SFST (Southern First Bancshares) Moat Score: 3/10 (As of Jul. 18, 2026)

Author: Vera Yuan Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Director of Data and Quant Analytics at GuruFocus
Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Reviewed by: Charlie Tian Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Founder & CEO of GuruFocus
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.

SFST Southern First Bancshares Inc SFST
57 GF Score
Price $62.20
GF Value $47.02
Valuation Significantly Overvalued
! 5 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is Southern First Bancshares Moat Score?

Southern First Bancshares SFST -2.34% 57 Moat Score is 3 as of Jul. 18, 2026. GuruFocus rates SFST with a GF Score™ of 57/100 and a GF Value™ of $47.02 (Significantly Overvalued). The stock has 5 warning signs investors should review. Among 1,610 Banks companies, Southern First Bancshares ranks better than 74.47% on this metric.

Southern First Bancshares has the Moat Score of 3, which implies that the company might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.

Southern First Bancshares has No Moat: Southern First Bancshares operates in a highly competitive banking sector with limited differentiation. It lacks significant market leadership, network effects, or strong brand loyalty. The company does not possess substantial cost advantages or regulatory barriers that would provide a durable competitive edge.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes Southern First Bancshares might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.

Southern First Bancshares  (NAS:SFST) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

Southern First Bancshares Moat Score Related Terms

SFST vs BWB, KRNY, CBNK: Moat Score Comparison

For the Banks - Regional subindustry, Southern First Bancshares's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

Southern First Bancshares Moat Score vs Banks Industry

For the Banks industry and Financial Services sector, Southern First Bancshares's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where Southern First Bancshares's Moat Score falls into.


SFST
57GF Score
Southern First Bancshares Inc SFST
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 3 mean?
Southern First Bancshares (SFST) has a Moat Score of 3 as of Jul. 18, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, Southern First Bancshares ranks #411 out of 1610 companies in the Banks industry, placing it in the top 25.5%.
Is Southern First Bancshares' Moat Score too high?
Southern First Bancshares' current Moat Score is 3. Based on the distribution chart, Southern First Bancshares ranks #411 out of 1610 companies in the Banks industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, Southern First Bancshares has a GF Score™ of 57/100 and is considered Significantly Overvalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does Southern First Bancshares' Moat Score compare to BWB and KRNY?
According to the Banks industry distribution chart, Southern First Bancshares ranks #411 out of 1610 companies for Moat Score. This puts Southern First Bancshares in the upper half of its industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a Banks company?
A good Moat Score depends on the Banks industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. Southern First Bancshares's current Moat Score is 3. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is Southern First Bancshares stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Southern First Bancshares (SFST) is currently considered Significantly Overvalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $47.02, compared to a current price of $62.20 — trading 32.3% above its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 3. Southern First Bancshares' overall GF Score™ is 57/100 with 5 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For Southern First Bancshares (SFST), the current Moat Score is 3 as of Jul. 18, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is Southern First Bancshares (SFST) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, Southern First Bancshares stock appears to be overvalued. The current stock price of $62.20 is trading 32.3% above its estimated GF Value™ of $47.02. GuruFocus considers Southern First Bancshares to be Significantly Overvalued.

Key valuation signals for SFST:

  • Moat Score: 3
  • GF Value™: $47.02 vs. price of $62.20 (32.3% above fair value)
  • GF Score™: 57/100 with 5 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the SFST stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.

Southern First Bancshares Business Description

Address 6 Verdae Boulevard, Greenville, SC, USA, 29607
Southern First Bancshares Inc is a bank holding company. Through its banking subsidiary, it is engaged in the business of accepting demand deposits and savings deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the FDIC), and providing commercial, consumer, and mortgage loans, ATM processing, and other banking products and services to the general public. The group operates through various retail offices located in the Greenville, Columbia, and Charleston markets of South Carolina, three retail offices in the Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte markets of North Carolina, and one retail office in Atlanta, Georgia.
57GF Score

Get the complete analysis for SFST

Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

$62.20
Price
$47.02
GF Value