Investar Holding Corp (ISTR)

Over the past six months, Investar Holding Corp. experienced several stock events. The company's Q3 2025 earnings beat analyst forecasts, leading to a stock rise. A merger agreement with Wichita Falls Bancshares, Inc. was announced, along with a private placement of preferred stock. Lawsuits were filed by stockholders challenging merger disclosures, introducing uncertainty. Executive promotions and new hires were announced, reflecting positive operational developments.

Specific information regarding the demand seasonality for Investar Holding Corp.'s individual banking products and services is not readily available. General trends in the regional banking industry in the Southern U.S. suggest that overall economic activity and loan demand can fluctuate. Broader economic conditions, including inflation and geopolitical concerns, can also influence loan losses and delinquencies for regional banks.

Investar Holding Corp. is a financial holding company that operates in the regional banking sector, serving communities across Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. It functions as the parent company of Investar Bank, National Association, providing commercial banking products and services, including commercial and retail lending products, deposit accounts, and digital banking services.

Investar Holding Corp. is headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and operates 31 branch locations through its subsidiary, Investar Bank, serving markets in south Louisiana, southeast Texas, and southwest Alabama.

In the past year, Investar Holding Corp.'s brand reputation has been impacted by lawsuits filed by stockholders concerning disclosures related to its merger with Wichita Falls Bancshares, Inc. While the company maintains the claims are without merit and has made supplemental disclosures, the litigation can draw negative attention. Executive promotions and the addition of new commercial relationship managers could contribute positively to its reputation.

Investar Holding Corporation has significant institutional ownership, with 222 institutional owners and shareholders holding 7,211,668 shares, accounting for 61.40% of the total shares outstanding. Major institutional owners include BlackRock, Inc., Vanguard Group Inc, Banc Funds Co Llc, Alliancebernstein L.p., Dimensional Fund Advisors Lp, Royce & Associates Lp, Maltese Capital Management Llc, and Geode Capital Management, Llc.