CLST Catalyst Bancorp, Inc.

Nasdaq Savings Institution, Federally Chartered CIK: 0001849867
AI RATING
HOLD
58% Confidence

Investment Thesis

Catalyst Bancorp exhibits strong topline growth (+41.9% YoY revenue) but fundamentals reveal operational challenges, with net income flat despite revenue expansion. Returns metrics (ROE 2.5%, ROA 0.7%) are significantly below banking industry standards, signaling profitability headwinds that warrant caution despite favorable leverage and cash generation.

Strengths

  • + Strong revenue growth of 41.9% YoY demonstrates market demand
  • + Conservative leverage with 0.18x debt-to-equity ratio provides financial flexibility
  • + Positive free cash flow generation of 3.1M with 22.3% FCF margin

Risks

  • ! Net income flat YoY despite 41.9% revenue growth indicates margin compression or operational inefficiency
  • ! Return on equity (2.5%) and return on assets (0.7%) significantly below industry standards for healthy banks
  • ! Interest coverage ratio of 2.4x is tight, limiting debt service flexibility and indicating thin margins

Key Metrics to Watch

Financial Metrics

Revenue
13.9M
Net Income
2.1M
EPS (Diluted)
$0.56
Free Cash Flow
3.1M
Total Assets
282.9M
Cash
25.2M

Profitability Ratios

Gross Margin N/A
Operating Margin 18.0%
Net Margin 14.8%
ROE 2.5%
ROA 0.7%
FCF Margin 22.3%

Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Current Ratio
N/A
Quick Ratio
N/A
Debt/Equity
0.18x
Debt/Assets
71.1%
Interest Coverage
2.39x
Long-term Debt
14.7M
Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI based on publicly available SEC EDGAR filings. It does not include stock price data and should not be considered financial advice. All fundamental data is sourced from SEC public domain filings. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.
Data Source: SEC EDGAR | Analysis Date: 2026-04-29T14:41:00.508158 | Data as of: 2025-12-31 | Powered by Claude AI