Southern First Bancshares (SFST) vs Unity Bancorp (UNTY)
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 Unity Bancorp (UNTY) over the past year, gaining 39.9% versus a gain of 14.4%. Over five years, UNTY leads with a +118.7% price change compared with +11.9% for SFST. Southern First Bancshares is the larger company by market cap ($572.1 million vs $554.9 million), about 1.0 times the size.
On valuation, Unity Bancorp trades at a lower forward P/E (8.7x vs 9.8x for Southern First Bancshares). Unity Bancorp pays a dividend yielding 1.12%, 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 | SFST | UNTY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $60.40 | $55.25 |
| Market cap | $572.09M | $554.85M |
| 1-day change | +0.92% | +1.17% |
| YTD return | +17.24% | +6.83% |
| 1-year return | +39.88% | +14.44% |
| 5-year return | +11.85% | +118.73% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 13.02 | 9.61 |
| Forward P/E | 9.78 | 8.74 |
| EPS (TTM) | $4.64 | $5.75 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.12% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.62 |
| 52-week high | $65.09 | $62.50 |
| 52-week low | $40.90 | $44.34 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -7.21% | -11.60% |
| Analyst consensus | none | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.41% | +24.07% |
| Average volume | 99.95K | 59.50K |
| Shares outstanding | 9.47M | 10.04M |
| Employees | 315 | 249 |
| 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 UNTY by 25.4 percentage points over the past year.
- Southern First Bancshares trades at a higher earnings multiple (13.0x vs 9.6x trailing P/E).
- Unity Bancorp offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (1.12% vs 0.00%).
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
About Unity Bancorp
UNTY stock →Unity Bancorp, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Unity Bank that provides commercial and retail banking services.
Finance · Major Banks · 249 employees
SFST vs UNTY FAQ
Which is bigger, Southern First Bancshares or Unity Bancorp?
Southern First Bancshares (SFST) is larger, with a market capitalization of $572.09M compared with $554.85M for Unity Bancorp (UNTY).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, SFST or UNTY?
SFST returned +39.88% over the past 12 months, compared with +14.44% for UNTY (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, SFST or UNTY?
UNTY has the lower trailing P/E at 9.6, 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, Southern First Bancshares or Unity Bancorp?
Unity Bancorp pays a dividend yielding 1.12%, while Southern First Bancshares does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Southern First Bancshares and Unity Bancorp in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Major Banks industry within the Finance sector.