Investar (ISTR) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.A company's changing earnings picture is at the core of the Zacks rating. The system tracks the Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus measure of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years.Individual in ...

Here are two stocks with buy rank and strong momentum characteristics for investors to consider today, January 28:New Gold Inc. (NGD) : This gold mining company has a Zacks Rank #1 and witnessed the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings increasing 5.3% over the last 60 days.New Gold’s shares gained 79.8% over the last three months compared with the S&P 500’s advance of 1.2%. The company possesses a Momentum Score  of A.Investar Holding Corporation (ISTR) : This bank holding company for Inve ...

For the quarter ended December 2025, Investar (ISTR) reported revenue of $23.47 million, up 3.6% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.58, compared to $0.65 in the year-ago quarter.The reported revenue represents no surprise over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0 million. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.54, the EPS surprise was +8.41%.While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, s ...

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].

Financial Performance - Net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $21,153 thousand, an increase of 18.14% compared to $17,856 thousand for the same period in 2024 [13]. - Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2025, was $6,179 thousand, a 14.81% increase from $5,381 thousand in the same period of 2024 [13]. - Basic earnings per common share increased to $0.57 for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $0.55 for the same period in 2024, reflecting a growth of 3.64% [13]. - Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $16,966,000, an increase from $14,145,000 in the same period of 2024, representing a growth of 19.9% [19]. - The company reported a total comprehensive income of $10,439 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $15,903 thousand for the same period in 2024 [15]. Assets and Equity - Total assets increased to $2,800,628 thousand as of September 30, 2025, up from $2,722,812 thousand at December 31, 2024, representing a growth of 2.86% [11]. - Total stockholders' equity increased to $295,295 thousand as of September 30, 2025, from $241,296 thousand at December 31, 2024, representing a growth of 22.39% [11]. - Total stockholders' equity at the end of the period on September 30, 2025, was $295,295,000, up from $245,542,000 at the end of September 30, 2024, indicating an increase of 20.2% [17]. Deposits and Loans - Total deposits rose to $2,372,678 thousand as of September 30, 2025, compared to $2,345,944 thousand at December 31, 2024, marking an increase of 1.14% [11]. - As of September 30, 2025, the total loans amounted to $2,150.5 million, an increase from $2,125.1 million at December 31, 2024, reflecting a growth of approximately 1.2% [66]. - The net increase in customer deposits for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, was $26,741,000, down from $31,750,000 in 2024, representing a decrease of 15.9% [21]. - The company experienced a net decrease in loans of $24,040,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2025, contrasting with an increase of $53,356,000 in the same period of 2024 [19]. Credit Losses and Provisions - The provision for credit losses was $139 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to a reversal of $945 thousand in the same period of 2024 [13]. - The allowance for credit losses (ACL) at the end of the period was $26.5 million, compared to $28.1 million at the end of 2024, reflecting a decrease in provisions for credit losses [108]. - The company reported a provision for credit losses of $(0.1) million for the three months ended September 30, 2025, indicating a negative provision for loan losses [108]. - The negative provision for credit losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, included a recovery of $3.3 million from loans previously charged off due to a property insurance settlement related to Hurricane Ida [109]. Investment Securities - The total amortized cost of investment securities classified as available-for-sale (AFS) was $417,729,000 as of September 30, 2025, with a fair value of $370,251,000, indicating unrealized losses of $48,468,000 [45]. - The fair value of available-for-sale (AFS) debt securities was $370.3 million, down from an amortized cost of $417.7 million, indicating a decline in value of approximately 11.3% [59]. - The amortized cost of investment securities classified as held-to-maturity (HTM) was $47,834,000 as of September 30, 2025, with a fair value of $50,576,000, showing unrealized gains of $2,922,000 [48]. Shareholder Activities - The company declared cash dividends of $0.11 per common share for the three months ended September 30, 2025, compared to $0.105 in the same period of 2024 [13]. - Cash dividends paid on common stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, totaled $3,146,000, compared to $2,940,000 in 2024, reflecting an increase of 7% [21]. - The company completed a private placement of 32,500 shares of Series A Preferred Stock at a price of $1,000 per share, raising gross proceeds of $32.5 million [117]. Risk Management - The company manages risks associated with construction and development loans by limiting loan-to-value ratios and employing specific underwriting policies [77]. - The company continues to evaluate borrowers' repayment abilities through credit scores and debt-to-income ratios, ensuring prudent lending practices [84]. - The company has seen a consistent increase in pass loans across various categories, demonstrating effective risk management strategies [92]. Market Conditions and Future Outlook - The Company expects to adopt ASU 2023-09 regarding income tax disclosures, effective January 1, 2025, with no material impact anticipated on its consolidated financial statements [37]. - There have been no material changes in the Company's market risk since December 31, 2024, as detailed in the MD&A section of the Annual Report [373].