Southern First Bancshares Stock Beneish M Score

SFST Stock  USD 33.67  0.22  0.65%   
This module uses fundamental data of Southern First to approximate the value of its Beneish M Score. Southern First M Score tells investors if the company management is likely to be manipulating earnings. The score is calculated using eight financial indicators that are adjusted by a specific multiplier. Please note, the M Score is a probabilistic model and cannot detect companies that manipulate their earnings with 100% accuracy. Check out Southern First Piotroski F Score and Southern First Altman Z Score analysis.
  
At this time, Southern First's Total Debt To Capitalization is comparatively stable compared to the past year. Debt Ratio is likely to gain to 0.12 in 2025, whereas Debt To Equity is likely to drop 0.76 in 2025. At this time, Southern First's Net Debt To EBITDA is comparatively stable compared to the past year. Graham Number is likely to gain to 44.15 in 2025, whereas Book Value Per Share is likely to drop 38.85 in 2025.
At this time, it appears that Southern First Bancshares is an unlikely manipulator. The earnings manipulation may begin if Southern First's top management creates an artificial sense of financial success, forcing the stock price to be traded at a high price-earnings multiple than it should be. In general, excessive earnings management by Southern First executives may lead to removing some of the operating profits from subsequent periods to inflate earnings in the following periods. This way, the manipulation of Southern First's earnings can lead to misrepresentations of actual financial condition, taking the otherwise loyal stakeholders on to the path of questionable ethical practices and plain fraud.
-3.23
Beneish M Score - Unlikely Manipulator
Elasticity of Receivables

0.5

Focus
Asset Quality

1.0

Focus
Expense Coverage

1.1

Focus
Gross Margin Strengs

N/A

Focus
Accruals Factor

1.1

Focus
Depreciation Resistance

1.0

Focus
Net Sales Growth

1.05

Focus
Financial Leverage Condition

1.0

Focus

Southern First Beneish M-Score Indicator Trends

The cure to earnings manipulation is the transparency of financial reporting. It will typically remove the temptation of the top executives to inflate earnings (i.e., to promote the idea of 'winning at any cost'). Because a healthy internal audit department can enhance transparency, the board should promote the auditors' access to all the record-keeping systems across the enterprise. For example, if Southern First's auditors report directly to the board (not management), the managers will be reluctant to manipulate simply due to the fear of punishment. On the other hand, the auditors will be free to investigate the ledgers properly because they know that the board has their back.
Current ValueLast YearChange From Last Year 10 Year Trend
Net Receivables1.7 M3.3 M
Way Down
Pretty Stable
Total Revenue211.3 M201.2 M
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Total Assets4.3 B4.1 B
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Total Current Assets162.4 M154.7 M
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Non Current Assets Total84.4 M88.8 M
Notably Down
Pretty Stable
Property Plant Equipment119.8 M114.1 M
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Selling General Administrative2.8 M2.4 M
Fairly Up
Pretty Stable
Total Current Liabilities3.1 BB
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Non Current Liabilities Total438.5 M264.9 M
Way Up
Slightly volatile
Short Term Debt2.3 M2.4 M
Notably Down
Very volatile
Long Term Debt278.1 M264.9 M
Sufficiently Up
Slightly volatile
Short Term Investments125.5 M132.1 M
Notably Down
Slightly volatile
Long Term Investments130.2 M137.1 M
Notably Down
Pretty Stable

Southern First Bancshares Beneish M-Score Driver Matrix

One of the toughest challenges investors face today is learning how to quickly synthesize historical financial statements and information provided by the company, SEC reporting, and various external parties in order to detect the potential manipulation of earnings. Understanding the correlation between Southern First's different financial indicators related to revenue, expenses, operating profit, and net earnings helps investors identify and prioritize their investing strategies towards Southern First in a much-optimized way. Analyzing correlations between earnings drivers directly associated with dollar figures is the most effective way to find Southern First's degree of accounting gimmicks and manipulations.

About Southern First Beneish M Score

M-Score is one of many grading techniques for value stocks. It was developed by Professor M. Daniel Beneish of the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and published in 1999 under the paper titled The Detection of Earnings Manipulation. The Beneish score is a multi-factor model that utilizes financial identifiers to compile eight variables used to classify whether a company has manipulated its reported earnings. The variables are built from the officially filed financial statements to create a final score call 'M Score.' The score helps to identify companies that are likely to manipulate their profits if they show deteriorating gross margins, operating expenses, and leverage against growing revenue.

Depreciation And Amortization

5.05 Million

At this time, Southern First's Depreciation And Amortization is comparatively stable compared to the past year.

Southern First ESG Sustainability

Some studies have found that companies with high sustainability scores are getting higher valuations than competitors with lower social-engagement activities. While most ESG disclosures are voluntary and do not directly affect the long term financial condition, Southern First's sustainability indicators can be used to identify proper investment strategies using environmental, social, and governance scores that are crucial to Southern First's managers, analysts, and investors.
Environmental
Governance
Social

About Southern First Fundamental Analysis

The Macroaxis Fundamental Analysis modules help investors analyze Southern First Bancshares's financials across various querterly and yearly statements, indicators and fundamental ratios. We help investors to determine the real value of Southern First using virtually all public information available. We use both quantitative as well as qualitative analysis to arrive at the intrinsic value of Southern First Bancshares based on its fundamental data. In general, a quantitative approach, as applied to this company, focuses on analyzing financial statements comparatively, whereas a qaualitative method uses data that is important to a company's growth but cannot be measured and presented in a numerical way.
Please read more on our fundamental analysis page.

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Additional Tools for Southern Stock Analysis

When running Southern First's price analysis, check to measure Southern First's market volatility, profitability, liquidity, solvency, efficiency, growth potential, financial leverage, and other vital indicators. We have many different tools that can be utilized to determine how healthy Southern First is operating at the current time. Most of Southern First's value examination focuses on studying past and present price action to predict the probability of Southern First's future price movements. You can analyze the entity against its peers and the financial market as a whole to determine factors that move Southern First's price. Additionally, you may evaluate how the addition of Southern First to your portfolios can decrease your overall portfolio volatility.