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Upturn AI SWOT - About
SFST 
Southern First Bancshares Inc (SFST)
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Upturn Advisory Summary
07/14/2025: SFST (1-star) has a low Upturn Star Rating. Not recommended to BUY.
Upturn Star Rating
Not Recommended Performance
These Stocks/ETFs, based on Upturn Advisory, consistently fall short of market performance, signaling caution before investing.
Number of Analysts
2 Analysts rated it
Very few follow this stock; limited insights, higher-risk early investing.
1 Year Target Price $40
1 Year Target Price $40
| 0 | Strong Buy |
| 1 | Buy |
| 1 | Hold |
| 0 | Sell |
| 0 | Strong Sell |
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit 43.91% | Avg. Invested days 47 | Today’s Advisory Consider higher Upturn Star rating |
Upturn Star Rating | Upturn Advisory Performance  5.0 | Stock Returns Performance  3.0 |
| Profits based on simulation | Last Close 07/14/2025 |
Key Highlights
Company Size Small-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 323.73M USD | Price to earnings Ratio 17.61 | 1Y Target Price 40 |
Price to earnings Ratio 17.61 | 1Y Target Price 40 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 2 | Beta 0.77 | 52 Weeks Range 29.14 - 45.91 | Updated Date 07/14/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 29.14 - 45.91 | Updated Date 07/14/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) - | Basic EPS (TTM) 2.25 |
Earnings Date
Report Date 2025-07-22 | When Before Market | Estimate 0.65 | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin 18.74% | Operating Margin (TTM) 30.77% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 0.44% | Return on Equity (TTM) 5.6% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 17.61 | Forward PE 18.62 | Enterprise Value 292830944 | Price to Sales(TTM) 3.32 |
Enterprise Value 292830944 | Price to Sales(TTM) 3.32 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 5.93 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA - | Shares Outstanding 8168860 | Shares Floating 6281040 |
Shares Outstanding 8168860 | Shares Floating 6281040 | ||
Percent Insiders 6.17 | Percent Institutions 80.18 |
Upturn AI SWOT
Southern First Bancshares Inc
Company Overview
History and Background
Southern First Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. The bank has focused on providing personalized banking services to individuals and businesses primarily in the Southeast region of the United States. It has grown organically and through strategic acquisitions to expand its presence and service offerings.
Core Business Areas
- Commercial Banking: Offers a range of lending and deposit products to small and medium-sized businesses, including commercial real estate loans, business lines of credit, and treasury management services.
- Retail Banking: Provides personal banking services such as checking and savings accounts, mortgage loans, and consumer loans to individuals and families.
- Wealth Management: Offers investment management, financial planning, and trust services to high-net-worth individuals and families.
Leadership and Structure
Art Seaver serves as the Chief Executive Officer. The company has a board of directors overseeing the management team. Southern First operates with a decentralized, relationship-focused structure.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Commercial Real Estate Loans: Provides financing for commercial real estate projects. Competitors include larger national banks like Bank of America and regional banks like Truist Financial. No specific market share data available.
- Small Business Loans: Offers loans to small businesses for working capital, equipment, and expansion. Competitors include other regional banks and online lenders. No specific market share data available.
- Mortgage Loans: Provides mortgage loans for residential properties. Competitors are national banks and mortgage lenders. No specific market share data available.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The banking industry is currently facing rising interest rates, increased regulatory scrutiny, and technological disruption. Regional banks are competing with larger national banks and fintech companies.
Positioning
Southern First positions itself as a relationship-focused bank providing personalized service and local expertise. Its competitive advantage lies in its deep understanding of the Southeast market.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The total addressable market for banking services in the Southeast is substantial, estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Southern First's market position is relatively small, leaving ample room for growth.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Strong customer relationships
- Experienced management team
- Focus on the Southeast market
- Sound asset quality
Weaknesses
- Smaller scale compared to national banks
- Limited geographic diversification
- Reliance on traditional banking services
- Higher cost to serve vs. Fintech lenders
Opportunities
- Expansion into new markets within the Southeast
- Adoption of new technologies
- Increased demand for personalized banking services
- Acquisition of smaller community banks
Threats
- Increased competition from national banks and fintech companies
- Rising interest rates
- Economic downturn
- Regulatory changes
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- TRST
- PBCT
- FCNCA
Competitive Landscape
Southern First faces intense competition from larger national banks and other regional banks. Its advantage lies in its personalized service and local market expertise. The lower market share relative to the other companies listed here as competitors indicates that Southern First Bancshares Inc has ground to make up in order to compete within its space.
Major Acquisitions
Tidelands Bancshares, Inc.
- Year: 2020
- Acquisition Price (USD millions): 148
- Strategic Rationale: Expanded presence in the attractive Charleston, SC market.
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Southern First has experienced steady growth in recent years driven by organic expansion and strategic acquisitions.
Future Projections: Analyst estimates project continued growth for Southern First, driven by its focus on the Southeast market and its strong customer relationships.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives include investments in technology, expansion into new markets, and the launch of new products and services.
Summary
Southern First Bancshares is a regional bank with a strong focus on relationship banking in the Southeast. The company benefits from experienced management and a sound asset quality. However, its smaller scale and limited geographic diversification present challenges. Strategic initiatives and market opportunities could drive future growth.
Peer Comparison
Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company filings
- Analyst reports
- Industry publications
Disclaimers:
This analysis is based on publicly available information and is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. Market share data is estimated and may not be precise.
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.
About Southern First Bancshares Inc
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquaters 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 297 | Website https://www.southernfirst.com |
Full time employees 297 | 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 provides 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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