Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of identifying and sustaining stock price trends for successful short-term investing, highlighting the need for strong fundamentals and positive earnings revisions to maintain momentum [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Investar (ISTR) has shown a solid price increase of 17.9% over the past 12 weeks, indicating investor confidence in its potential upside [4]. - The stock has also increased by 8.3% over the last four weeks, suggesting that the upward trend is still intact [5]. - ISTR is currently trading at 86.3% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating a potential breakout opportunity [5]. Group 2: Fundamental Strength - ISTR holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises [6]. - The stock has an Average Broker Recommendation of 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding its near-term price performance [7]. Group 3: Investment Strategy - The article suggests that investors can utilize the "Recent Price Strength" screen to identify stocks like ISTR that are on an upward trend supported by strong fundamentals [3][8]. - It also mentions the availability of over 45 Zacks Premium Screens tailored to different investing styles, which can help in finding winning stock picks [8].

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of confirming the sustainability of a trend for successful short-term investing, highlighting that timing entries into the trend is crucial [1][2]. Group 1: Trend Analysis - A trend can reverse before exiting a trade, leading to potential short-term capital losses for investors, thus confirming sound fundamentals and positive earnings estimates is essential for maintaining stock momentum [2]. - The "Recent Price Strength" screen is a unique short-term trading strategy that helps identify stocks with sufficient fundamental strength to sustain their recent uptrend, focusing on stocks trading in the upper portion of their 52-week high-low range [3]. Group 2: Company Spotlight - Investar (ISTR) - Investar (ISTR) has shown a solid price increase of 19.2% over the past 12 weeks, indicating investor confidence in its potential upside [4]. - The stock has maintained a price increase of 1.5% over the past four weeks, suggesting that the upward trend is still intact, and it is currently trading at 98.6% of its 52-week high-low range, indicating a potential breakout [5]. - ISTR holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, which are critical for near-term price movements [6]. Group 3: Market Sentiment - The Zacks Rank stock-rating system has a strong track record, with Zacks Rank 1 stocks averaging a +25% annual return since 1988, indicating the effectiveness of this ranking system [7]. - The Average Broker Recommendation for ISTR is 1 (Strong Buy), reflecting high optimism from the brokerage community regarding the stock's near-term performance [7]. - The article suggests that the price trend for ISTR is unlikely to reverse soon, and there are other stocks that also meet the criteria of the "Recent Price Strength" screen, providing additional investment opportunities [8].

Strategy and Operations - The company pivoted its near-term strategy from primarily growth to focusing on consistent, quality earnings through balance sheet optimization [164]. - As of June 30, 2024, the company operated 28 full-service branches across Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama [163]. - The company completed the sale of approximately $13.9 million in loans and $14.5 million in deposits associated with its Alice and Victoria, Texas locations [174]. - The company closed five branches in the last three fiscal years, including one in Alabama during Q1 2024 [165]. - The company exited the consumer mortgage origination business in Q3 2023 due to decreased volumes and higher credit loss allowances [166]. - The company has completed seven whole-bank acquisitions since 2011, with the most recent one in April 2021 [164]. Financial Performance - For the six months ended June 30, 2024, net income was $8.8 million, or $0.89 per share, down from $10.4 million, or $1.05 per share for the same period in 2023, primarily due to a $4.1 million decrease in net interest income [178]. - Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $34.4 million, a decrease of $4.1 million, or 10.8%, compared to $38.6 million for the same period in 2023 [180]. - Total deposits decreased by $45.5 million, or 2.0%, to $2.21 billion at June 30, 2024, compared to $2.26 billion at December 31, 2023 [179]. - Total loans decreased by $43.9 million, or 2.0%, to $2.17 billion at June 30, 2024, compared to $2.21 billion at December 31, 2023 [179]. - The company's return on average assets decreased to 0.63% for the six months ended June 30, 2024, down from 0.76% for the same period in 2023 [179]. - Investment securities totaled $355.1 million at June 30, 2024, a decrease of $27.3 million, or 7.1%, from $382.4 million at December 31, 2023 [191]. Credit Quality - The allowance for credit losses was $28.6 million as of June 30, 2024, down from $30.5 million at December 31, 2023 [242]. - As of June 30, 2024, there were $23.2 million of loans classified as substandard, an increase from $12.0 million at December 31, 2023 [239]. - Nonperforming loans were 0.23% of total loans at June 30, 2024, compared to 0.26% at December 31, 2023, indicating improved credit quality metrics [179]. - The allowance for credit losses to total loans decreased to 1.32% at June 30, 2024, compared to 1.44% at June 30, 2023 [253]. - Nonaccrual loans were $4.9 million, or 0.23% of total loans, at June 30, 2024, a decrease of $2.1 million from $7.0 million, or 0.34% of total loans, at June 30, 2023 [253]. Interest Income and Expense - Interest income rose to $35.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, up from $32.4 million for the same period in 2023, driven by a $2.6 million increase in yield on interest-earning assets [210]. - Interest expense increased by $4.6 million to $18.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $14.0 million for the same period in 2023 [211]. - The cost of deposits increased by 107 basis points to 3.38% for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to 2.31% for the same period in 2023 [211]. - Net interest margin decreased by 20 basis points to 2.62% for the three months ended June 30, 2024, from 2.82% for the same period in 2023 [212]. - Average interest-bearing liabilities increased by $76.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023 [211]. Deposits and Borrowings - Estimated uninsured deposits represented approximately 33% of total deposits as of June 30, 2024 [171]. - Time deposits increased to $751.3 million, representing 34.0% of total deposits at June 30, 2024, up from 32.4% at December 31, 2023 [199]. - Total borrowings under the BTFP were $229.0 million at June 30, 2024, with a weighted average rate of 4.76%, compared to $212.5 million at December 31, 2023, at a rate of 4.83% [202]. - The average cost of short-term borrowings was 4.68% for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared to 4.94% for the same period in 2023 [204]. Noninterest Income and Expense - Total noninterest income increased by $0.7 million, or 32.9%, to $2.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared to $2.1 million for the same period in 2023 [228]. - For the six months ended June 30, 2024, total noninterest income rose by $2.4 million, or 74.8%, to $5.5 million compared to $3.1 million for the same period in 2023 [229]. - Total noninterest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2024, was $15.5 million, an increase of $0.2 million, or 1.5%, compared to the same period in 2023 [230]. - Total noninterest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2024, was $30.8 million, a decrease of $0.6 million, or 2.0%, compared to the same period in 2023 [231]. Capital and Regulatory Compliance - The Bank maintained a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 8.81% and a total capital ratio of 13.16% as of June 30, 2024, both exceeding the well-capitalized thresholds [287]. - The Company is in compliance with all regulatory capital requirements as of June 30, 2024, and is considered "well-capitalized" under OCC regulations [287]. - Dividends paid during the six months ended June 30, 2024, were $2.0 million, an increase from $1.9 million in the same period of 2023, with a declared dividend of $0.20 per share compared to $0.195 per share in 2023 [284]. Market Risk and Liquidity - The bank's liquidity strategy targets growth of noninterest-bearing deposits, which have declined due to rising market interest rates [282]. - The company will continue to monitor market risk for the six months ended June 30, 2024, as discussed in the report [296]. - There have been no material changes in the company's market risk since December 31, 2023, as noted in the Annual Report [296].

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times. Investar shares have added about 17.2% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 15.4%. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estima ...

For Immediate Release "I am excited about our second quarter results as we continued to execute our strategy of consistent, quality earnings through the optimization of our balance sheet. Despite the higher for longer rate environment, our net interest margin expanded for the second consecutive quarter to 2.62% as we remained focused on originating higher yielding loans and securing lower cost funding sources that are accretive to our margin. During the second quarter we originated and renewed loans, 80% of ...

The earnings report might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise. Zacks Consensus Estimate This holding company for Investar Bank is expected to post quarterly earnings ...

Table of Contents UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington D.C. 20549 _____________________________________ FORM 10-Q _____________________________________ (Mark One) ☒QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024 or ☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to Commission File Number: 001-36522 Investar Holding Corporation ( ...

Investar (ISTR) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.43 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.25 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.51 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 72%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this holding company for Investar Bank would post earnings of $0.25 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.39, delivering a surprise of 56%.Over the last four quarters, ...

Exhibit 99.1 For Immediate Release Investar Holding Corporation Announces 2024 First Quarter Results BATON ROUGE, LA / ACCESSWIRE / April 22, 2024 / Investar Holding Corporation ("Investar") (NASDAQ:ISTR), the holding company for Investar Bank, National Association (the "Bank"), today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. Investar reported net income of $4.7 million, or $0.48 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2024, compared to net income of $3.5 million, or $0.36 ...

Table of Contents UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 _____________________________________ FORM 10-K _____________________________________ (Mark One) ☑ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 or ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to Commission File Number: 001-36522 Investar Holding Corporation (Ex ...