Can Investar (ISTR) Run Higher on Rising Earnings Estimates?

Core Viewpoint - Investar (ISTR) shows a significantly improving earnings outlook, making it a solid choice for investors as analysts continue to raise earnings estimates for the company [1][3]. Earnings Estimate Revisions - The trend in estimate revisions reflects growing analyst optimism regarding Investar Bank's earnings prospects, which is expected to positively influence the stock price [2]. - The current quarter's earnings estimate is projected at $0.54 per share, indicating a year-over-year decline of 16.9%, but the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased by 13.83% over the last 30 days due to mixed revisions [6]. - For the full year, the earnings estimate stands at $2.06 per share, representing a 9.0% increase from the previous year, with a consensus estimate boost of 6.48% over the same period [7][8]. Zacks Rank and Performance - Investar currently holds a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), which is associated with a strong historical performance, as Zacks 1 Ranked stocks have averaged a 25% annual return since 2008 [3][9]. - The positive estimate revisions have led to a 5.8% increase in the stock price over the past four weeks, suggesting potential for further upside [10].