Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG) 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
Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG) has outperformed Southern First Bancshares (SFST) over the past year, gaining 51.0% versus a gain of 37.4%. Over five years, BWFG leads with a +120.0% price change compared with +10.8% for SFST. Southern First Bancshares is the larger company by market cap ($572.1 million vs $523.4 million), about 1.1 times the size.
On valuation, Southern First Bancshares trades at a lower forward P/E (9.8x vs 11.1x for Bankwell Financial Group). Bankwell Financial Group pays a dividend yielding 1.22%, while Southern First Bancshares does not currently pay one.
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 | BWFG | SFST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $65.66 | $60.40 |
| Market cap | $523.44M | $572.09M |
| 1-day change | +0.52% | +0.92% |
| YTD return | +42.56% | +16.17% |
| 1-year return | +51.03% | +37.40% |
| 5-year return | +120.01% | +10.83% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 12.20 | 13.02 |
| Forward P/E | 11.07 | 9.78 |
| EPS (TTM) | $5.38 | $4.64 |
| Dividend yield | 1.22% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.80 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $69.59 | $65.09 |
| 52-week low | $40.45 | $40.90 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -5.65% | -7.21% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +5.85% | +13.41% |
| Average volume | 71.84K | 100.21K |
| Shares outstanding | 7.97M | 9.47M |
| Employees | 167 | 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
- BWFG has outperformed SFST by 13.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Bankwell Financial Group offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.22% vs 0.00%).
About Bankwell Financial Group
BWFG stock →Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Bankwell Bank that provides various banking services for individual and commercial customers.
Finance · Major Banks · 167 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
BWFG vs SFST FAQ
Which is bigger, Bankwell Financial Group or Southern First Bancshares?
Southern First Bancshares (SFST) is larger, with a market capitalization of $572.09M compared with $523.44M for Bankwell Financial Group (BWFG).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, BWFG or SFST?
BWFG returned +51.03% over the past 12 months, compared with +37.40% for SFST (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, BWFG or SFST?
BWFG has the lower trailing P/E at 12.2, 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, Bankwell Financial Group or Southern First Bancshares?
Bankwell Financial Group pays a dividend yielding 1.22%, while Southern First Bancshares does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Bankwell Financial Group and Southern First Bancshares in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.