📊 SFST Key Takeaways
Is Southern First Bancshares Inc. (SFST) a Good Investment?
Critical data quality issues undermine fundamental analysis. Interest coverage of 0.2x indicates the company cannot adequately service debt obligations despite reported profitability, suggesting severe operational stress or accounting anomalies. The -97% YoY revenue collapse for a $4.6B asset bank is unexplained and concerning.
Southern First Bancshares Inc. Key Strengths (SFST)
- Zero long-term debt provides strong balance sheet structure
- Positive operating and free cash flow generation ($10.5M FCF)
- Net income grew 95.5% YoY to $9.9M, showing earnings recovery
SFST Stock Risks: Southern First Bancshares Inc. Investment Risks
- Interest coverage ratio of 0.2x is critically unsustainable and incompatible with reported profitability
- Revenue collapsed 97% YoY to only $1.5M, inconsistent with $4.6B asset base and banking operations
- Impossibly high operating margin (836%) and net margin (662%) indicate data corruption or extraordinary one-time items
- Extremely low ROA (0.2%) and ROE (2.6%) suggest poor asset utilization despite asset scale
Key Metrics to Watch
- Interest coverage ratio must improve above 2.5x for sustainability
- Net interest income trend and loan loss provisions
- Reconciliation of revenue metric with actual banking operations (verify NII vs reported revenue)
Southern First Bancshares Inc. (SFST) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
The 702.8% free cash flow margin provides substantial flexibility for dividends, buybacks, and strategic investments. The current ratio below 1.0x warrants monitoring of short-term liquidity.
SFST Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
SFST vs Finance Sector: How Southern First Bancshares Inc. Compares
How Southern First Bancshares Inc. compares to Finance sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is Southern First Bancshares Inc. Stock Overvalued? SFST Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, Southern First Bancshares Inc. has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Finance sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
Southern First Bancshares Inc. Balance Sheet: SFST Debt, Cash & Liquidity
SFST Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: Southern First Bancshares Inc.'s revenue has declined by 68% over the 5-year period, indicating business contraction. The most recent EPS of $1.66 reflects profitable operations.
SFST Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
SFST Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | $1.4M | $5.3M | $0.65 |
| Q3 2025 | $1.4M | $4.4M | $0.54 |
| Q2 2025 | $1.6M | $3.0M | $0.37 |
| Q1 2025 | $1.2M | $2.5M | $0.31 |
| Q3 2024 | $1.2M | $4.1M | $0.51 |
| Q2 2024 | $1.3M | $2.5M | $0.31 |
| Q1 2024 | $622.0K | $2.5M | $0.31 |
| Q3 2023 | $1.2M | $4.1M | $0.51 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
Southern First Bancshares Inc. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
SFST SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Southern First Bancshares Inc. (CIK: 0001090009)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about SFST
What is the AI rating for SFST?
Southern First Bancshares Inc. (SFST) has an AI grade of C with 35% confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are SFST's key strengths?
Claude: Zero long-term debt provides strong balance sheet structure. Positive operating and free cash flow generation ($10.5M FCF).
What are the risks of investing in SFST?
Claude: Interest coverage ratio of 0.2x is critically unsustainable and incompatible with reported profitability. Revenue collapsed 97% YoY to only $1.5M, inconsistent with $4.6B asset base and banking operations.
What is SFST's revenue and growth?
Southern First Bancshares Inc. reported revenue of $1.5M.
Does SFST pay dividends?
Southern First Bancshares Inc. pays dividends, with $0.1M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find SFST SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for Southern First Bancshares Inc. (CIK: 0001090009) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is SFST's EPS?
Southern First Bancshares Inc. has a diluted EPS of $1.19.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined grade reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
What is SFST's fundamental grade?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in June 2026, Southern First Bancshares Inc. has a C grade with 35% confidence. Review the strengths and risks sections above for full context. This is not investment advice.
Is SFST stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for SFST: ROE of 2.6% (sector avg: 12%), net margin of 662.2% (sector avg: 25%). Compare these metrics with sector averages to assess valuation.
What is SFST's AI grade for 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives Southern First Bancshares Inc. a combined C grade for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability above sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is SFST's free cash flow?
Southern First Bancshares Inc.'s operating cash flow is $10.8M, with capital expenditures of $280.0K. FCF margin is 702.8%.
How does SFST compare to other Finance stocks?
Vs Finance sector averages: Net margin 662.2% (avg: 25%), ROE 2.6% (avg: 12%), current ratio N/A (avg: 1.2).