LAFAYETTE, La. – Home Bancorp, Inc. , the parent company for Home Bank, N.A. a national bank headquartered in Lafayette, La., and with locations in Natchez, was recently named to investment banking firm Sandler O’Neill + Partner’s “Top Ideas for 2016.”

“We are honored to be included on Sandler’s list of top picks for 2016,” President and CEO of Home Bancorp and Home Bank John Bordelon said. “We have been very fortunate over the years, as we have strived to help our customers reach their financial goals.  And, our customers have returned the favor by expanding their relationships with us and by recommending us to friends, family and colleagues.”

Sandler’s Rob Haderer notes in his analysis that he expects 2016 “to be a year of meaningful profitability improvement” for the company. Haderer cites management’s “excellent track record of deploying capital” and Home Bank’s conservative credit philosophy as key reasons for making Home Bancorp his top pick for 2016.

Despite low energy prices, Haderer believes Home Bank is well positioned to succeed in 2016: “HBCP has historically been a very conservatively run institution from a credit standpoint … despite the indirect exposure to low oil prices in Louisiana, the bank should emerge from this period relatively strong,” stated Haderer.

Since completing its initial public offering in October 2008, Home Bancorp’s stock price has increased from $10 per share to $26.49 per share.  The company also pays a quarterly dividend, which totaled $0.08 per share in the fourth quarter of 2015.