Southern First Bancshares (SFST) AI Stock Analysis

• Market Cap: $363.76M
• Dividend Yield: N/A
• Average Volume (3M): 17.98K
• Price to Earnings (P/E): 13.8
• Beta (1Y): 0.96
• Revenue Growth: 4.74%
• EPS Growth: 86.27%
• Country: US
• Employees: 297
• Sector: Financial
• Sector Strength: 70
• Industry: Banks - Regional
• EPS (TTM): 1.07
• 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: 1.57
• Enterprise Value/Revenue: 2.59
• Enterprise Value/Gross Profit: 5.23
• Enterprise Value/Ebitda: 14.82
• 1Y Price Target: N/A
• Price Target Upside: N/A
• Rating Consensus: Moderate Buy
• Number of Analyst Covering: 0
• EPS Forecast (FY): N/A
• Revenue Forecast (FY): N/A

• Rating: 67 Neutral
• Price Target: $53.00 ▲(3.72% Upside)

Southern First Bancshares shows a stable financial position with solid revenue growth and low leverage. However, the stock's overbought technical indicators and declining return on equity and free cash flow growth present potential risks. The reasonable valuation provides some support, but the lack of a dividend yield may limit its appeal to income investors.

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

Southern First Bancshares demonstrates solid revenue growth and a stable financial position with low leverage. However, declining return on equity and free cash flow growth indicate potential areas for improvement. The company should focus on enhancing profitability and cash flow generation to sustain its growth trajectory.

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	25.08M	24.77M	16.41M	36.35M	51.56M	13.34M
Operating Cash Flow	25.61M	25.56M	17.65M	50.30M	78.07M	20.62M
Investing Cash Flow	-161.64M	-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: 51.10
• 50DMA: Positive
• 100DMA: Positive
• 200DMA: Positive
• MACD: Negative
• RSI: Negative
• 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 51.1 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 47.01, above the 50-day MA of 44.90, and above the 200-day MA of 39.28, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 1.60 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 72.07 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 68.82 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
WTBA	76 Outperform	$371.51M	11.57	13.14%	4.48%	4.47%	49.09%
BWFG	71 Outperform	$350.70M	12.34	10.04%	1.80%	2.52%	85.94%
FMAO	68 Neutral	$346.36M	10.93	8.98%	3.54%	6.52%	36.77%
Sector *	68 Neutral	$18.00B	11.42	9.92%	3.81%	9.73%	1.22%
SFST	67 Neutral	$363.76M	13.77	7.65%	―	4.74%	86.27%
PDLB	67 Neutral	$371.54M	17.45	4.16%	―	16.03%	145.10%
MSBI	55 Neutral	$348.36M	-2.68	-17.52%	7.73%	12.76%	-401.62%

Southern First Bancshares Corporate Events

Southern First Bancshares Reports Strong Q3 2025 Earnings

Southern First Bancshares, Inc. is a financial holding company based in South Carolina, primarily engaged in providing commercial, consumer, and mortgage loans, as well as accepting demand and savings deposits through its subsidiary, Southern First Bank. The bank operates in various regions, including South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.

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.