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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
09/25/2026: SFST (4-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Southern First Bancshares Inc is a regional bank holding company focused on serving commercial and professional clients in the high-growth markets of the Carolinas. The company has historically achieved success through a relationship-based model that prioritizes organic growth and digital efficiency over branch expansion. Its primary investment story centers on capturing market share in fast-growing Southeastern regions. However, potential risks include geographic concentration, interest rate sensitivity, and intense competition from much larger, well-capitalized institutions. The stock is likely better suited for growth-oriented investors rather than those seeking regular dividend income, and stakeholders should monitor the bank's asset quality and ability to maintain margins during interest rate fluctuations.
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 | Strong fit | The company focuses on expanding its loan portfolio and market footprint in high-growth Southeastern regions. |
| Momentum investor | Mixed fit | Momentum depends on the broader regional bank cycle and company-specific growth signals. |
| Value investor | Mixed fit | Valuation fluctuates based on current market sentiment toward regional bank credit quality and interest rate expectations. |
| Dividend investor | Weak fit | The company does not pay a regular cash dividend, preferring to reinvest earnings for growth. |
| Low-risk investor | Weak fit | Regional banking investments carry inherent market and interest rate risks that may exceed the tolerance of low-risk investors. |
Risk Profile
| Risk factor | Level | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Price volatility | Medium / high | Bank stocks often react sharply to interest rate announcements and economic data releases. |
| Valuation risk | Medium | Investors must assess whether the current share price properly discounts future growth and credit risks. |
| Competition risk (banking) | High | Competing with both large national institutions and agile local banks puts pressure on margins. |
| Business quality | Medium | The business relies on maintaining healthy loan quality within a concentrated geographic area. |
| Dividend income | Low / none | The absence of a dividend removes a key stabilizer for income-focused investors. |
| Execution risk | Medium | Success depends on the effective management of the loan portfolio and expansion into new markets. |
Price Behavior
Strong Uptrend
The stock has maintained a strong upward price trend across the last three quarters.
Moderately Choppy
The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.
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 09/25/2026 |
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 574.18M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 13.04 | 1Y Target Price 68.5 |
Price to earnings Ratio 13.04 | 1Y Target Price 68.5 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 97.6K shares | Beta 0.67 | 52 Weeks Range 40.90 - 65.09 | Updated Date 09/27/2026 |
52 Weeks Range 40.90 - 65.09 | Updated Date 09/27/2026 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 4.65 |
How Company Makes Money
| Business area | What it includes | Retail investor read |
|---|---|---|
| Net Interest Income | Earnings derived from interest on loans exceeding interest paid on deposits. | This is the core profit engine, highly sensitive to interest rates and loan volume. |
| Non-Interest Income | Service fees, mortgage banking income, and treasury management fees. | This provides a smaller, diversified stream of revenue beyond traditional lending. |
Valuation
Trailing PE 13.04 | Forward PE 18.62 | Enterprise Value 492.67M | Price to Sales(TTM) 4.46 |
Enterprise Value 492.67M | Price to Sales(TTM) 4.46 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 6.18 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA - | Shares Outstanding 9.47M | Shares Floating 7.45M |
Shares Outstanding 9.47M | Shares Floating 7.45M | ||
Percent Insiders 5.15 | Percent Institutions 91.47 |
Upturn AI Summary
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
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.
About Southern First Bancshares Inc
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquarters Greenville, SC, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 1999-10-28 | CEO & Director Mr. R. Arthur Seaver Jr. | ||
Sector Financial Services | Industry Banks - Regional | Full time employees 315 | Website https://www.southernfirst.com |
Full time employees 315 | Website https://www.southernfirst.com | ||
Southern First Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Southern First Bank that provides commercial, consumer, and mortgage loans to the general public in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. 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 offers other bank services, such as internet banking, cash management, safe deposit boxes, direct deposit, automatic drafts, bill payment, and mobile banking services. The company was incorporated in 1999 and is headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina.
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