Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (CLST) AI Stock Analysis
CLST AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchCatalyst Bancorp, Inc. (CLST) is a regional bank holding company based in Opelousas, Louisiana. In FY2025, revenue increased 55.3% to $15.3M while net income reached $2.1M following an unprofitable FY2024. The bank carries $51.2M in cash and short-term investments against $9.8M in total debt as of June 30, 2026.
- Market cap
- $68.5M
- Revenue (TTM)
- $11.6M
- P/E
- 30.3x
- 1Y return
- 27.7% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- —
Bull case
- Revenue rebounded sharply in FY2025, increasing 55.3% to $15.3M alongside positive net income of $2.1M.
- The balance sheet maintains strong liquidity with $41.4M in net cash and a conservative debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12.
- Shareholder value was supported by $2.6M in share repurchases during FY2025, helping drive a 5-year share count reduction of 15.8%.
Bear case
- Earnings have demonstrated volatility, highlighted by FY2024 results where operating margin fell to -40.3% and net loss was -$3.1M.
- The stock trades at a trailing P/E of 30.3x and price-to-sales of 5.9x, both higher than the US-listed Financial Services peer medians of 12.1x and 3.2x.
- Return on equity remains modest at 2.5% over the trailing twelve months, reflecting subdued capital profitability.
What Catalyst Bancorp does
Catalyst Bancorp, Inc., founded in 1922 and headquartered in Opelousas, Louisiana, operates as the holding company for Catalyst Bank. The institution provides retail and commercial banking products across six full-service branches located in Carencro, Eunice, Lafayette, Opelousas, and Port Barre. Its deposit lineup includes savings, demand, NOW, money market, and certificate of deposit accounts. Lending services encompass single-family residential mortgages, commercial real estate loans, multi-family mortgages, commercial and industrial financing, construction and land loans, and consumer loans. Catalyst Bancorp also manages an investment portfolio of mortgage-backed securities, U.S. treasuries, agency and municipal bonds, certificates of deposit, and federal funds.
Growth and profitability
Catalyst Bancorp expanded revenue at a 5-year CAGR of 10.6% from FY2020 through FY2025. Annual performance has experienced fluctuations: after revenue fell 10.7% in FY2022 to $9.0M, it rebounded 22.0% to $11.0M in FY2023. In FY2024, revenue contracted 10.2% to $9.9M, producing an operating margin of -40.3% and a net loss of -$3.1M. Results recovered strongly in FY2025, with revenue climbing 55.3% to $15.3M, an operating margin of 16.3%, and net income of $2.1M. Over the trailing twelve months ending June 30, 2026, revenue stood at $11.6M with a profit margin of 17.5% and EPS of $0.56, while latest quarterly revenue grew 8.7% year-over-year.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, Catalyst Bancorp held $51.2M in cash and short-term investments alongside total debt of $9.8M, resulting in net cash of $41.4M. Shareholders' equity was $82.5M on total assets of $290.0M, yielding a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12 and a current ratio of 0.03. In FY2025, operating cash flow reached $3.3M and free cash flow was $3.1M. Cash deployment included capital expenditures of $188,000 and share buybacks of $2.6M, contributing to a 5-year share count change of -15.8%.
Valuation and performance
Catalyst Bancorp carries a market cap of $68.5M and an enterprise value of $33.7M. The stock trades at a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 30.3x, above the 12.1x median of its US-listed Financial Services peers. Its price-to-sales multiple is 5.9x, compared to the peer median of 3.2x, while its price-to-book ratio is 0.9x. Over the past year, CLST shares gained 27.7%, outperforming the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year period, CLST rose 22.3% versus an 83.0% gain for the S&P 500.
What analysts expect
Catalyst Bancorp has beaten EPS expectations in each of its last 4 quarters. The company's next earnings date is scheduled for October 22, 2026. As of October 16, 2026, the stock closed at $16.99, trading 2.8% above its 200-day moving average and between its 52-week low of $13.24 and 52-week high of $20.50.
Key risks and what to watch
- Quarterly revenue growth of 8.7% for the period ended June 30, 2026, trails the US-listed Financial Services peer median of 10.1%.
- A current ratio of 0.03 reflects a short-term balance sheet structure typical of deposit-taking institutions that requires careful liquidity management.
- Return on assets was low at 0.7% over the trailing twelve months on $290.0M of total assets.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this CLST AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (CLST). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: CLST income statement, CLST balance sheet, CLST key metrics, CLST chart. See the CLST stock overview for the latest quote and news.
CLST AI stock analysis FAQ
What is Catalyst Bancorp's primary business?
Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. is the bank holding company for Catalyst Bank, operating six branches across Louisiana. It offers standard retail and commercial deposit accounts, various residential and commercial loan products, and securities investment services.
How did Catalyst Bancorp perform financially in FY2025?
In FY2025, Catalyst Bancorp generated $15.3M in revenue, reflecting a 55.3% increase year-over-year. Net income rose to $2.1M with EPS of $0.56, recovering from a net loss of -$3.1M in FY2024.
Does Catalyst Bancorp pay a dividend?
Catalyst Bancorp does not currently have dividend data reported. The company returned capital to shareholders via $2.6M in share buybacks during FY2025.
When is Catalyst Bancorp's next earnings report?
Catalyst Bancorp's next earnings report date is scheduled for October 22, 2026, following 4 consecutive quarters of EPS beats.