Southern First Bancshares Sees Surge in Short Interest

Shares of the South Carolina-based bank have seen a 47.5% increase in short positions over the past month.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 5:41pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFST), a community bank headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, has experienced a significant increase in short interest during the month of March. As of March 13th, the number of shares sold short rose to 120,699, up 47.5% from the 81,851 shares reported on February 26th. This represents approximately 1.6% of the company's outstanding stock.

Why it matters

The surge in short interest suggests that some investors are betting against the bank's performance, potentially signaling concerns about its financial outlook or the broader economic conditions impacting the banking sector. However, the relatively low days-to-cover ratio of 1.2 days indicates the short positions may not be overly large compared to the stock's average trading volume.

The details

According to the report, the increase in short interest came as the bank's stock price has fluctuated in recent months. Southern First Bancshares operates a community-oriented financial institution focused on serving small and midsize businesses, professionals, and individual customers in the Greenville area.

  • As of March 13th, 2026, the short interest in Southern First Bancshares totaled 120,699 shares.
  • This represents a 47.5% increase from the 81,851 shares reported as of February 26th, 2026.

The players

Southern First Bancshares, Inc.

A community-oriented financial institution headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, providing a full spectrum of commercial and consumer banking services.

Silvia T. King

An insider at Southern First Bancshares who sold 2,625 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on February 26th, 2026.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Wall Street Zen cut shares of Southern First Bancshares from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday.”

— Wall Street Zen, Equity Analyst

“Zacks Research cut shares of Southern First Bancshares from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th.”

— Zacks Research, Equity Analyst

“Weiss Ratings reiterated a "hold (c+)" rating on shares of Southern First Bancshares in a report on Thursday, January 22nd.”

— Weiss Ratings, Equity Analyst

What’s next

Investors will be closely watching to see if the increased short interest in Southern First Bancshares continues in the coming weeks and months, as this could signal broader concerns about the bank's performance or the economic outlook.

The takeaway

The surge in short interest in Southern First Bancshares highlights the ongoing volatility and uncertainty in the banking sector, as investors weigh the potential risks and rewards of the community bank's business model and regional focus.