GREENVILLE, S.C., April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: SFST), holding company for Southern First Bank, today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025."We are pleased to report our first quarter results, which reflect our continued momentum and a great start to the year. We had exceptional loan and deposit growth and another quarter of solid margin expansion. We are well positioned for any additional Fed moves but are confident in our abilit ...

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Core Financial Performance - The company reported net income available to common stockholders of $19.6 million for Q1 2025, a significant recovery from a net loss of $22.2 million in Q4 2024 and an increase from $15.9 million in Q1 2024 [1][3] - Adjusted net income available to common stockholders (non-GAAP) was $24.7 million for Q1 2025, reflecting a 42% increase from the previous quarter and a 67% increase year-over-year [3] - The net interest margin (NIM) expanded by 16 basis points to 2.95% in Q1 2025 compared to 2.79% in Q4 2024 [1][9] Revenue and Expenses - Net interest income for Q1 2025 was $94.2 million, up from $91.1 million in Q4 2024 and $71.5 million in Q1 2024 [6] - Non-interest income was $9.6 million in Q1 2025, a recovery from a loss of $33.9 million in Q4 2024 [20] - Total non-interest expense increased to $65.5 million in Q1 2025 from $60.6 million in Q4 2024, with adjusted non-interest expense at $58.0 million [21][22] Loan and Deposit Growth - Total deposits increased by $717.0 million year-over-year, with core deposits rising by $1.35 billion [8] - The company’s loan portfolio stood at $10.87 billion, with business loans at $2.79 billion and a weighted average rate of 6.55% [11][12] - Loan originations for Q1 2025 were $71.5 million, a decrease from $187.5 million in Q4 2024 [15] Capital and Credit Quality - Stockholders' equity increased to $1.41 billion at the end of Q1 2025, with a Common Equity Tier 1 Ratio of 11.12% [26][44] - Non-performing loans rose to $58.0 million, up from $49.5 million in Q4 2024, with a credit loss provision of $9.6 million recorded in Q1 2025 [25] Management and Strategic Initiatives - The company has made significant hires to strengthen its executive leadership team, including Tom Geisel and Robert Rowe [8] - The CEO highlighted the company's strong start to the year in recruiting and plans to continue adding talent to gain market share [4][8]

iREIT+HOYA Capital is the premier income-focused investing service on Seeking Alpha. Our focus is on income-producing asset classes that offer the opportunity for sustainable portfolio income , diversification , and inflation hedging . Get started with a Free Two-Week Trial and take a look at our top ideas across our exclusive income-focused portfolios.Now is a great time to be a value investor in what I would consider to be a target-rich environment. When income stocks are purchased at a discount to intrin ...

Correction to stock exchange release: Siili Solutions Plc: Business review, 1 January – 31 March 2025 Siili Solutions Plc Stock exchange release 22 April 2025 at 14:10 EEST This is a correction to the stock exchange release published by Siili Solutions Plc on 22 April 2025 at 9:30 am by which the company published its business review for the period 1 January – 31 March 2025. In the key figures table there was “Total full-time employees and subcontractors (FTE) at the end of the period” instead of two separa ...

Admiral Group agrees to sell its U.S. motor business to JC Flowers Admiral Group plc announces that it has entered into an agreement to sell its U.S. motor insurance business, including Elephant Insurance Company and Elephant Insurance Services (“Elephant”), to J.C. Flowers & Co. (“J.C. Flowers”), a global private investment firm dedicated to investing in the financial services industry, for an undisclosed cash consideration (before customary adjustments and transaction and related expenses) representing ap ...

Core Viewpoint - NOVAGOLD Resources Inc. and Paulson Advisers LLC have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Barrick Gold Corporation's 50% interest in Donlin Gold LLC for $1.0 billion, establishing a new partnership to develop the Donlin Gold project in Alaska [1][2]. Acquisition Details - NOVAGOLD will increase its ownership in Donlin Gold LLC from 50% to 60% by acquiring a 10% interest for $200 million, while Paulson will acquire a 40% interest for $800 million [2][6]. - The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in late Q2 or early Q3 of 2025 [2]. Financial Arrangements - To finance NOVAGOLD's acquisition, funding commitments of up to $170 million were secured from Paulson, Electrum Group, and Kopernik Global Investors, with the remaining $30 million coming from NOVAGOLD's treasury [4]. - NOVAGOLD has the option to purchase outstanding debt owed to Barrick related to the Donlin Gold project for $90 million before closing or $100 million within 18 months after closing [5]. Project Management and Governance - Following the transaction, NOVAGOLD and Paulson will have equal governance rights under an amended limited liability company agreement [3]. - The new partnership will focus on updating the Feasibility Study and advancing exploration efforts to convert and expand reserves and resources [6][7]. Project Potential - Donlin Gold hosts approximately 39 million ounces of gold, with an estimated grade of 2.24 grams per tonne, significantly higher than the industry average of 1.03 grams per tonne [12][25]. - The project is projected to have a 27-year mine life with average annual production expected to reach approximately 1.1 million ounces [13][20]. Community and Environmental Commitment - Both NOVAGOLD and Paulson emphasize their commitment to ecological stewardship and the economic health of the Yukon-Kuskokwim region, ensuring responsible development that respects local traditions and the environment [15][11]. - The partnership aims to maintain strong relationships with Calista Corporation and The Kuskokwim Corporation, the Native landowners, to uphold the social license for the project [14][15]. 2025 Outlook - Key objectives for 2025 include updating the Feasibility Study, completing the drill program for reserves conversion, and maintaining necessary permits [16]. - The previously disclosed expenditure for Donlin Gold in 2025 is approximately $43 million, which will be reviewed by the partners [16].

Core Insights - AML GO has achieved a significant growth milestone by onboarding 30 new clients in under two weeks, driven by its partnership with ACPAS [2][3] - The integration of AML technology into financial systems like ACPAS is validated as a successful strategy for creating immediate value for clients [3] - AML GO is preparing to engage with influential stakeholders to present its compliance solutions, focusing on mitigating money laundering and terrorist financing [4] Company Overview - AML GO (Pty) Ltd specializes in automated AML compliance, screening, credit vetting, and risk management tools, aimed at preventing financial crime across Africa [5] - ACPAS, a subsidiary of UPAY Inc., is recognized for its innovative loan management software, making it a strategic partner for AML GO [6] - UPAY Inc. operates as a fintech holding company that invests in financial software platforms and data intelligence tools, enhancing compliance and user experience through its subsidiaries [9] Strategic Partnerships - AML GO has secured two key group partnerships aimed at scaling its impact and promoting the adoption of AML technologies across the sector [3][7] - The partnerships are designed to create a self-propagating ecosystem of compliance, extending AML GO's reach within the Southern African Development Community [7] Regulatory Engagement - Upcoming presentations to regulatory stakeholders will highlight AML GO's innovative approaches to compliance and risk management, emphasizing efficiency in fulfilling regulatory obligations [4]

Samuel Smith has a diverse background that includes being lead analyst and Vice President at several highly regarded dividend stock research firms and running his own dividend investing YouTube channel. He is a Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional and holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering & Mathematics from the United States Military Academy at West Point and has a Masters in Engineering from Texas A&M with a focus on applied mathematics and machine learning.Samuel leads the High Yield Inve ...