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Upturn AI Summary - About
Southern First Bancshares Inc(SFST)
Advisory History & Simulated Performance *
*as per simulation (see disclosures)- ALL
- 1Y
- 1M
- 1W
- BUY Advisory
- SELL Advisory (Profit)
- SELL Advisory (Loss)
- Profit
- Loss
- PASS (Skip)
Stock price based on last close Advisory Performance History (Simulated)
Upturn Advisory & Investor View for SFST
10/23/2026: SFST (4-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Southern First Bancshares is a regional bank focused on providing relationship-based commercial and private banking services across the Carolinas. The bank's primary strength lies in its ability to deliver personalized solutions to business clients while maintaining efficient digital operations. Growth is driven by organic market penetration and talent acquisition in the high-growth Southeastern region. Key risks include intense competitive pressure from larger national banks, regional economic cyclicality, and interest rate sensitivity. The stock may suit growth-oriented investors looking for exposure to the Southeast economy, though it is less suitable for pure dividend-focused portfolios. Investors should monitor loan portfolio quality and interest margin trends.
How to Read the Upturn Advisory
The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.
Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.
Investor Fit
| Investor style | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth investor | Mixed fit | The company offers growth potential through expansion in the Carolinas but operates in a cyclical industry. |
| Momentum investor | Mixed fit | Momentum potential is conditional on clear, sustained uptrends in bank sector performance and interest rate stability. |
| Value investor | Strong fit | The stock can offer value to investors when trading at reasonable multiples of book value. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | The company has historically focused on growth rather than providing a significant dividend yield. |
| Low-risk investor | Weak fit | Banking stocks inherently involve interest rate and credit risk, leading to moderate volatility. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium / high | Bank stocks are sensitive to market interest rate expectations and economic outlooks. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Investors must monitor whether the price accurately reflects the growth outlook versus capital risk. |
| Competition risk (Regional Banking) | High | Stiff competition from established large-cap banks limits pricing power. |
| Business quality | Medium | The bank maintains a solid reputation for service, though it lacks the scale of national peers. |
| Dividend income | Low | Capital is primarily allocated to growth rather than dividends. |
| Execution risk | Medium | The success of the growth strategy depends on recruiting talent and maintaining loan quality. |
Price Behavior
Strong Uptrend
The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.
Smooth
The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 96.43% | Avg. Invested days 74 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Advisory Rating  | Upturn Advisory Performance  5.0 | Stock Returns Performance  4.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 10/23/2026 |
Upturn Scorecard
Upturn Star Rating 
Company Fundamentals
Financial Health Rating
Growth Momentum Score
Ownership
Top 5 Institutional Investors
Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)
Economic Dimensions
Quantitative Style Profile
Style Classification
Quality Focused
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 579.67M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 12.62 | 1Y Target Price 68.75 |
Price to earnings Ratio 12.62 | 1Y Target Price 68.75 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 84.6K shares | Beta 0.72 | 52 Weeks Range 40.91 - 65.09 | Updated Date 10/25/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 40.91 - 65.09 | Updated Date 10/25/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 4.85 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Net Interest Income | Interest earned on commercial, real estate, and consumer loans minus interest paid on deposits. | The bank makes the bulk of its money from the 'spread' between loan interest and deposit costs. |
| Non-Interest Income | Service fees, mortgage banking income, and treasury management service charges. | This is supplemental revenue from fees for various financial services provided to businesses and individuals. |
Earnings Date
Report Date 2026-10-20 | When Before Market | Estimate 1.26 | Actual 1.28 |
Profitability
Profit Margin 32.05% | Operating Margin (TTM) 46.4% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 0.93% | Return on Equity (TTM) 10.55% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 12.62 | Forward PE 18.62 | Enterprise Value 434.75M | Price to Sales(TTM) 4.3 |
Enterprise Value 434.75M | Price to Sales(TTM) 4.3 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 6.23 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA - | Shares Outstanding 9.47M | Shares Floating 7.47M |
Shares Outstanding 9.47M | Shares Floating 7.47M | ||
Percent Insiders 5.14 | Percent Institutions 93.01 |
Financial Metrics
🧭 Investment Snapshot
Total Revenue (Scale)
Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.
Net Income (Profit)
Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.
Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)
Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.
📈 Growth & Strength
Operating Income (Core Profit)
Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.
EBITDA (Cash Earnings)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.
Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)
Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.
🛡️ Financial Safety
Cash (Liquidity Buffer)
Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.
Total Debt (Leverage Risk)
Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.
Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)
Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.
🧱 Balance Sheet Strength
Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)
Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.
Total Assets (Asset Base)
The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.
Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)
Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.
⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors
Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)
Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.
Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)
Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.
Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)
Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.
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