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Business First (NASDAQ: BFST) director gets 998 RSUs, exercises 1,016 units

(Neutral)
(Neutral)
Form Type
4

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Business First Bancshares, Inc. director Joseph Vernon Johnson reported compensation-related equity activity. He received an award of 998 time-based restricted stock units under the 2024 Equity Incentive Plan on June 25, 2026, which are scheduled to fully vest on June 25, 2027 and are subject to forfeiture in certain circumstances.

On June 26, 2026 he exercised 1,016 previously granted time-based restricted stock units, converting them into the same number of shares of common stock at a stated price of $0.00 per share. Following these transactions, he directly holds 184,073 shares of common stock and 998 unvested restricted stock units economically equivalent to common shares.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.
Insider Johnson Joseph Vernon
Role Director
Type Security Shares Price Value
Exercise Restricted Stock Units 1,016 $0.00 --
Exercise COMMON STOCK 1,016 $0.00 --
Grant/Award Restricted Stock Units 998 $0.00 --
Holdings After Transaction: Restricted Stock Units — 998 shares (Direct); COMMON STOCK — 184,073 shares (Direct)
Footnotes (1)
  1. Reflects the grant of time-based restricted stock units granted to the reporting person under the Business First Bancshares, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan on June 25, 2026. The time-based restricted stock units will fully vest on June 25, 2027. Each time-based restricted stock unit is economically equivalent to one share of common stock of the issuer. Under the terms of the relevant restricted stock unit grant, the reported unvested restricted stock units are subject to forfeiture upon the occurrence of certain events. The reporting person received an award of 1,016 time-based restricted stock units on June 26, 2025, vesting on the first anniversary of the issuance date.
RSU grant 998 units Time-based RSUs granted June 25, 2026 under 2024 Equity Incentive Plan
RSU vesting date June 25, 2027 Full vesting date for 998 new time-based RSUs
RSUs exercised 1,016 units Previously granted RSUs exercised into common stock on June 26, 2026
Exercise price $0.00 per share Stated price for conversion of 1,016 RSUs into common stock
Shares held after 184,073 shares Director’s direct common stock holdings following reported transactions
Unvested RSUs remaining 998 units Unvested time-based RSUs economically equivalent to common stock
Restricted Stock Units financial
"Reflects the grant of time-based restricted stock units granted to the reporting person"
Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.
time-based restricted stock units financial
"The time-based restricted stock units will fully vest on June 25, 2027"
Time-based restricted stock units are a form of employee compensation where individuals are granted company shares that are earned over a set period, often as a reward for staying with the company. These shares typically become fully owned and transferable only after passing specific time milestones, encouraging long-term commitment. For investors, they highlight a company's focus on employee retention and can influence future stock supply and company stability.
2024 Equity Incentive Plan financial
"granted to the reporting person under the Business First Bancshares, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan"
economically equivalent financial
"Each time-based restricted stock unit is economically equivalent to one share of common stock"
subject to forfeiture financial
"the reported unvested restricted stock units are subject to forfeiture upon the occurrence of certain events"

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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FAQ

What insider equity transactions did BFST director Joseph Vernon Johnson report?

He reported a grant of 998 time-based restricted stock units and the exercise of 1,016 previously awarded units into common stock. These are compensation-related awards, not open-market purchases or sales, and increase his direct share ownership in Business First Bancshares, Inc.

How many BFST shares does Joseph Vernon Johnson hold after these Form 4 transactions?

After the reported transactions, he directly holds 184,073 shares of Business First Bancshares, Inc. common stock. He also holds 998 unvested time-based restricted stock units that are economically equivalent to common shares but remain subject to vesting and potential forfeiture conditions.

What restricted stock unit grant did BFST report for Joseph Vernon Johnson?

He received 998 time-based restricted stock units on June 25, 2026 under the Business First Bancshares, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan. These units will fully vest on June 25, 2027, assuming continued service and satisfaction of conditions specified in the award terms.

What was the nature of the 1,016-unit transaction in BFST’s Form 4?

The 1,016-unit transaction reflects the exercise of time-based restricted stock units previously granted on June 26, 2025. Those units vested on the first anniversary of their issuance, and were converted into 1,016 shares of Business First Bancshares, Inc. common stock at a stated price of $0.00 per share.

Are Joseph Vernon Johnson’s BFST transactions open-market buys or sells?

No, the reported transactions are equity compensation events. They include a grant of time-based restricted stock units and the exercise of vested units into common shares, all at a stated price of $0.00 per share, rather than discretionary open-market purchases or sales of BFST stock.
SEC Form 4
FORM 4UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number:3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:0.5
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Johnson Joseph Vernon

(Last)(First)(Middle)
500 LAUREL STREET, SUITE 101

(Street)
BATON ROUGE LOUISIANA 70801

(City)(State)(Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Business First Bancshares, Inc. [ BFST ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
XDirector10% Owner
Officer (give title below)Other (specify below)
2a. Foreign Trading Symbol
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
06/25/2026
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
XForm filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
CodeVAmount(A) or (D)Price
COMMON STOCK06/26/2026M1,016A(2)184,073D
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
CodeV(A)(D)Date ExercisableExpiration DateTitleAmount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Units$006/25/2026A998 (1) (1)Common Stock998(1)2,014D
Restricted Stock Units(2)06/26/2026M1,016 (2) (2)Common Stock1,016(2)998D
Explanation of Responses:
1. Reflects the grant of time-based restricted stock units granted to the reporting person under the Business First Bancshares, Inc. 2024 Equity Incentive Plan on June 25, 2026. The time-based restricted stock units will fully vest on June 25, 2027. Each time-based restricted stock unit is economically equivalent to one share of common stock of the issuer. Under the terms of the relevant restricted stock unit grant, the reported unvested restricted stock units are subject to forfeiture upon the occurrence of certain events.
2. The reporting person received an award of 1,016 time-based restricted stock units on June 26, 2025, vesting on the first anniversary of the issuance date.
/s/ Heather Roemer, as attorney-in-fact for Joseph Vernon Johnson06/29/2026
** Signature of Reporting PersonDate
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)