Barclays PLC Grows Stock Position in Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFST)

Barclays PLC lifted its position in shares of Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFST - Free Report) by 47.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 25,303 shares of the bank's stock after buying an additional 8,111 shares during the quarter. Barclays PLC owned about 0.31% of Southern First Bancshares worth $862,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. BNP Paribas Financial Markets grew its position in Southern First Bancshares by 37.9% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 2,066 shares of the bank's stock valued at $70,000 after purchasing an additional 568 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Southern First Bancshares in the third quarter valued at approximately $101,000. Princeton Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Southern First Bancshares during the third quarter worth about $204,000. Long Focus Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Southern First Bancshares in the 2nd quarter valued at $292,000. Finally, Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Southern First Bancshares by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 10,295 shares of the bank's stock valued at $351,000 after acquiring an additional 312 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 75.00% of the company's stock.

Southern First Bancshares Stock Performance

Southern First Bancshares stock traded down $0.74 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $35.77. The stock had a trading volume of 7,408 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,138. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $291.84 million, a PE ratio of 20.67 and a beta of 0.85. Southern First Bancshares, Inc. has a 12 month low of $24.98 and a 12 month high of $45.90. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $41.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $36.14.

Southern First Bancshares (NASDAQ:SFST - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 22nd. The bank reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.16. Southern First Bancshares had a net margin of 6.67% and a return on equity of 4.42%. The company had revenue of $54.35 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $23.57 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.51 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Southern First Bancshares, Inc. will post 1.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Southern First Bancshares

In related news, CAO Julie Ann Fairchild sold 1,000 shares of Southern First Bancshares stock in a transaction on Monday, November 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.23, for a total value of $45,230.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,840 shares in the company, valued at $264,143.20. The trade was a 14.62 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 7.62% of the company's stock.

Southern First Bancshares Profile

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.