1.2% (4.8% annualized), to $2.18 billion at December 31, 2025, compared to $2.15 billion at September 30, 2025[10]. - The business lending portfolio increased by $31.8 million, or 3.1%, to $1.06 billion at December 31, 2025, compared to $1.02 billion at September 30, 2025[11]. - Total deposits decreased by $22.4 million, or 0.9%, to $2.35 billion at December 31, 2025, compared to $2.37 billion at September 30, 2025[20]. - Total deposits as of December 31, 2025, were $2,350,249 million, a decrease of $22,429 million or 0.9% from September 30, 2025, and an increase of $4,305 million or 0.2% from December 31, 2024[22]. - Loans increased to $2,175,973 thousand, compared to $2,125,084 thousand a year ago, reflecting a growth of 2.4%[56]. Noninterest Income and Expenses - Noninterest income for Q4 2025 totaled $1.8 million, a decrease of $1.1 million or 38.3% from Q3 2025, and a decrease of $3.3 million or 64.3% from Q4 2024[32]. - Noninterest expense for Q4 2025 was $16.3 million, a decrease of $0.2 million or 1.5% from Q3 2025, and an increase of $0.2 million or 1.2% from Q4 2024[35]. - Total noninterest income decreased to $1,842 million, down 38.3% from $2,984 million in the previous quarter and down 64.3% from $5,163 million year-over-year[49]. - Total noninterest expense for the twelve months ended December 31, 2025, was $65,741 million, up from $63,032 million in 2024, marking an increase of 4.30%[58]. Capital and Equity - Stockholders' equity increased to $301.1 million as of December 31, 2025, a rise of $5.8 million or 2.0% from September 30, 2025, and an increase of $59.8 million or 24.8% from December 31, 2024[24]. - Total stockholders' equity increased to $301,073 thousand, compared to $241,296 thousand a year ago, reflecting a growth of 24.8%[56]. - Tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio improved to 8.22% as of December 31, 2025, up from 8.10% in the previous quarter[66]. - The company reported a total stockholders' equity of $301,594 thousand as of December 31, 2025, compared to $291,173 thousand in the previous quarter[61]. Credit Quality - Nonperforming loans increased to $9.3 million, or 0.43% of total loans, at December 31, 2025, compared to $7.7 million, or 0.36% at September 30, 2025[16]. - Nonperforming assets to total assets improved to 0.45% from 0.52% year-over-year, a decrease of 13.5%[52]. - The allowance for credit losses to total loans decreased to 1.21% from 1.26% year-over-year, a decline of 4.0%[52]. - Provision for credit losses for the three months ended December 31, 2025, was $(75) million, a significant improvement from $(701) million in the same quarter of 2024[58]. Operational Highlights - The bank operates 36 branch locations across Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama, with a total of 323 full-time equivalent employees[41]. - The company emphasizes the importance of non-GAAP financial measures to provide a more complete understanding of its financial results and trends affecting its business[42]. - Investar completed the acquisition of Wichita Falls Bancshares, Inc. for approximately $112.9 million, consisting of $7.2 million in cash and 3,955,334 shares of common stock[8]. - Investar repurchased 28,470 shares at an average price of $23.94 per share during Q4 2025, with a total of 114,249 shares repurchased throughout the year at an average price of $19.84[7].

Core Viewpoint - Investar Holding Corporation reported a decline in net income for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to both the previous quarter and the same quarter of the previous year [1] Financial Performance - For the fourth quarter of 2025, net income available to common shareholders was $5.4 million, or $0.51 per diluted common share [1] - This represents a decrease from $5.7 million, or $0.54 per diluted common share, in the third quarter of 2025 [1] - Year-over-year, net income decreased from $6.1 million, or $0.61 per diluted common share, in the fourth quarter of 2024 [1]

Acquisition Details - Investar Holding (ISTR) has completed the acquisition of Wichita Falls Bancshares, which was initially announced in July [1] - The acquisition became effective on January 1, with all issued and outstanding shares of Wichita Falls common stock converted into a total merger consideration of $7.2 million in cash and 3,955,334 shares of Investar common stock [1] - The total transaction value is approximately $112.9 million, based on Investar's closing stock price of $26.72 per share on December 31 [1] Board Appointments - Following the acquisition, David Flack and James Dunkerley, former directors of Wichita Falls and FNB, have been appointed to the Board of Directors of Investar and the Bank [1]

Core Viewpoint - Investar Holding Corporation has successfully completed the acquisition of Wichita Falls Bancshares, Inc., enhancing its banking operations and market presence in Texas [1] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition involves Wichita Falls Bancshares, Inc., which is the holding company for First National Bank located in Wichita Falls, Texas [1] - The merger agreement was initially announced in July 2025, indicating a strategic move to expand Investar's footprint [1]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying sustainable trends in short-term investing to maximize profits, highlighting the utility of a specific screening strategy to find stocks with strong fundamentals and positive price momentum [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Screening Strategy - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is designed to identify stocks with sufficient fundamental strength to maintain an upward price trend, focusing on those trading in the upper portion of their 52-week high-low range, indicating bullish sentiment [3]. - Investar (ISTR) is highlighted as a candidate that passed the screening criteria, showing a price increase of 7.1% over the past 12 weeks, reflecting investor confidence in its potential upside [4]. - A recent price increase of 1.4% over the last four weeks further supports the notion that the upward trend for ISTR is intact, with the stock currently trading at 91.5% of its 52-week high-low range, suggesting a potential breakout [5]. Group 2: Fundamental Strength - ISTR holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, which are critical for near-term price movements [6]. - The Zacks Rank system has a proven track record, with Rank 1 stocks averaging an annual return of +25% since 1988, indicating a strong historical performance for stocks in this category [7]. - The Average Broker Recommendation for ISTR is also 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term price performance [7]. Group 3: Additional Insights - The article suggests that ISTR's price trend is likely to remain positive, and encourages investors to explore other stocks that meet the criteria of the "Recent Price Strength" screen [8]. - It also mentions the availability of over 45 Zacks Premium Screens tailored to different investing styles, which can assist in identifying potential winning stock picks [8].

Core Viewpoint - The sustainability of a trend is crucial for successful short-term investing, and confirming the fundamentals behind a stock's momentum is essential for profitability [1][2]. Group 1: Trend Analysis - Timing entries into a trend significantly impacts investment success, as trends can reverse unexpectedly, leading to potential losses [1][2]. - A predefined "Recent Price Strength" screen can help identify stocks in an uptrend supported by strong fundamentals, indicating bullish potential [3]. Group 2: Stock Performance - Investar (ISTR) has shown a solid price increase of 8% over the past 12 weeks, reflecting investor confidence in its potential upside [4]. - Over the last four weeks, ISTR has maintained a price increase of 7.5%, indicating that the upward trend is still intact [5]. - ISTR is currently trading at 81.2% of its 52-week high-low range, suggesting it may be on the verge of a breakout [5]. Group 3: Fundamental Strength - ISTR holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), placing it in the top 5% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises [6]. - The Zacks Rank system has a strong historical performance, with Rank 1 stocks averaging a +25% annual return since 1988 [7]. - The Average Broker Recommendation for ISTR is also 1 (Strong Buy), indicating high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term price performance [7]. Group 4: Investment Opportunities - In addition to ISTR, there are other stocks that meet the criteria of the "Recent Price Strength" screen, providing additional investment opportunities [8]. - The Zacks Research Wizard can assist in backtesting stock-picking strategies to ensure past profitability, enhancing the effectiveness of investment decisions [9].