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Southern First Bancshares (SFST) Competitors

Southern First Bancshares logo
$64.12 +0.67 (+1.06%)
Closing price 04:00 PM Eastern
Extended Trading
$64.23 +0.11 (+0.17%)
As of 04:10 PM Eastern
Extended trading is trading that happens on electronic markets outside of regular trading hours. This is a fair market value extended hours price provided by Massive. Learn more.

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

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 Cathay General Bancorp (CATY), CNB Financial (CCNE), First Mid Bancshares (FMBH), First Merchants (FRME), and Hope Bancorp (HOPE). These companies are all part of the "finance" sector.

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to Cathay General Bancorp?

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

In the previous week, Cathay General Bancorp had 4 more articles in the media than Southern First Bancshares. MarketBeat recorded 11 mentions for Cathay General Bancorp and 7 mentions for Southern First Bancshares. Cathay General Bancorp's average media sentiment score of 1.12 beat Southern First Bancshares' score of 0.87 indicating that Cathay General Bancorp is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Southern First Bancshares
4 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Cathay General Bancorp
8 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

Cathay General Bancorp has a net margin of 24.66% compared to Southern First Bancshares' net margin of 16.78%. Cathay General Bancorp's return on equity of 11.71% beat Southern First Bancshares' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Southern First Bancshares16.78% 10.76% 0.89%
Cathay General Bancorp 24.66%11.71%1.43%

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.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Southern First Bancshares$224.62M2.70$30.37M$4.6713.73
Cathay General Bancorp$1.38B3.12$315.12M$5.1212.57

Southern First Bancshares has a beta of 0.68, suggesting that its share price is 32% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Cathay General Bancorp has a beta of 0.86, suggesting that its share price is 14% less volatile than the broader market.

Southern First Bancshares currently has a consensus price target of $64.00, indicating a potential downside of 0.19%. Cathay General Bancorp has a consensus price target of $62.25, indicating a potential downside of 3.26%. Given Southern First Bancshares' stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities research 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
Southern First Bancshares
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
3.33
Cathay General Bancorp
1 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
1 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.33

75.0% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.0% of Cathay General Bancorp shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.9% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 4.5% of Cathay General Bancorp shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Cathay General Bancorp beats Southern First Bancshares on 11 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to CNB Financial?

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

CNB Financial presently has a consensus target price of $36.00, indicating a potential upside of 0.78%. Southern First Bancshares has a consensus target price of $64.00, indicating a potential downside of 0.19%. Given CNB Financial's higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe CNB Financial is more favorable than Southern First Bancshares.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
CNB Financial
0 Sell rating(s)
2 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.80
Southern First Bancshares
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
3.33

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.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
CNB Financial$329.28M3.21$66.13M$3.1111.49
Southern First Bancshares$224.62M2.70$30.37M$4.6713.73

In the previous week, CNB Financial had 1 more articles in the media than Southern First Bancshares. MarketBeat recorded 8 mentions for CNB Financial and 7 mentions for Southern First Bancshares. Southern First Bancshares' average media sentiment score of 0.87 beat CNB Financial's score of 0.55 indicating that Southern First Bancshares is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
CNB Financial
2 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
6 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Southern First Bancshares
4 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

CNB Financial has a net margin of 19.37% compared to Southern First Bancshares' net margin of 16.78%. CNB Financial's return on equity of 13.02% beat Southern First Bancshares' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
CNB Financial19.37% 13.02% 1.26%
Southern First Bancshares 16.78%10.76%0.89%

CNB Financial has a beta of 0.63, meaning that its stock price is 37% 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.

52.3% of CNB Financial shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.0% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.9% of CNB Financial shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 6.9% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

CNB Financial beats Southern First Bancshares on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to First Mid Bancshares?

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

First Mid Bancshares presently has a consensus price target of $54.63, suggesting a potential upside of 4.07%. Southern First Bancshares has a consensus price target of $64.00, suggesting a potential downside of 0.19%. Given First Mid Bancshares' higher possible upside, research 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
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
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
3.33

First Mid Bancshares has a beta of 0.78, suggesting that its stock price is 22% less volatile than the broader market. Comparatively, Southern First Bancshares has a beta of 0.68, suggesting that its stock price is 32% less volatile than the broader market.

In the previous week, First Mid Bancshares and First Mid Bancshares both had 7 articles in the media. First Mid Bancshares' average media sentiment score of 0.99 beat Southern First Bancshares' score of 0.87 indicating that First Mid Bancshares is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
First Mid Bancshares
4 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
2 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Southern First Bancshares
4 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

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.

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
First Mid Bancshares$466.04M3.00$91.75M$4.0313.02
Southern First Bancshares$224.62M2.70$30.37M$4.6713.73

First Mid Bancshares has a net margin of 19.76% compared to Southern First Bancshares' net margin of 16.78%. First Mid Bancshares' return on equity of 11.17% beat Southern First Bancshares' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
First Mid Bancshares19.76% 11.17% 1.32%
Southern First Bancshares 16.78%10.76%0.89%

47.6% of First Mid Bancshares shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.0% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by institutional investors. 6.0% of First Mid Bancshares shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 6.9% of Southern First Bancshares shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

First Mid Bancshares beats Southern First Bancshares on 10 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to First Merchants?

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

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

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
First Merchants$691.54M3.96$226M$3.1213.94
Southern First Bancshares$224.62M2.70$30.37M$4.6713.73

First Merchants has a net margin of 17.05% compared to Southern First Bancshares' net margin of 16.78%. Southern First Bancshares' return on equity of 10.76% beat First Merchants' return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
First Merchants17.05% 9.02% 1.14%
Southern First Bancshares 16.78%10.76%0.89%

First Merchants presently has a consensus price target of $49.00, indicating a potential upside of 12.69%. Southern First Bancshares has a consensus price target of $64.00, indicating a potential downside of 0.19%. Given First Merchants' higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe First Merchants is more favorable than Southern First Bancshares.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
First Merchants
0 Sell rating(s)
4 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.33
Southern First Bancshares
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
3.33

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

First Merchants has a beta of 0.84, meaning that its stock price is 16% 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.

In the previous week, Southern First Bancshares had 4 more articles in the media than First Merchants. MarketBeat recorded 7 mentions for Southern First Bancshares and 3 mentions for First Merchants. Southern First Bancshares' average media sentiment score of 0.87 beat First Merchants' score of 0.71 indicating that Southern First Bancshares is being referred to more favorably in the news media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
First Merchants
1 Very Positive mention(s)
0 Positive mention(s)
2 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Southern First Bancshares
4 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

Summary

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

How does Southern First Bancshares compare to Hope Bancorp?

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

Hope Bancorp has a beta of 0.83, meaning that its stock price is 17% 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.

84.0% of Hope Bancorp shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.0% of Southern First Bancshares shares are held by institutional investors. 2.3% of Hope Bancorp shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 6.9% of Southern First Bancshares shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

In the previous week, Hope Bancorp had 6 more articles in the media than Southern First Bancshares. MarketBeat recorded 13 mentions for Hope Bancorp and 7 mentions for Southern First Bancshares. Hope Bancorp's average media sentiment score of 1.10 beat Southern First Bancshares' score of 0.87 indicating that Hope Bancorp is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company Very Positive Positive Neutral Negative Very Negative Overall Sentiment
Hope Bancorp
8 Very Positive mention(s)
3 Positive mention(s)
1 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive
Southern First Bancshares
4 Very Positive mention(s)
1 Positive mention(s)
0 Neutral mention(s)
0 Negative mention(s)
0 Very Negative mention(s)
Positive

Southern First Bancshares has a net margin of 16.78% compared to Hope Bancorp's net margin of 12.53%. Southern First Bancshares' return on equity of 10.76% beat Hope Bancorp's return on equity.

Company Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets
Hope Bancorp12.53% 5.71% 0.70%
Southern First Bancshares 16.78%10.76%0.89%

Hope Bancorp currently has a consensus target price of $15.50, suggesting a potential upside of 7.94%. Southern First Bancshares has a consensus target price of $64.00, suggesting a potential downside of 0.19%. Given Hope Bancorp's higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Hope Bancorp is more favorable than Southern First Bancshares.

Company Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score
Hope Bancorp
0 Sell rating(s)
3 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
0 Strong Buy rating(s)
2.40
Southern First Bancshares
0 Sell rating(s)
0 Hold rating(s)
2 Buy rating(s)
1 Strong Buy rating(s)
3.33

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

CompanyGross RevenuePrice/Sales RatioNet IncomeEarnings Per SharePrice/Earnings Ratio
Hope Bancorp$576.46M3.18$61.59M$1.0014.36
Southern First Bancshares$224.62M2.70$30.37M$4.6713.73

Summary

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

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New MarketBeat Followers Over Time

This chart shows the number of new MarketBeat users adding SFST and its top 5 competitors to their watchlist. Each company is represented with a line over a 90 day period.
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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.
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SFST vs. The Competition

MetricSouthern First BancsharesBanks IndustryFinance SectorNASDAQ Exchange
Market Cap$606.58M$23.64B$14.05B$13.02B
Dividend YieldN/A3.21%5.95%10.03%
P/E Ratio13.7328.1528.8925.54
Price / Sales2.709.77463.56115.96
Price / Cash14.5616.1729.9534.82
Price / Book1.421.403.746.36
Net Income$30.37M$2.58B$1.31B$347.58M
7 Day Performance2.61%0.87%0.89%3.17%
1 Month Performance4.79%3.31%1.26%-2.06%
1 Year Performance56.66%31.08%13.77%21.19%

Southern First Bancshares Competitors List

CompanyMarketRankShare PriceAnalysts' Price Target1Y Price PerformanceMarket CapRevenueP/E RatioEmployee CountIndicator(s)
SFST
Southern First Bancshares
3.6724 of 5 stars
$64.12
+1.1%
$64.00
-0.2%
+56.7%$606.58M$224.62M13.73290
CATY
Cathay General Bancorp
3.2581 of 5 stars
$63.55
+1.6%
$62.25
-2.0%
+42.5%$4.19B$1.38B12.411,268
CCNE
CNB Financial
3.0209 of 5 stars
$35.45
+2.7%
$36.00
+1.6%
+58.1%$1.02B$432.51M11.40760
FMBH
First Mid Bancshares
3.1673 of 5 stars
$52.58
+2.8%
$54.63
+3.9%
+40.1%$1.36B$466.04M13.051,170
FRME
First Merchants
4.1502 of 5 stars
$43.42
+1.8%
$49.00
+12.9%
+17.6%$2.69B$691.54M13.922,086

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This page (NASDAQ:SFST) was last updated on 8/4/2026 by MarketBeat.com Staff.
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