Strs Ohio Sells 2,900 Shares of Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFST)

Strs Ohio decreased its holdings in shares of Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFST) by 15.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 16,200 shares of the bank’s stock after selling 2,900 shares during the quarter. Strs Ohio owned 0.20% of Southern First Bancshares worth $601,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of SFST. Fifth Third Bancorp bought a new position in shares of Southern First Bancshares during the third quarter valued at approximately $809,000. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. grew its stake in Southern First Bancshares by 212.0% in the third quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 32,479 shares of the bank’s stock worth $875,000 after purchasing an additional 22,070 shares in the last quarter. ELCO Management Co. LLC bought a new position in Southern First Bancshares in the third quarter worth approximately $207,000. Wagner Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Southern First Bancshares in the fourth quarter worth approximately $209,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP grew its stake in Southern First Bancshares by 4.7% in the third quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 118,815 shares of the bank’s stock worth $3,201,000 after purchasing an additional 5,300 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.00% of the company’s stock.

Southern First Bancshares Price Performance

Shares of SFST stock opened at $27.18 on Friday. Southern First Bancshares, Inc. has a 1-year low of $20.75 and a 1-year high of $39.36. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $30.46 and its 200 day moving average is $31.75. The company has a market cap of $221.79 million, a P/E ratio of 16.57 and a beta of 0.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com cut 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 increased their price objective for the stock from $34.00 to $44.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd.

Insider Activity at Southern First Bancshares

In related news, CEO R Arthur Seaver, Jr. sold 996 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.25, for a total transaction of $31,125.00. Following 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 filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Southern First Bancshares news, CEO R Arthur Seaver, Jr. sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.13, for a total value of $77,825.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 90,970 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,831,896.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO R Arthur Seaver, Jr. sold 996 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 21st. The stock was 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 directly owns 83,470 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,608,437.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 4,113 shares of company stock valued at $126,277 over the last quarter. 7.62% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.