Bridgewater Bancshares (BWB) vs Southern First Bancshares (SFST)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Southern First Bancshares (SFST) has outperformed Bridgewater Bancshares (BWB) over the past year, gaining 37.4% versus a gain of 14.7%. Over five years, BWB leads with a +13.3% price change compared with +11.9% for SFST. Southern First Bancshares is the larger company by market cap ($572.1 million vs $568.3 million), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Bridgewater Bancshares trades at a lower forward P/E (9.7x vs 9.8x for Southern First Bancshares).
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | BWB | SFST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $20.38 | $60.40 |
| Market cap | $568.27M | $572.09M |
| 1-day change | +0.84% | +0.92% |
| YTD return | +15.29% | +16.17% |
| 1-year return | +14.70% | +37.40% |
| 5-year return | +13.35% | +11.85% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 11.08 | 13.02 |
| Forward P/E | 9.74 | 9.78 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.84 | $4.64 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $22.62 | $65.09 |
| 52-week low | $16.06 | $40.90 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -9.90% | -7.21% |
| Analyst consensus | strong_buy | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +17.76% | +13.41% |
| Average volume | 142.22K | 100.21K |
| Shares outstanding | 27.88M | 9.47M |
| Employees | 355 | 315 |
| Sector | Finance | Finance |
| Industry | Major Banks | Major Banks |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- SFST has outperformed BWB by 22.7 percentage points over the past year.
About Bridgewater Bancshares
BWB stock →Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Bridgewater Bank that provides banking products and services in the United States.
Finance · Major Banks · 355 employees
About Southern First Bancshares
SFST stock →Southern First Bancshares, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Southern First Bank that provides commercial, consumer, and mortgage loans to the general public in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.
Finance · Major Banks · 315 employees
BWB vs SFST FAQ
Which is bigger, Bridgewater Bancshares or Southern First Bancshares?
Southern First Bancshares (SFST) is larger, with a market capitalization of $572.09M compared with $568.27M for Bridgewater Bancshares (BWB).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BWB or SFST?
SFST returned +37.40% over the past 12 months, compared with +14.70% for BWB (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BWB or SFST?
BWB has the lower trailing P/E at 11.1, versus 13.0 for SFST. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Are Bridgewater Bancshares and Southern First Bancshares in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.