MarketBeat report covering Investar Holding Corporation (ISTR) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Why ISTR Stock surged +2.54% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
Investar Holding Corporation (ISTR) carries a Roarable Rating of D+ (Sell) with 52/100 RQD Confidence due to weak cash-flow efficiency and sensitivity to current interest rates. Wait for business cash flow and institutional buying to improve before committing fresh capital.
🤖 Mara Quenwick • AI Quant Lead (Click for Instant Brief)
Is ISTR stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
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As of 2026-11-03, Investar Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: ISTR) is rated D+ (Sell / SELL) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 52/100 at a spot price of $28.29 (+2.54% 1D, market cap $389.8M). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 11/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 6/20, SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 13/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 7/20, and Executive Insider Alignment 15/20. Across 1097 tracked Financials issuers, ISTR ranks #597 in composite RQD confidence.
🤖 Ellis Vennor • AI Peer & Flow Quant (Click for Instant Brief)
How does ISTR compare to PKBK and GBC in the Financials sector?
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Within the Financials sector (Major Banks), ISTR carries a Roarable D+ (52/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 16.7x, gross margin of —, and ROIC of 7.6%. By comparison, PKBK (Parke Bancorp Inc.) holds a C grade (63/100 RQD, P/E 10.3x, ROIC 11.6%, cap $392.5M) and GBC (Georgia Banking Company Inc.) posts a D+ grade (58/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC —, cap $385.5M). Among the 5-stock peer group, PKBK leads on earnings multiple (10.3x) while FDBC leads on capital efficiency (11.8% ROIC).
🤖 Gideon Ashmere • AI SEC 10-K Forensics (Click for Instant Brief)
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for ISTR?
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Per ISTR's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001602658), Investar Holding Corporation generated $1.19B in revenue (+4.0% YoY), $22.9M in net income, and $18.2M in free cash flow against $2.83B in total assets and $0 in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Company leadership has skin in the game with net positive insider conviction. Primary risk factors monitored: Sensitive to high interest rates and tighter Federal Reserve market liquidity. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer
SEC Form 4 / 13F Thermometer: 75% Net Buy • Cannibal Buyback (-2.08% YoY Shares)
Altman Z-Score 3.80 (FORTRESS SAFE (>3.0)) • Piotroski F-Score 4/9
Put hedging (50% put share) caps near-term gamma upside (-14 pts vs max)
⚔️ Adversarial Opposing Case: What Could Spark a ISTR Turnaround Squeeze
While ISTR currently carries a cautious 52/100 (D+) rating due to Whale & Options Positioning (6/20), shorts face asymmetric squeeze risk if free cash flow inflects or management executes accretive buybacks.
Company leadership has skin in the game with net positive insider conviction.
Options & Short-Covering Gamma: Reclaiming the 50-day SMA ($29.32) and Max Pain ($29.70) forces dealer call-delta covering toward $33.36.
Forensic Repair Trigger: Halting share dilution (Cannibal Buyback (-2.08% YoY Shares)) or retiring high-cost debt immediately upgrades the SEC 10-K Forensic pillar.
Why ISTR Stock surged +2.54% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash
Investar Holding Corporation (ISTR) surged +2.54% to $28.29, trading at 61% of its 52-week range ($22.95 – $31.77). Stretched risk/reward at 17x P/E (8% return on capital) under elevated 10-year interest-rate pressure.
- ▸Technical Tape: Trading at 61% of its 52-week range ($22.95 – $31.77) with RSI-14 at 46.7 (NEUTRAL RANGE).
- ▸Volatility Profile: Historical 20-day realized swing band of ±4.6% around $28.29 (no active unusual options sweep snapshot on file).
- ▸Fundamental Anchor: Roarable D+ (Sell) backed by 52% gross margin and $18.2M annual free cash flow.
Piper Sandler analyst Stephen Scouten maintains Investar Holding (NASDAQ:ISTR) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $32.5 to $31.
Get a weekly summary of dividend activity for Dividend Champions, Contenders, and Challengers, including dividend changes and key ex-dividend dates.
Investar (ISTR) delivered earnings and revenue surprises of +1.32% and -1.44%, respectively, for the quarter ended September 2026. Do the numbers hold clues to what lies ahead for the stock?
The headline numbers for Investar (ISTR) give insight into how the company performed in the quarter ended September 2026, but it may be worthwhile to compare some of its key metrics to Wall Street estimates and the year-
(ISTR) on Thursday reported net income of $11.The Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based bank said it had earnings of 74 cents per share.
Chemung Financial (CHMG) delivered earnings and revenue surprises of +36.27% and +0.78%, respectively, for the quarter ended September 2026. Do the numbers hold clues to what lies ahead for the stock?
Investar Holding (NASDAQ:ISTR) reported quarterly earnings of $0.77 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.76 by 1.32 percent. This is a 42.59 percent increase over earnings of $0.54 per share from
Red-Light Warning Desk: Spotting SEC Cash-Flow & Dilution Risks Before Downgrades (Featuring ISTR)
- ✓Walkthrough of ISTR's RQD Radar, SEC cash-conversion gap & downside invalidation levels
- ✓3 asymmetric Bear/Hedge frameworks when 10-year Treasury yields stay elevated
- ✓Includes nightly RQD rating-change & forensic signal email alerts on your tracked stocks
ISTR Dilution Monitor, Expectations Hurdle, Butterfly Connections & Policy Exposure
Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).
vs. +4.0% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).
No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on ISTR today. View full Setup Ledger →
No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for ISTR. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.
📊 Quantitative Sector Peer Comparison, SEC Filing Delta & Investment FAQ (ISTR)
1. Head-to-Head Financials Peer Comparison (ISTR vs. PKBK, GBC, NWFL, FDBC)
Industry: Major Banks (248 Tracked Issuers)Across 1097 tracked Financials securities in the Roarable RQD universe, Investar Holding Corporation (ISTR) ranks #597 by composite RQD confidence (52/100, grade D+) and #756 by equity capitalization ($389.8M). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, PKBK leads on earnings valuation at 10.3x trailing P/E, while FDBC leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 11.8% ROIC and — gross margin. NWFL currently holds the highest overall quantitative score in the immediate peer group at 72/100 (B) compared with ISTR at 52/100 (D+).
| Ticker / Company | Roarable Grade | RQD Score | Trailing P/E | Gross Margin | ROIC | 1D Change | Market Cap | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISTR
ACTIVE
Investar Holding Corporation | D+ | 52/100 | 16.7x | — | 7.6% | +2.54% | $389.8M | Benchmark Subject |
| PKBK Parke Bancorp Inc. | C | 63/100 | 10.3x | — | 11.6% | +2.42% | $392.5M | /pkbk-vs-istr → |
| GBC Georgia Banking Company Inc. | D+ | 58/100 | — | — | — | -2.87% | $385.5M | /gbc-vs-istr → |
| NWFL Norwood Financial Corp. | B | 72/100 | 14.0x | — | 11.5% | +1.80% | $394.1M | /nwfl-vs-istr → |
| FDBC Fidelity D & D Bancorp Inc. | C+ | 69/100 | 13.6x | — | 11.8% | +3.39% | $395.3M | /fdbc-vs-istr → |
2. Multi-Year SEC XBRL Revenue, Cash Flow & Balance-Sheet Trajectory (FY2023–FY2025)
SEC EDGAR 10-K • FILED 2025-12-31 • CIK 0001602658 ↗In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), Investar Holding Corporation (ISTR) reported GAAP revenue of $1.19B (+4.0% vs. FY2024 revenue of $1.14B , and +1093.0% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $22.9M, operating cash flow of $18.2M, and free cash flow of $18.2M (+14.4% YoY). On the balance sheet, ISTR closed FY2025 with $2.83B in total assets against $0 in total debt (Altman Z-Score: N/A, Piotroski F-Score: 4/9).
| Fiscal Period | Filing Date | Revenue | Net Income | Operating Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | Total Assets | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (FY) | 2025-12-31 | $1.19B | $22.9M | $18.2M | $18.2M | $2.83B | — |
| FY2024 (FY) | 2024-12-31 | $1.14B | $20.3M | $15.9M | $15.9M | $2.72B | — |
| FY2023 (FY) | 2023-12-31 | $99.7M | $16.7M | $26.2M | $26.2M | — | — |
3. ISTR Data-Verified Investor FAQ (RQD Rating, Sector Peers, SEC Forensics & Technicals)
✓ SCHEMA.ORG FAQPAGE JSON-LD ENABLEDIs ISTR stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell right now according to Roarable's RQD model?
As of 2026-11-03, Investar Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: ISTR) is rated D+ (Sell / SELL) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 52/100 at a spot price of $28.29 (+2.54% 1D, market cap $389.8M). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 11/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 6/20, SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 13/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 7/20, and Executive Insider Alignment 15/20. Across 1097 tracked Financials issuers, ISTR ranks #597 in composite RQD confidence.
How does ISTR compare to PKBK and GBC in the Financials sector?
Within the Financials sector (Major Banks), ISTR carries a Roarable D+ (52/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 16.7x, gross margin of —, and ROIC of 7.6%. By comparison, PKBK (Parke Bancorp Inc.) holds a C grade (63/100 RQD, P/E 10.3x, ROIC 11.6%, cap $392.5M) and GBC (Georgia Banking Company Inc.) posts a D+ grade (58/100 RQD, P/E N/A, ROIC —, cap $385.5M). Among the 5-stock peer group, PKBK leads on earnings multiple (10.3x) while FDBC leads on capital efficiency (11.8% ROIC).
What are the biggest fundamental strengths and SEC risk factors for ISTR?
Per ISTR's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0001602658), Investar Holding Corporation generated $1.19B in revenue (+4.0% YoY), $22.9M in net income, and $18.2M in free cash flow against $2.83B in total assets and $0 in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Company leadership has skin in the game with net positive insider conviction. Primary risk factors monitored: Sensitive to high interest rates and tighter Federal Reserve market liquidity. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Where is ISTR trading relative to its 50-day, 200-day, and 52-week technical levels?
ISTR last traded at $28.29 (+2.54% on volume of 84,169 shares), positioning the stock -3.51% below its 50-day simple moving average ($29.32) and -2.25% below its 200-day simple moving average ($28.94). Across its 52-week range of $22.95 to $31.77, ISTR sits at the 60.5% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 46.7 (NEUTRAL RANGE) and an implied next-earnings move of ±4.6% ($26.99 to $29.59).
ISTR — Investar Holding Corporation: What the Facts Mean to a Prospective Investor
1. Roarable Rating Brief: What This Means to a Prospective Investor
Investar Holding Corporation (ISTR) earns a live Roarable RQD composite score of 52/100, corresponding to a D+ letter grade (Roarable Sell) at a spot price of $28.29 (+2.54% 1D, market capitalization $389.8M).
- Fundamental Cash Engine (11/20): Anchored by return on invested capital (ROIC) of 7.6%, gross margin of —, operating margin of —, and free cash flow yield of 4.75%.
- Whale 13F & Options Flow (6/20) + Insider Conviction (15/20): Tracks institutional 13F accumulation, CBOE options call/put positioning, and SEC Form 4 / Congressional PTR filings.
- Macro Regime Fit (7/20) + Forensic Balance Sheet (13/20): Incorporates a 1.00x equity beta, Altman Z-Score of N/A, Piotroski F-Score of 4/9, and Debt/Equity of N/A.
2. Business Model, Unit Margins & SEC Financial Trajectory
Investar Holding Corporation (ISTR) is a NASDAQ-listed issuer classified under the Financials sector and the Major Banks industry. The profile identifies its market capitalization as $0.4B.
In its latest audited SEC EDGAR 10-K filing for FY2025 (filed 2025-12-31), Investar Holding Corporation (ISTR) reported $1.19B in annual revenue (up from $1.14B in FY2024, +4.0% YoY) and $22.9M in GAAP net income. Over the multi-year SEC filing window from FY2023 ($99.7M revenue, $16.7M net income) through FY2025, ISTR scaled operating cash flow to $18.2M and free cash flow to $18.2M, backed by $2.83B in total assets against $0 in total debt.
3. Institutional Bull vs. Bear Thesis & Valuation Tradeoff
- 🐂 Primary Bull Case (D+ • RQD 52/100): Company leadership has skin in the game with net positive insider conviction. Free cash flow yield of 4.75% and institutional whale pillar of 6/20. With Fundamental Cash Engine at 11/20 and Institutional Whale Flow at 6/20, sustained execution supports upside toward the upper end of the $22.95 – $31.77 52-week range.
- 🐻 Primary Bear Case & Valuation Risk: Sensitive to high interest rates and tighter Federal Reserve market liquidity. Investors must weigh 16.7x trailing P/E against — operating margins and a 1.00x macro beta.
4. 2nd-Order Butterfly Ripples & Key Questions to Watch
The only sector-level reference is the classification as Financials / Major Banks, which per the RQD rating's macro pillar is associated with a beta of 1.0 and a sector-sensitivity component scored at 7 / 20.
- Key Question #1: Can ISTR sustain or expand its — operating margin and 7.6% ROIC against Major Banks peers over the next 4 quarters?
- Key Question #2: Following FY2025 revenue of $1.19B and free cash flow of $18.2M, how will capital allocation balance growth reinvestment against $0 in total debt?
- Key Question #3: How sensitive is ISTR's 15.5x forward P/E multiple to Financials capital spending cycles and macro interest-rate shifts (Beta 1.00x)?
ISTR Live News Feed, Press Releases & Catalyst Wire
Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for Investar Holding Corporation (ISTR) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below
MarketBeat report covering Investar Holding Corporation (ISTR) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Piper Sandler analyst Stephen Scouten maintains Investar Holding (NASDAQ:ISTR) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $32.5 to $31.
Get a weekly summary of dividend activity for Dividend Champions, Contenders, and Challengers, including dividend changes and key ex-dividend dates.
Investar (ISTR) delivered earnings and revenue surprises of +1.32% and -1.44%, respectively, for the quarter ended September 2026. Do the numbers hold clues to what lies ahead for the stock?
The headline numbers for Investar (ISTR) give insight into how the company performed in the quarter ended September 2026, but it may be worthwhile to compare some of its key metrics to Wall Street estimates and the year-
(ISTR) on Thursday reported net income of $11.The Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based bank said it had earnings of 74 cents per share.
Chemung Financial (CHMG) delivered earnings and revenue surprises of +36.27% and +0.78%, respectively, for the quarter ended September 2026. Do the numbers hold clues to what lies ahead for the stock?
Investar Holding (NASDAQ:ISTR) reported quarterly earnings of $0.77 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.76 by 1.32 percent. This is a 42.59 percent increase over earnings of $0.54 per share from
ISTR Bull vs. Bear Conversation Board — What's Your Call at $28.29?
Insider-flow pillar is the strongest component at 15/20 and the FCF yield of 4.75% offers cash-generation support at the current price.
Here is why I am bullish on ISTR here at $27.59: Insider-flow pillar is the strongest component at 15/20 and the FCF yield of 4.75% offers cash-generation support at the current price.. Compare ISTR's 0.0% operating margin and 7.6% ROIC against the rest of Major Banks. As long as cash conversion holds up, dips toward $26.21 are getting bought.
Both sides have a point here — ISTR's 13/20 balance sheet score keeps downside contained, so the real swing factor next earnings call is backlog and FCF conversion.
Whale 13F flow scores only 6/20 and the overall RQD grade of D+ signals weak fundamentals per the rating.
Careful chasing ISTR at $27.59. Whale 13F flow scores only 6/20 and the overall RQD grade of D+ signals weak fundamentals per the rating.. Gross margin is 0.0%, but operating margin is 0.0%, which shows SG&A and reinvestment are eating into bottom-line EPS. Target $22.35 on multiple compression.