Catalyst Bancorp, Inc.
- Open
- 17.80
- Day high
- 18.12
- Day low
- 17.79
- Prev close
- 17.50
- Volume
- 7K
- Mkt cap
- $72M
- P/E (TTM)
- 31.2
- EPS (TTM)
- $0.57
- P/B
- 0.9
- P/S
- 4.6
- Yield
- —
- Per share
- —
- ▲Insiders net buying $84K over the last 3 months (3 open-market buys, 1 sale)
- 🏛Institutions reducing (13F)
Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (CLST) is a Financial Services company listed on NASDAQ. The stock is up 37% over the past year. Over the trailing 3 months, insiders filed 3 open-market buys and 1 sale (SEC Form 4).
Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (CLST) financials & analyst ratings
Fundamentals (TTM)
Source: exchange market data + company filings. Figures are trailing-twelve-month or as most recently reported. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
CLST earnings date, history & EPS estimates
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 30, 2026 | — | $0.14 | — | $4M | — |
| Apr 30, 2026 | — | $0.15 | — | $4M | — |
| Jan 29, 2026 | — | $0.13 | — | $4M | — |
| Oct 23, 2025 | — | $0.13 | — | — | — |
| Jul 24, 2025 | — | $0.14 | — | $4M | — |
| Apr 24, 2025 | — | $0.16 | — | $4M | — |
| Mar 28, 2025 | — | $0.16 | — | $4M | — |
| Oct 24, 2024 | — | $0.11 | — | $4M | — |
| Jul 31, 2024 | — | $0.13 | — | $4M | — |
| May 2, 2024 | — | $-1.14 | — | $-2M | — |
| Oct 26, 2023 | — | $0.03 | — | $3M | — |
| Jul 27, 2023 | — | $0.01 | — | $3M | — |
CLST insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12, 2026 | Ledet Don Pofficer: CHIEF RISK OFFICER | Grant | 1,000 | — |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Ledet Don Pofficer: CHIEF RISK OFFICER | Grant | 2,000 | $15.96 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Ledet Don Pofficer: CHIEF RISK OFFICER | Tax | 131 | $15.96 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Quebedeaux Amanda B.officer: Chief Operations Officer | Grant | 1,000 | — |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Quebedeaux Amanda B.officer: Chief Operations Officer | Tax | 131 | $15.96 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Bourque Jacques L.J.officer: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | Tax | 131 | $15.96 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Bourque Jacques L.J.officer: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | Grant | 1,000 | — |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Bourque Jacques L.J.officer: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | Grant | 2,000 | $15.96 |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Quebedeaux Amanda B.officer: Chief Operations Officer | Grant | 2,000 | $15.96 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | Kleiser Kirk E.director | Sell | 1,000 | $16.04 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | Scruggins Matthew L.director | Grant | 2,645 | $15.96 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | Scruggins Matthew L.director | Grant | 1,058 | — |
| Jun 11, 2026 | Bellard Ted D.director, other: SECRETARY | Grant | 2,645 | $15.95 |
| Jun 11, 2026 | Bellard Ted D.director, other: SECRETARY | Grant | 1,058 | — |
| Jun 11, 2026 | Kidder Todd A.director, other: CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | Grant | 2,645 | $15.96 |
Source: CLST SEC Form 4 filings, latest Jun 12, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
See the full CLST insider & 13F page →Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. company profile
Overview
Catalyst Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLST) is a regional bank holding company that operates through its subsidiary St. Landry Homestead Federal Savings Bank, serving the Acadiana region of south-central Louisiana. Founded in 1922 as a traditional savings bank, the company went public in October 2021 and has since operated as a community-focused financial institution. The bank maintains six full-service branches across Louisiana communities including Carencro, Eunice, Lafayette, Opelousas, and Port Barre, providing traditional banking services to local residents and businesses in this predominantly rural and small-town market.
Business
Catalyst Bancorp operates in the regional banking industry, which consists of smaller financial institutions that serve specific geographic markets rather than operating nationally. Regional banks like Catalyst typically focus on relationship banking, where they develop close ties with local customers and understand the unique economic conditions of their service areas. The company's core business revolves around traditional banking activities conducted through St. Landry Homestead Federal Savings Bank. On the deposit side, the bank accepts various types of customer deposits including savings accounts, checking accounts (demand deposits), NOW accounts (interest-bearing checking), money market accounts, and certificates of deposit. These deposits provide the bank with funds that it can then lend out to generate interest income. On the lending side, the bank offers several types of loans. Residential mortgage loans for one- to four-family homes represent a significant portion of their lending portfolio, helping local families purchase homes. Commercial real estate loans finance office buildings, retail spaces, and other commercial properties in their market area. The bank also provides multi-family residential loans for apartment buildings and similar properties, construction and land loans for development projects, commercial and industrial loans to local businesses, and various consumer loans for personal needs. Additionally, Catalyst invests in securities as part of its asset management strategy. These investments include mortgage-backed securities (bonds backed by pools of mortgages), U.S. Treasury obligations, securities issued by federal agencies, state and municipal government bonds, certificates of deposit at other federally insured institutions, and federal funds (short-term loans between banks).
Revenue model
Catalyst Bancorp operates on the traditional banking business model, earning money primarily through net interest income - the difference between the interest it earns on loans and investments and the interest it pays on deposits. When customers deposit money, the bank pays them a relatively low interest rate, then lends that money out at higher interest rates to borrowers, keeping the spread as profit. The bank's paying customers fall into two main categories: depositors who pay through lower interest rates on their savings in exchange for banking services, and borrowers who pay interest and fees on loans. The bank also generates fee income from various banking services, though this represents a smaller portion of total revenue compared to interest income. Several factors can significantly impact the bank's profitability margins. Interest rate environments are crucial - when rates rise, the bank can typically charge more for loans faster than it increases deposit rates, expanding margins. Conversely, falling rates can compress margins. Credit quality directly affects profitability, as loan losses from defaults reduce net income. The bank must maintain adequate loan loss provisions, which act as an expense against current earnings. Local economic conditions in the Acadiana region heavily influence the bank's performance, as economic downturns can increase loan defaults while reducing demand for new loans. Competition from larger banks and credit unions can pressure both deposit rates (forcing the bank to pay more) and loan rates (forcing them to charge less). Regulatory compliance costs represent an ongoing expense that can impact margins, particularly for smaller banks that lack economies of scale. Finally, operational efficiency plays a key role, as the bank's ability to control overhead costs relative to its asset size directly impacts profitability.
Competitive moat
Catalyst Bancorp's competitive moat is relatively narrow, typical of small regional banks. The company's primary defensive characteristics stem from its local market knowledge and relationships built over more than a century of operation in the Acadiana region. This includes deep understanding of local economic conditions, established relationships with community businesses and families, and brand recognition within its limited geographic footprint. However, this moat faces significant challenges. The bank operates in a highly commoditized industry where larger competitors can offer similar products often at better rates due to their scale advantages and lower cost of funds. National and regional banks with greater resources can easily enter Catalyst's markets and compete aggressively for both deposits and loans. Digital banking platforms and fintech companies pose an increasing threat by offering convenient online services that can attract customers regardless of geographic location. The company's small size, with assets under $300 million, limits its ability to diversify risk, invest in technology infrastructure, or compete on pricing. Regulatory burden represents a disproportionately high cost for smaller banks, as compliance expenses don't scale down proportionally. Additionally, the bank's concentration in a relatively small geographic area makes it vulnerable to regional economic downturns that could simultaneously impact multiple customers. The banking industry's trend toward consolidation suggests that small independent banks like Catalyst face structural headwinds. While community relationships provide some protection, the moat is not particularly wide or durable against well-funded competitors or technological disruption. The bank's survival likely depends more on operational efficiency and prudent risk management than on any sustainable competitive advantage.
Risks & safety
Catalyst Bancorp presents a mixed margin of safety profile with some concerning liquidity metrics but reasonable debt levels. **Cash and Solvency Position:** - Strong cash position with $40.3 million in cash and short-term investments as of Q1 2025 - Concerning current ratio of 0.38, indicating potential short-term liquidity challenges - Manageable debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, showing conservative leverage - Positive operating cash flow of $427,000 in Q1 2025, though declining from previous quarters **Valuation Metrics:** - Trading at 0.53 price-to-book ratio, suggesting potential undervaluation relative to book value - P/E ratio of 18.2x based on recent quarterly earnings - EV/EBITDA of 3.6x appears reasonable for a regional bank - Graham number of 8.9 compared to current price of $11.67 suggests modest overvaluation by traditional value metrics **Other Considerations:** - Full-year 2024 showed a net loss of $3.1 million, raising profitability concerns - Return on equity of only 0.7% indicates poor capital efficiency - Small market cap of approximately $50 million increases liquidity risk for investors - Asset quality and loan loss provisions require monitoring given regional economic exposure
Recent development
Based on the available financial data spanning 2022-2025, Catalyst Bancorp has experienced significant operational challenges in recent years. The most notable development was the company's substantial loss in 2024, reporting a net loss of $3.1 million for the full year compared to modest profits in previous years. This represents a dramatic shift from the bank's historically profitable, albeit modest, operations. The bank has maintained relatively stable revenue levels around $9-10 million annually, but profitability has been highly volatile. After earning $526,000 in 2023 and only $180,000 in 2022, the significant 2024 loss suggests operational or credit quality issues that management has had to address. Balance sheet management has shown some positive trends, with the bank maintaining strong cash positions - cash and short-term investments increased from $13.5 million in 2022 to over $40 million by early 2025. This substantial cash buildup may indicate either conservative management in uncertain times or difficulty deploying capital effectively into profitable lending opportunities. The bank's asset base has remained relatively stable around $270-295 million, suggesting limited growth in its core lending business. The lack of significant expansion or new market penetration indicates the bank has focused on maintaining its existing operations rather than pursuing aggressive growth strategies. Without access to management earnings calls, specific strategic initiatives, new product launches, or market expansion plans are not evident from the financial data alone. The focus appears to have been on navigating challenging operating conditions while maintaining adequate capital and liquidity levels.
CLST company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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