Southern First Bancshares (SFST) Q4 2025 earnings summary

Executive summary

• Achieved strong financial performance in Q4 2025, with significant year-over-year and sequential growth in key metrics.

• Fourth quarter 2025 marked the strongest performance of the year, with continued momentum in loan and deposit growth and improved financial returns.

• Net income for Q4 2025 was $9.9 million, or $1.21 per diluted share, up 13% from Q3 2025 and 73% year-over-year.

• Maintained a solid balance sheet, robust asset quality, and efficient operating model across high-growth Southeast metro markets.

• The company remains optimistic for 2026, citing a strong business pipeline and resilient Southeast markets.

Financial highlights

• Diluted EPS rose to $1.21, up 13% from Q3 2025 and 73% from Q4 2024.

• Net interest margin increased to 2.72%, up from 2.62% in Q3 2025 and 2.25% in Q4 2024.

• Book value per share reached $44.89, up 3% sequentially and 11% year-over-year.

• Total loans reached $3.8 billion, up 6% year-over-year; total deposits were $3.7 billion, up 8% year-over-year.

• Noninterest expense decreased to $18.4 million, down $530 thousand from Q3 2025 and $128 thousand from Q4 2024.

Outlook and guidance

• Focus remains on profitable growth, margin expansion, and disciplined expense management.

• Management expects continued financial performance improvement in 2026, with a strong business pipeline and plans to expand teams in resilient Southeast markets.

• Continued emphasis on core deposit growth and prudent underwriting standards.