Southern First Bancshares (SFST) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $449.91M
• Dividend Yield: N/A
• Average Volume (3M): 17.98K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 14.7
• Beta (1Y): 0.82
• Revenue Growth: 4.74%
• EPS Growth: 86.27%
• Country: US
• Employees: 297
• Sector: Financial
• Sector Strength: 70
• Industry: Banks - Regional
• EPS (TTM): 1.21
• Shares Outstanding: 8,189,177
• 10 Day Avg. Volume: 14,806
• 30 Day Avg. Volume: 17,982
• PEG Ratio: 1.38
• Price to Book (P/B): 0.97
• Price to Sales (P/S): 1.51
• P/FCF Ratio: 12.97
• Enterprise Value/Market Cap: 1.53
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 3.11
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 6.28
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 17.81
• 1Y Price Target: N/A
• Price Target Upside: N/A
• Rating Consensus: N/A
• Number of Analyst Covering: 0
• EPS Forecast (FY): N/A
• Revenue Forecast (FY): N/A

• Rating: 70 Outperform
• Price Target: $63.00 ▲(17.21% Upside)

The score is driven primarily by solid financial statement performance (strong margins and low leverage offset by weak ROE and declining free cash flow growth) and supportive technicals (price above key moving averages with positive MACD). Valuation is neutral-to-slightly weak due to a mid-range P/E and no dividend yield data.

Positive Factors

Revenue Growth

Consistent revenue growth indicates expanding market presence and effective business strategies, supporting long-term financial health.

Financial Stability

A low debt-to-equity ratio ensures financial flexibility and reduces risk, enabling the company to navigate economic fluctuations effectively.

Earnings Growth

Improved earnings per share and net interest margins reflect effective cost management and revenue generation, enhancing shareholder value.

Negative Factors

Declining Return on Equity

A declining return on equity indicates reduced efficiency in generating profits from shareholders' equity, potentially impacting investor confidence.

Free Cash Flow Decline

Decreasing free cash flow growth could constrain the company's ability to fund operations and investments, affecting long-term growth prospects.

Net Profit Margin

A moderate net profit margin indicates potential inefficiencies in cost management, which could limit profitability and competitive positioning.

Southern First Bancshares Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Southern First Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Southern First Bank that provides various banking products and services to general public in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. It operates through three segments: Commercial and Retail Banking, Mortgage Banking, and Corporate Operations. The company accepts various deposit products that include checking accounts, commercial checking accounts, and savings accounts, as well as other time deposits, including daily money market accounts and long-term certificates of deposit. Its loan portfolio comprises commercial real estate loans; construction real estate loans; commercial business loans for various lines of businesses, such as the manufacturing, service industry, and professional service areas; consumer real estate and home equity loans; and other consumer loans, including secured and unsecured installment loans and revolving lines of credit. In addition, the company provides other bank services, such as internet banking, cash management, safe deposit boxes, direct deposit, automatic drafts, bill payment, and mobile banking services. It operates through eight retail offices located in Greenville, Charleston, and Columbia; three retail offices located in Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte markets; and one retail office located in Atlanta. The company was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina.

How the Company Makes Money

Southern First Bancshares generates revenue primarily through interest income from loans and investment securities. The bank issues various types of loans, including commercial, residential, and consumer loans, which typically yield higher interest rates than the cost of deposits. Additionally, the bank earns non-interest income from service fees, mortgage origination fees, and wealth management services. Key partnerships with local businesses and real estate developers contribute to its loan portfolio growth, while its strong capital position allows for expansion and effective asset management, further enhancing its profitability.

Southern First Bancshares Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Income statement strength (Score 75) is supported by healthy gross margin (49.51%) and positive revenue growth (1.96%), but profitability is only moderate (net margin 11.83%). Balance sheet is stable with very low leverage (debt-to-equity 0.06; Score 70), though ROE is weak (1.96%). Cash flow is the main drag (Score 65) with sharply declining free cash flow growth (-27.98%) despite strong cash conversion (FCF to net income 98.29%).

Income Statement

Southern First Bancshares shows a strong revenue growth trajectory with a TTM revenue growth rate of 1.96%. The gross profit margin is healthy at 49.51%, indicating efficient cost management. However, the net profit margin of 11.83% suggests room for improvement in profitability. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are moderate, reflecting stable operational efficiency.

Balance Sheet

The company maintains a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06 in the TTM period, indicating strong financial stability. However, the return on equity has decreased to 1.96%, suggesting a decline in profitability relative to equity. The equity ratio stands at a robust level, showcasing a strong capital structure.

Cash Flow

The free cash flow growth rate has declined by 27.98% in the TTM period, indicating potential liquidity challenges. However, the free cash flow to net income ratio remains high at 98.29%, reflecting efficient cash conversion. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is low, suggesting potential issues in cash generation from operations.

Breakdown	TTM	Dec 2024	Dec 2023	Dec 2022	Dec 2021	Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue	220.88M	213.32M	187.46M	127.64M	110.26M	122.17M
Gross Profit	109.36M	93.33M	86.25M	101.44M	117.23M	77.56M
EBITDA	38.57M	24.72M	22.24M	41.81M	63.12M	26.01M
Net Income	26.14M	15.53M	13.43M	29.11M	46.71M	18.33M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets	4.36B	4.09B	4.06B	3.69B	2.93B	2.48B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments	104.84M	34.87M	46.29M	162.94M	200.61M	173.67M
Total Debt	264.90M	264.90M	311.32M	211.21M	36.11M	61.00M
Total Liabilities	4.00B	3.76B	3.74B	3.40B	2.65B	2.25B
Stockholders Equity	356.35M	330.44M	312.47M	294.51M	277.90M	228.29M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow	30.21M	24.77M	16.41M	36.35M	51.56M	13.34M
Operating Cash Flow	30.74M	25.56M	17.65M	50.30M	78.07M	20.62M
Investing Cash Flow	-166.77M	-28.86M	-378.57M	-792.58M	-410.63M	-230.77M
Financing Cash Flow	158.36M	9.99M	346.22M	745.94M	399.08M	183.02M

Southern First Bancshares Technical Analysis

• Technical Analysis Sentiment: Positive
• Last Price: 53.75
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Positive
• 200DMA: Positive
• MACD: Positive
• RSI: Neutral
• STOCH: Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SFST, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 53.75 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 54.08, above the 50-day MA of 52.97, and above the 200-day MA of 43.72, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.65 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 54.17 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 52.66 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for SFST.

Southern First Bancshares Peers Comparison

Name	Overall Rating	Market Cap	P/E Ratio	ROE	Dividend Yield	Revenue Growth	EPS Growth
FMAO	72 Outperform	$368.91M	11.65	8.98%	3.18%	6.52%	36.77%
WTBA	71 Outperform	$402.00M	12.36	13.14%	4.39%	4.47%	49.09%
BWFG	71 Outperform	$379.61M	10.83	10.04%	1.66%	2.52%	85.94%
SFST	70 Outperform	$449.91M	14.69	7.65%	―	4.74%	86.27%
PDLB	68 Neutral	$402.74M	14.09	5.48%	―	16.03%	145.10%
Sector *	68 Neutral	$18.00B	11.42	9.92%	3.81%	9.73%	1.22%
MSBI	58 Neutral	$492.46M	-3.72	-17.52%	5.87%	12.76%	-401.62%

Southern First Bancshares Corporate Events

Southern First Bancshares Reports Strong Q4 2025 Results

On January 22, 2026, Southern First Bancshares reported that its fourth quarter of 2025 was its strongest of the year, with diluted earnings per share rising to $1.21, up 13% from the prior quarter and 73% from the same period in 2024, driven by solid loan growth, even stronger deposit growth, and an expanding net interest margin, which climbed to 2.72%. The bank ended December 31, 2025 with total loans of $3.8 billion and total deposits of $3.7 billion, both up mid‑single digits year over year, while maintaining strong asset quality metrics, improved efficiency, higher book value per share, and robust capital ratios, underscoring strengthened profitability and balance sheet resilience that support its growth ambitions in resilient Southeast markets and provide reassurance to shareholders and depositors.

The most recent analyst rating on (SFST) stock is a Buy with a $59.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Southern First Bancshares stock, see the SFST Stock Forecast page.

Southern First Bancshares Reports Strong Q3 2025 Results

Southern First Bancshares reported strong financial results for the third quarter of 2025, with a significant increase in earnings per share and net interest margin compared to previous quarters and the same period last year. The company achieved historically high revenue growth, driven by superior asset quality and margin expansion, and is well-positioned to benefit from ongoing banking industry consolidation, despite maintaining a cautious outlook.

The most recent analyst rating on (SFST) stock is a Hold with a $46.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Southern First Bancshares stock, see the SFST Stock Forecast page.