Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFST - Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 57,500 shares, a decline of 13.9% from the December 31st total of 66,800 shares. Currently, 0.8% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 18,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.1 days.
Southern First Bancshares Trading Up 1.7 %
SFST stock traded up $0.60 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $36.80. The company had a trading volume of 11,233 shares, compared to its average volume of 14,589. The stock has a market cap of $300.29 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.17 and a beta of 0.83. Southern First Bancshares has a 52 week low of $24.98 and a 52 week high of $45.90. The company has a current ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $39.38 and its 200 day moving average price is $36.80.
Southern First Bancshares (NASDAQ:SFST - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The bank reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.41 by $0.29. Southern First Bancshares had a net margin of 7.28% and a return on equity of 4.85%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Southern First Bancshares will post 1.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
Insider Buying and Selling
In other news, CAO Julie Ann Fairchild sold 1,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.23, for a total value of $45,230.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,840 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $264,143.20. The trade was a 14.62 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 7.62% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Rhumbline Advisers raised its stake in Southern First Bancshares by 7.0% in the fourth quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 12,506 shares of the bank's stock worth $497,000 after buying an additional 813 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC raised its position in shares of Southern First Bancshares by 4.7% in the 4th quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 15,105 shares of the bank's stock worth $600,000 after acquiring an additional 675 shares in the last quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its stake in shares of Southern First Bancshares by 35.8% in the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 4,041 shares of the bank's stock valued at $161,000 after purchasing an additional 1,065 shares during the period. Sheets Smith Wealth Management boosted its position in shares of Southern First Bancshares by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Sheets Smith Wealth Management now owns 15,191 shares of the bank's stock valued at $604,000 after purchasing an additional 490 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its stake in Southern First Bancshares by 43.4% in the fourth quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 44,643 shares of the bank's stock worth $1,775,000 after purchasing an additional 13,503 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.00% of the company's stock.
About Southern First Bancshares
(
Get Free Report)
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.
See Also
Before you consider Southern First Bancshares, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Southern First Bancshares wasn't on the list.
While Southern First Bancshares currently has a "Hold" rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
With the proliferation of data centers and electric vehicles, the electric grid will only get more strained. Download this report to learn how energy stocks can play a role in your portfolio as the global demand for energy continues to grow.
Get This Free Report
Like this article? Share it with a colleague.
Link copied to clipboard.
