Southern First Bancshares (NASDAQ:SFST) Stock Crosses Below 200 Day Moving Average of $31.81

Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFST) shares crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $31.81 and traded as low as $28.30. Southern First Bancshares shares last traded at $28.40, with a volume of 7,274 shares traded.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on SFST shares. StockNews.com lowered shares of Southern First Bancshares from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 28th. Piper Sandler raised Southern First Bancshares from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $34.00 to $44.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd.

Southern First Bancshares Trading Down 1.6 %

The stock has a market capitalization of $231.74 million, a PE ratio of 17.32 and a beta of 0.78. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $30.86 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $31.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO R Arthur Seaver, Jr. sold 996 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.25, for a total value of $31,125.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 83,470 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,608,437.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Southern First Bancshares news, CEO R Arthur Seaver, Jr. sold 996 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.25, for a total value of $31,125.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 83,470 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,608,437.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO R Arthur Seaver, Jr. sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.13, for a total transaction of $77,825.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 90,970 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,831,896.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 3,513 shares of company stock worth $109,477. 7.62% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Southern First Bancshares

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Sheets Smith Wealth Management raised its holdings in Southern First Bancshares by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Sheets Smith Wealth Management now owns 15,251 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $411,000 after buying an additional 397 shares during the period. Barclays PLC increased its position in shares of Southern First Bancshares by 2.7% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 19,140 shares of the bank’s stock valued at $516,000 after acquiring an additional 496 shares during the last quarter. Strs Ohio lifted its holdings in shares of Southern First Bancshares by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 19,100 shares of the bank’s stock worth $514,000 after acquiring an additional 900 shares during the last quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Southern First Bancshares by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 139,310 shares of the bank’s stock worth $4,424,000 after acquiring an additional 1,730 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Southern First Bancshares by 256.4% during the 4th quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC now owns 2,780 shares of the bank’s stock worth $103,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.00% of the company’s stock.

Southern First Bancshares Company 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.