Southern First Bancshares (SFST) Competitors

$56.08 +0.35 (+0.62%)

As of 01:55 PM Eastern

SFST vs. ABCB, CATY, CCNE, FMBH, and FRME

Should you buy Southern First Bancshares stock or one of its competitors? MarketBeat compares Southern First Bancshares with other companies and stocks that may be similar based on industry, sector, market capitalization, business model, investor interest, or shared news coverage. Companies and stocks commonly compared with Southern First Bancshares include Ameris Bancorp (ABCB), Cathay General Bancorp (CATY), CNB Financial (CCNE), First Mid Bancshares (FMBH), and First Merchants (FRME). These companies are all part of the "finance" sector.

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to Ameris Bancorp?

Ameris Bancorp (NASDAQ:ABCB) and Southern First Bancshares (NASDAQ:SFST) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, media sentiment, institutional ownership and dividends.

91.6% of Ameris Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.0% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by institutional investors. 5.7% of Ameris Bancorp shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 6.9% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Ameris Bancorp has a beta of 0.93, meaning that its stock price is 7% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Southern First Bancshares has a beta of 0.68, meaning that its stock price is 32% less volatile than the broader market.

Ameris Bancorp has higher revenue and earnings than Southern First Bancshares. Southern First Bancshares is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ameris Bancorp, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Ameris Bancorp	$1.20B	4.70	$358.68M	$6.36	13.20
Southern First Bancshares	$125.39M	4.23	$30.37M	$4.28	13.10

In the previous week, Ameris Bancorp had 1 more articles in the media than Southern First Bancshares. MarketBeat recorded 2 mentions for Ameris Bancorp and 1 mentions for Southern First Bancshares. Ameris Bancorp's average media sentiment score of 1.45 beat Southern First Bancshares' score of 0.85 indicating that Ameris Bancorp is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company	Overall Sentiment
Ameris Bancorp	Positive
Southern First Bancshares	Positive

Ameris Bancorp has a net margin of 21.46% compared to Southern First Bancshares' net margin of 15.21%. Southern First Bancshares' return on equity of 9.65% beat Ameris Bancorp's return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Ameris Bancorp	21.46%	9.57%	1.32%
Southern First Bancshares	15.21%	9.65%	0.79%

Ameris Bancorp presently has a consensus price target of $90.17, suggesting a potential upside of 7.42%. Southern First Bancshares has a consensus price target of $64.00, suggesting a potential upside of 14.11%. Given Southern First Bancshares' higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Southern First Bancshares is more favorable than Ameris Bancorp.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Ameris Bancorp	0 Sell rating(s)	2 Hold rating(s)	4 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.67
Southern First Bancshares	0 Sell rating(s)	1 Hold rating(s)	2 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.67

Summary

Ameris Bancorp beats Southern First Bancshares on 12 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to Cathay General Bancorp?

Cathay General Bancorp (NASDAQ:CATY) and Southern First Bancshares (NASDAQ:SFST) are both finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, media sentiment, institutional ownership and dividends.

Cathay General Bancorp presently has a consensus price target of $52.00, suggesting a potential downside of 8.18%. Southern First Bancshares has a consensus price target of $64.00, suggesting a potential upside of 14.11%. Given Southern First Bancshares' stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Southern First Bancshares is more favorable than Cathay General Bancorp.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Cathay General Bancorp	1 Sell rating(s)	3 Hold rating(s)	2 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.17
Southern First Bancshares	0 Sell rating(s)	1 Hold rating(s)	2 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.67

Cathay General Bancorp has a beta of 0.87, meaning that its stock price is 13% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Southern First Bancshares has a beta of 0.68, meaning that its stock price is 32% less volatile than the broader market.

Cathay General Bancorp has higher revenue and earnings than Southern First Bancshares. Cathay General Bancorp is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Southern First Bancshares, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Cathay General Bancorp	$844.88M	4.49	$315.12M	$4.85	11.68
Southern First Bancshares	$125.39M	4.23	$30.37M	$4.28	13.10

75.0% of Cathay General Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.0% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by institutional investors. 4.9% of Cathay General Bancorp shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 6.9% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

In the previous week, Cathay General Bancorp had 4 more articles in the media than Southern First Bancshares. MarketBeat recorded 5 mentions for Cathay General Bancorp and 1 mentions for Southern First Bancshares. Cathay General Bancorp's average media sentiment score of 0.96 beat Southern First Bancshares' score of 0.85 indicating that Cathay General Bancorp is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company	Overall Sentiment
Cathay General Bancorp	Positive
Southern First Bancshares	Positive

Cathay General Bancorp has a net margin of 23.79% compared to Southern First Bancshares' net margin of 15.21%. Cathay General Bancorp's return on equity of 11.37% beat Southern First Bancshares' return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Cathay General Bancorp	23.79%	11.37%	1.38%
Southern First Bancshares	15.21%	9.65%	0.79%

Summary

Cathay General Bancorp beats Southern First Bancshares on 11 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to CNB Financial?

Southern First Bancshares (NASDAQ:SFST) and CNB Financial (NASDAQ:CCNE) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, media sentiment, institutional ownership, dividends and valuation.

Southern First Bancshares currently has a consensus price target of $64.00, suggesting a potential upside of 14.11%. CNB Financial has a consensus price target of $34.50, suggesting a potential upside of 12.86%. Given Southern First Bancshares' higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Southern First Bancshares is more favorable than CNB Financial.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Southern First Bancshares	0 Sell rating(s)	1 Hold rating(s)	2 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.67
CNB Financial	0 Sell rating(s)	1 Hold rating(s)	2 Buy rating(s)	1 Strong Buy rating(s)	3.00

Southern First Bancshares has a beta of 0.68, meaning that its share price is 32% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, CNB Financial has a beta of 0.65, meaning that its share price is 35% less volatile than the broader market.

CNB Financial has higher revenue and earnings than Southern First Bancshares. CNB Financial is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Southern First Bancshares, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Southern First Bancshares	$125.39M	4.23	$30.37M	$4.28	13.10
CNB Financial	$432.51M	2.09	$66.13M	$2.81	10.88

75.0% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 52.4% of CNB Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.9% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.9% of CNB Financial shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

In the previous week, CNB Financial had 5 more articles in the media than Southern First Bancshares. MarketBeat recorded 6 mentions for CNB Financial and 1 mentions for Southern First Bancshares. Southern First Bancshares' average media sentiment score of 0.85 beat CNB Financial's score of 0.59 indicating that Southern First Bancshares is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company	Overall Sentiment
Southern First Bancshares	Positive
CNB Financial	Positive

CNB Financial has a net margin of 17.62% compared to Southern First Bancshares' net margin of 15.21%. CNB Financial's return on equity of 12.14% beat Southern First Bancshares' return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Southern First Bancshares	15.21%	9.65%	0.79%
CNB Financial	17.62%	12.14%	1.16%

Summary

Southern First Bancshares and CNB Financial tied by winning 8 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to First Mid Bancshares?

Southern First Bancshares (NASDAQ:SFST) and First Mid Bancshares (NASDAQ:FMBH) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, media sentiment, institutional ownership, dividends and valuation.

Southern First Bancshares currently has a consensus price target of $64.00, suggesting a potential upside of 14.11%. First Mid Bancshares has a consensus price target of $49.50, suggesting a potential upside of 15.75%. Given First Mid Bancshares' higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe First Mid Bancshares is more favorable than Southern First Bancshares.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Southern First Bancshares	0 Sell rating(s)	1 Hold rating(s)	2 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.67
First Mid Bancshares	0 Sell rating(s)	3 Hold rating(s)	3 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.50

Southern First Bancshares has a beta of 0.68, meaning that its share price is 32% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, First Mid Bancshares has a beta of 0.79, meaning that its share price is 21% less volatile than the broader market.

First Mid Bancshares has higher revenue and earnings than Southern First Bancshares. First Mid Bancshares is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Southern First Bancshares, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Southern First Bancshares	$125.39M	4.23	$30.37M	$4.28	13.10
First Mid Bancshares	$355.25M	3.20	$91.75M	$3.97	10.77

75.0% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 47.6% of First Mid Bancshares shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.9% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 6.0% of First Mid Bancshares shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

In the previous week, First Mid Bancshares had 3 more articles in the media than Southern First Bancshares. MarketBeat recorded 4 mentions for First Mid Bancshares and 1 mentions for Southern First Bancshares. Southern First Bancshares' average media sentiment score of 0.85 beat First Mid Bancshares' score of 0.67 indicating that Southern First Bancshares is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company	Overall Sentiment
Southern First Bancshares	Positive
First Mid Bancshares	Positive

First Mid Bancshares has a net margin of 19.95% compared to Southern First Bancshares' net margin of 15.21%. First Mid Bancshares' return on equity of 10.44% beat Southern First Bancshares' return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Southern First Bancshares	15.21%	9.65%	0.79%
First Mid Bancshares	19.95%	10.44%	1.23%

Summary

First Mid Bancshares beats Southern First Bancshares on 9 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to First Merchants?

Southern First Bancshares (NASDAQ:SFST) and First Merchants (NASDAQ:FRME) are both finance companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings, media sentiment, institutional ownership, risk and dividends.

75.0% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 73.9% of First Merchants shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.9% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 1.8% of First Merchants shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

First Merchants has a net margin of 18.87% compared to Southern First Bancshares' net margin of 15.21%. Southern First Bancshares' return on equity of 9.65% beat First Merchants' return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Southern First Bancshares	15.21%	9.65%	0.79%
First Merchants	18.87%	9.58%	1.21%

Southern First Bancshares has a beta of 0.68, meaning that its stock price is 32% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, First Merchants has a beta of 0.86, meaning that its stock price is 14% less volatile than the broader market.

Southern First Bancshares currently has a consensus price target of $64.00, suggesting a potential upside of 14.11%. First Merchants has a consensus price target of $48.33, suggesting a potential upside of 20.94%. Given First Merchants' higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe First Merchants is more favorable than Southern First Bancshares.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Southern First Bancshares	0 Sell rating(s)	1 Hold rating(s)	2 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.67
First Merchants	0 Sell rating(s)	3 Hold rating(s)	3 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.50

First Merchants has higher revenue and earnings than Southern First Bancshares. First Merchants is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Southern First Bancshares, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Southern First Bancshares	$125.39M	4.23	$30.37M	$4.28	13.10
First Merchants	$1.05B	2.39	$226M	$3.40	11.75

In the previous week, First Merchants had 4 more articles in the media than Southern First Bancshares. MarketBeat recorded 5 mentions for First Merchants and 1 mentions for Southern First Bancshares. Southern First Bancshares' average media sentiment score of 0.85 beat First Merchants' score of 0.60 indicating that Southern First Bancshares is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company	Overall Sentiment
Southern First Bancshares	Positive
First Merchants	Positive

Summary

Southern First Bancshares and First Merchants tied by winning 8 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

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Media Sentiment Over Time

This chart shows the average media sentiment of NASDAQ and its competitors over the past 90 days as caculated by MarketBeat. The averaged score is equivalent to the following: Very Negative Sentiment <= -1.5, Negative Sentiment > -1.5 and <= -0.5, Neutral Sentiment > -0.5 and < 0.5, Positive Sentiment >= 0.5 and < 1.5, and Very Positive Sentiment >= 1.5.

SFST vs. The Competition

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Metric	Southern First Bancshares	BANKS Industry	Finance Sector	NASDAQ Exchange
Market Cap	$529.10M	$1.80B	$13.47B	$12.46B
Dividend Yield	N/A	2.55%	5.82%	5.30%
P/E Ratio	13.07	13.86	23.17	25.65
Price / Sales	4.23	2.75	170.28	76.73
Price / Cash	13.08	12.06	20.50	55.34
Price / Book	1.40	1.21	2.16	6.72
Net Income	$30.37M	$146.81M	$1.11B	$333.73M
7 Day Performance	-1.35%	-1.61%	-0.57%	0.40%
1 Month Performance	-4.70%	-0.45%	0.67%	4.09%
1 Year Performance	53.28%	20.12%	11.33%	36.52%

Southern First Bancshares Competitors List

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Company	MarketRank	Share Price	Analysts' Price Target	1Y Price Performance	Market Cap	Revenue	P/E Ratio	Employee Count	Indicator(s)
SFST Southern First Bancshares	3.6712 of 5 stars	$56.09 +0.6%	$64.00 +14.1%	+52.9%	$529.10M	$125.39M	13.07	290
ABCB Ameris Bancorp	3.9891 of 5 stars	$84.08 -1.1%	$90.17 +7.2%	+30.5%	$5.74B	$1.20B	16.14	2,850	Positive News
CATY Cathay General Bancorp	2.5464 of 5 stars	$56.49 -1.0%	$52.00 -7.9%	+23.6%	$3.82B	$1.38B	11.65	1,268
CCNE CNB Financial	3.9322 of 5 stars	$30.50 -0.7%	$34.50 +13.1%	+30.3%	$910.50M	$432.51M	10.85	760	Dividend Announcement
FMBH First Mid Bancshares	4.4635 of 5 stars	$42.75 -0.2%	$49.50 +15.8%	+13.0%	$1.14B	$466.04M	10.77	1,170

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This page (NASDAQ:SFST) was last updated on 5/14/2026 by MarketBeat.com Staff.

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Southern First Bancshares (SFST) Competitors

SFST vs. ABCB, CATY, CCNE, FMBH, and FRME

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to Ameris Bancorp?

Summary

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to Cathay General Bancorp?

Summary

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to CNB Financial?

Summary

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to First Mid Bancshares?

Summary

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to First Merchants?

Summary

Media Sentiment Over Time

SFST vs. The Competition

Southern First Bancshares Competitors List

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Southern First Bancshares (SFST) Competitors

SFST vs. ABCB, CATY, CCNE, FMBH, and FRME

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to Ameris Bancorp?

Do institutionals & insiders hold more shares of ABCB or SFST?

Which has more risk and volatility, ABCB or SFST?

Which has better earnings and valuation, ABCB or SFST?

Does the media favor ABCB or SFST?

Is ABCB or SFST more profitable?

Do analysts rate ABCB or SFST?

Summary

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to Cathay General Bancorp?

Do analysts rate CATY or SFST?

Which has more risk and volatility, CATY or SFST?

Which has better earnings and valuation, CATY or SFST?

Do institutionals & insiders hold more shares of CATY or SFST?

Does the media favor CATY or SFST?

Is CATY or SFST more profitable?

Summary

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to CNB Financial?

Do analysts recommend SFST or CCNE?

Which has more volatility & risk, SFST or CCNE?

Which has preferable earnings & valuation, SFST or CCNE?

Do institutionals & insiders hold more shares of SFST or CCNE?

Does the media favor SFST or CCNE?

Is SFST or CCNE more profitable?

Summary

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to First Mid Bancshares?

Do analysts recommend SFST or FMBH?

Which has more volatility & risk, SFST or FMBH?

Which has preferable earnings & valuation, SFST or FMBH?

Do institutionals & insiders hold more shares of SFST or FMBH?

Does the media favor SFST or FMBH?

Is SFST or FMBH more profitable?

Summary

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to First Merchants?

Do insiders and institutionals hold more shares of SFST or FRME?

Is SFST or FRME more profitable?

Which has more risk & volatility, SFST or FRME?

Do analysts recommend SFST or FRME?

Which has higher earnings and valuation, SFST or FRME?

Does the media refer more to SFST or FRME?

Summary

Media Sentiment Over Time

SFST vs. The Competition

Southern First Bancshares Competitors List

Related Companies and Tools

MarketBeat All Access Features

Best-in-Class Portfolio Monitoring

Stock Ideas and Recommendations

Advanced Stock Screeners and Research Tools