BUSE

Financial Services

First Busey Corporation · Banks - Regional · $2B

UQS Score — Balanced Preset
55.5
Good

First Busey Corporation scores 55.5/100 using the Balanced preset.

UQS vs Financial Services Sector
BUSE
55.5
Sector avg
39.7
Quality
Good
Moat
Weak
Growth
Neutral
Risk
Neutral
Valuation
Attractive

What is First Busey Corporation?

First Busey Corporation is a mid-cap bank holding company headquartered in Champaign, Illinois. It serves individual, corporate, institutional, and governmental customers across the United States through its subsidiary, Busey Bank.

The company operates through three segments: Banking, FirsTech, and Wealth Management. Banking covers traditional deposit and lending services. FirsTech delivers payment technology solutions including walk-in, online, mobile, and direct debit payment processing. Wealth Management provides investment management, trust, estate advisory, financial planning, and farm management services — giving the company a broader revenue base than a typical community bank.

First Busey Corporation was incorporated in 1998 and is based in Champaign, Illinois.

  • Retail and commercial banking products
  • Payment technology solutions via FirsTech
  • Wealth management and trust services
  • Cash management and commercial depository services

Is BUSE a Good Stock to Buy?

UQS Score rates BUSE as Below Average overall.

Valuation stands out as the most favorable pillar, suggesting the stock may be priced attractively relative to its fundamentals. Quality and Growth both register as Neutral, indicating the business maintains a functional but unremarkable operating profile.

Both the Moat and Risk pillars are rated Weak, pointing to limited competitive differentiation and meaningful exposure to financial-sector headwinds.

See the exact pillar breakdown and full financial metrics by signing up for a UQS Pro account. Sign up free →

Past performance does not guarantee future results. UQS Score is based on fundamental data and is not a buy/sell recommendation.

Does BUSE pay dividends?

Yes — First Busey Corporation pays a dividend.

First Busey pays a regular dividend, consistent with the income-oriented tradition of regional bank holding companies. Dividend payments reflect the company's ability to return capital to shareholders while maintaining its banking operations. Income-focused investors often screen for this cadence when evaluating community bank stocks.

When does BUSE report earnings?

First Busey Corporation reports earnings on a quarterly cadence, typical for US-listed financial holding companies.

The company's Neutral Quality and Growth ratings suggest results have been steady rather than exceptional, with no dramatic swings in either direction implied by the UQS profile. Banking segment performance is closely tied to interest rate conditions and regional loan demand.

For the most recent quarter's results, visit First Busey Corporation's investor relations page directly.

BUSE Price History

+19.2% over 5Y

Monthly close, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment.

Return Calculator

What if I invested in First Busey Corporation?

$
Today it would be worth
$13,052
That's a +30.5% total return, or +5.5% annualized.

Based on First Busey Corporation's historical closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividend reinvestment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

BUSE Long-term Outlook

The Neutral Growth pillar suggests First Busey is not positioned for rapid expansion, but is not in decline either. The Weak Risk rating warrants attention — regional banks face ongoing pressure from credit quality cycles, interest rate sensitivity, and deposit competition. The Attractive Valuation pillar may offer a margin of safety, but the Weak Moat limits confidence in sustained outperformance.

Growth drivers

  • Expansion of fee-based Wealth Management and FirsTech payment services
  • Cross-selling opportunities across banking, payments, and advisory segments
  • Regional loan growth tied to Midwest commercial and agricultural activity

Key risks

  • Weak competitive moat relative to larger national and regional banks
  • Interest rate sensitivity affecting net interest margin
  • Credit quality risk in commercial and agricultural loan portfolios

BUSE vs Peers

First Busey operates in a competitive regional banking landscape alongside several similarly sized peers.

HTHBUSE scores higher
Hilltop Holdings Inc.

Hilltop combines banking with financial advisory and mortgage origination, giving it a different revenue mix than Busey's Midwest-focused model.

NICBUSE scores lower
Nicolet Bankshares, Inc.

Nicolet has pursued an active acquisition strategy across the upper Midwest, differentiating itself through inorganic growth rather than organic expansion.

NBTBBUSE scores lower
NBT Bancorp Inc.

NBT Bancorp serves the northeastern US with a broad community banking footprint, competing on geographic reach rather than specialized service segments.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does First Busey Corporation do?

First Busey Corporation is a bank holding company operating through three segments: Banking, FirsTech, and Wealth Management. It provides deposit and lending services, payment technology solutions, and investment and trust services to individual, business, and institutional clients across the United States.

Does BUSE pay dividends?

Yes, First Busey pays a regular dividend. This is consistent with the capital-return practices common among regional bank holding companies. Investors seeking income often consider dividend-paying community banks like BUSE as part of a diversified portfolio.

When does BUSE report earnings?

First Busey reports earnings on a quarterly basis, in line with standard US-listed company requirements. For exact dates and the most recent results, check the investor relations section of First Busey's official website.

Is BUSE a good stock to buy?

UQS Score rates BUSE as Below Average overall. The Valuation pillar is Attractive, but Moat and Risk are both rated Weak. Whether it fits your portfolio depends on your risk tolerance and investment goals. The full pillar breakdown is available to UQS Pro members.

Is BUSE overvalued?

Based on the UQS Valuation pillar, BUSE is rated Attractive, suggesting the stock may be reasonably priced or undervalued relative to its fundamentals. However, valuation alone does not determine investment quality — the Weak Moat and Risk ratings provide important context.

How does BUSE compare to its competitors?

BUSE competes with regional peers like Hilltop Holdings, Nicolet Bankshares, and NBT Bancorp. First Busey differentiates through its FirsTech payment platform and Wealth Management segment, which add fee-based revenue streams beyond traditional banking. A side-by-side UQS comparison is available on each competitor's page.

What is BUSE's market cap bracket?

First Busey Corporation is classified as a mid-cap company. This places it above smaller community banks in terms of scale, while remaining well below the largest regional and national banking institutions.

Who founded First Busey Corporation?

First Busey Corporation's founding history and leadership background are publicly available through the company's official investor relations materials and regulatory filings. The holding company structure was established in 1998, building on Busey Bank's longer operating history.

Is BUSE a long-term quality stock?

As a long-term quality indicator, BUSE's Below Average UQS Score reflects mixed fundamentals. Neutral Quality and Growth suggest stability without strong upward momentum, while Weak Moat and Risk ratings raise questions about durability. Pro members can view the complete analysis to assess long-term fit.

What is the main competitive advantage of First Busey Corporation?

First Busey's most distinctive feature is its multi-segment model — combining traditional banking with the FirsTech payment technology platform and a full Wealth Management division. This diversification provides fee income that many similarly sized community banks lack, though the UQS Moat pillar still rates as Weak.

Unlock Full BUSE Analysis

Sign in to unlock the detailed analysis behind the UQS Score.

  • View the exact UQS Score and all five pillar ratings for BUSE
  • Access full financial metrics and trend data
  • Compare BUSE side-by-side with regional banking peers
  • Screen for Attractive-valuation bank stocks across the sector
  • Get the complete analyst-style quality breakdown in one place
Analyze BUSE in Detail →

Pro Analysis

BUSE — Score History

404550556065Apr 2Apr 12Apr 22May 2May 12May 22May 24v5
Score changes· 26 most recent
DateUQSQualityMoatGrowthRiskValueChange
May 21, 202655.671.018.053.655.995.10.0
May 19, 202655.671.018.053.655.995.20.0
May 16, 202655.671.018.053.655.995.40.0
May 15, 202655.671.018.053.655.995.10.0
May 14, 202655.671.018.053.655.995.20.0
May 11, 202655.671.018.053.655.994.9-0.1
May 10, 202655.771.018.053.655.995.50.0
May 8, 202655.771.018.053.655.995.7+0.4
May 3, 202655.369.518.053.655.995.2-2.6
May 2, 202657.969.918.053.672.795.30.0

BUSE — Pillar Breakdown

Quality

71.0/100 (25%)

First Busey Corporation shows solid profitability with healthy returns on capital and reasonable margins.

Return on EquityModerate

Profitability relative to shareholders' equity.

Operating ProfitabilityModerate

Ability to convert revenue into operating profit.

Net ProfitabilityStrong

Bottom-line profit as a share of revenue.

Cash GenerationStrong

Free cash flow relative to market value.

Growth

53.6/100 (20%)

First Busey Corporation shows steady but unspectacular growth, typical for mature companies.

Recent Revenue TrendStrong

Revenue trajectory over the last twelve months.

3Y Revenue CAGRStrong

Compound annual revenue growth rate over 3 years.

EPS GrowthWeak

Year-over-year earnings per share growth.

Forward Revenue OutlookWeak

Analyst consensus for future revenue growth.

Forward EPS GrowthStrong

Analyst consensus for future earnings growth.

Risk

55.9/100 (15%)

First Busey Corporation maintains a reasonable risk profile with manageable debt levels.

Debt/EquityStrong

Total debt relative to shareholder equity.

Current RatioModerate

Short-term liquidity — ability to pay near-term obligations.

Interest CoverageWeak

Earnings capacity relative to interest payments.

Valuation

94.7/100 (15%)

First Busey Corporation appears attractively valued relative to its earnings, cash flows, and sector peers.

Earnings YieldStrong

Inverse of forward P/E — higher yield means cheaper stock.

Price to Free Cash FlowStrong

How many years of FCF the market cap represents.

PEG RatioStrong

P/E relative to earnings growth — lower is more attractive.

EV/EBITDA vs SectorStrong

Enterprise value multiple relative to sector median.

Moat

18/100 (25%)

First Busey Corporation operates in a highly competitive environment with limited sustainable advantages. The Moat pillar evaluates competitive advantages across five dimensions: Switching Costs, Network Effects, Cost Advantage, Intangible Assets, and Scale & Ecosystem. Sign in to customize moat ratings for BUSE.

Score Composition

Quality
71.0×25%17.8
Growth
53.6×20%10.7
Risk
55.9×15%8.4
Valuation
94.7×15%14.2
Moat
18.0×25%4.5
Total
55.5Good

Financial Data

More Stock Analysis

How is the BUSE UQS Score Calculated?

The UQS (Unified Quality Score) for First Busey Corporation is calculated using a proprietary 6-pillar framework with 29 financial metrics. Each pillar evaluates a different dimension on a 0–100 scale, then combines into a single weighted score. Scoring thresholds are calibrated per sector. Momentum is an optional Pro toggle — without it, you get the 5-pillar / 25-metric core shown below.

Quality (25%) measures profitability and capital efficiency — ROIC, ROE, margins, GP/Assets, and FCF Yield.

Moat (25%) assesses First Busey Corporation's competitive advantages across switching costs, network effects, cost advantages, intangible assets, and ecosystem scale.

Growth (20%) tracks revenue trajectory and earnings momentum, combining historical results with analyst forward estimates.

Risk (15%) is inversely scored — lower leverage and strong balance sheet health result in higher scores.

Valuation (15%) measures whether First Busey Corporation is fairly priced using earnings yield, price-to-FCF, PEG ratio, and EV/EBITDA relative to sector peers.

Six investor-inspired presets are available, each with different pillar weights: Balanced, Buffett, Munger, Lynch, Cathie Wood, and Graham. The public score shown here uses the Balanced preset. Learn more in our FAQ.