SFST

Validea's Growth Investor Model: Today's upgrades for Validea's Growth Investor model highlight Morningstar Inc. (MORN) and Southern First Bancshares Inc. (SFST), both receiving ratings of 85% based on their fundamentals and valuations, indicating strong interest from the strategy.

Morningstar Inc. Overview: Morningstar, Inc. provides independent investment insights across various segments, including data analytics and retirement products, aimed at empowering investment decision-making for clients globally.

Southern First Bancshares Inc. Overview: Southern First Bancshares, Inc. operates as a bank holding company, offering a range of financial services including deposits, loans, and banking services primarily in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.

About Martin Zweig and Validea: Martin Zweig's investment strategies have historically yielded high returns, and Validea utilizes these strategies to provide stock analysis and model portfolios based on successful investment legends.

Financial Performance Overview: Southern First Bancshares reported a net income of $8.7 million for Q3 2025, marking a 32% increase from Q2 2025 and a 98% increase from Q3 2024, driven by strong loan growth and improved net interest income.

Key Financial Metrics: The bank's diluted earnings per share rose to $1.07, with a net interest margin of 2.62%, and total loans increased to $3.8 billion, reflecting a 4% annualized growth from the previous quarter.

Asset Quality and Credit Losses: Nonperforming assets remained stable at 0.27% of total assets, while the allowance for credit losses was $41.8 million, representing 1.10% of total loans, indicating a cautious approach to credit risk management.

Market Position and Outlook: The CEO expressed optimism about the bank's growth potential in the Southeastern markets, emphasizing a commitment to client service and community support amid ongoing industry consolidation.