Peoples Bancorp (PEBO) vs Southern First Bancshares (SFST)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
Southern First Bancshares (SFST) has outperformed Peoples Bancorp (PEBO) over the past year, gaining 39.9% versus a gain of 21.0%. Over five years, PEBO leads with a +12.1% price change compared with +11.9% for SFST. Peoples Bancorp is the larger company by market cap ($585.8 million vs $565.0 million), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Peoples Bancorp trades at a lower forward P/E (8.5x vs 9.7x for Southern First Bancshares). Peoples Bancorp pays a dividend yielding 4.62%, 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 | PEBO | SFST |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $35.95 | $59.65 |
| Market cap | $585.76M | $564.99M |
| 1-day change | -1.01% | -1.24% |
| YTD return | +20.91% | +17.24% |
| 1-year return | +21.03% | +39.88% |
| 5-year return | +12.07% | +11.85% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 10.86 | 12.86 |
| Forward P/E | 8.53 | 9.66 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.31 | $4.64 |
| Dividend yield | 4.62% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $1.66 | $0.00 |
| 52-week high | $42.29 | $65.09 |
| 52-week low | $27.49 | $40.90 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -15.00% | -8.36% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | none |
| Avg. price target upside | +17.76% | +14.84% |
| Average volume | 337.46K | 99.95K |
| Shares outstanding | 16.30M | 9.47M |
| Employees | 1,443 | 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 PEBO by 18.8 percentage points over the past year.
- Peoples Bancorp offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (4.62% vs 0.00%).
About Peoples Bancorp
PEBO stock →Peoples Bancorp Inc. operates as the financial holding company for Peoples Bank that provides commercial and consumer banking products and services.
Finance · Major Banks · 1,443 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
PEBO vs SFST FAQ
Which is bigger, Peoples Bancorp or Southern First Bancshares?
Peoples Bancorp (PEBO) is larger, with a market capitalization of $585.76M compared with $564.99M for Southern First Bancshares (SFST).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, PEBO or SFST?
SFST returned +39.88% over the past 12 months, compared with +21.03% for PEBO (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, PEBO or SFST?
PEBO has the lower trailing P/E at 10.9, versus 12.9 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, Peoples Bancorp or Southern First Bancshares?
Peoples Bancorp pays a dividend yielding 4.62%, while Southern First Bancshares does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Peoples Bancorp and Southern First Bancshares in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.