Should investors be concerned about FUSB's EPS trends?

**First US Bancshares (FUSB) has shown a mixed trend in Earnings Per Share (EPS), which warrants both optimism and caution for investors.**

1. **Stable to Increasing EPS in 2023 and Early 2024**: FUSB's EPS was $1.42 for FY 2023, an increase from $1.13 in FY 2022. In the third quarter of 2024, EPS was $0.38, up from $0.35 in the previous year's same quarter. This indicates a positive trajectory in profitability.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Diluted EPS YoY|Diluted EPS|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|FUSB|FUSB.O|First US Bancshares|2024 Q1|3.030303030303033|0.34|186|
|FUSB|FUSB.O|First US Bancshares|2024 Q2|9.677419354838717|0.34|186|
|FUSB|FUSB.O|First US Bancshares|2024 Q3|9.090909090909081|0.36|186|

2. **Recent Decline in EPS**: However, the EPS for Q4 2024 was $0.29, which is a significant drop from the $0.38 of the previous quarter. This recent decline may raise concerns among investors about the short-term performance and potential impact on future earnings.
3. **Net Income Trends**: While EPS is a key metric, it's important to consider net income trends. FUSB's net income decreased to $1.7 million in Q4 2024, down from $2.2 million in the previous quarter. This decline aligns with the EPS trend and suggests that the company faced challenges in the latter part of 2024.
4. **Revenue and Profit Margin Considerations**: FUSB's revenue has shown a slight decline, with $39.1 million in FY 2024, down from $40.4 million in FY 2023. However, the profit margin remained stable at 21% for both years. This indicates that the company's profitability relative to its revenue has been maintained, which is a positive sign.
5. **Loan Volume and Interest Rates**: The company has faced challenges with loan growth and interest rates, which have impacted net interest margins. This is a broader industry issue and may have influenced FUSB's EPS and net income trends.

In conclusion, while FUSB has shown an upward trend in EPS in the past, the recent decline in EPS and net income suggests that investors should monitor the company's performance closely, especially in light of changing interest rates and loan growth dynamics. The stability of profit margins provides some reassurance, but ongoing vigilance is advisable given the evolving economic conditions and competitive landscape in which FUSB operates.