Southern First (SFST) Tops Q4 Earnings Estimates

Core Viewpoint - Southern First (SFST) reported quarterly earnings of $1.21 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.11 per share, and showing a significant increase from $0.70 per share a year ago, indicating strong performance in the recent quarter [1][2]. Financial Performance - The company achieved revenues of $31.83 million for the quarter ended December 2025, which was slightly below the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.21%, but an increase from $25.24 million in the same quarter last year [2]. - Over the last four quarters, Southern First has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times and topped consensus revenue estimates three times [2]. Stock Performance - Southern First shares have increased approximately 10.4% since the beginning of the year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500, which gained only 0.4% [3]. - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating it is expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [6]. Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $1.00 on revenues of $32.9 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $4.44 on revenues of $141.4 million [7]. - The trend of earnings estimate revisions for Southern First was mixed ahead of the earnings release, which may change following the recent report [6]. Industry Context - The Banks - Southeast industry, to which Southern First belongs, is currently ranked in the top 32% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to lower-ranked industries [8]. - The performance of Southern First may also be influenced by the overall industry outlook, as empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and earnings estimate revisions [5][8].