Many investors like to look for momentum in stocks, but this can be very tough to define. There is great debate regarding which metrics are the best to focus on in this regard, and which are not really quality indicators of future performance. Fortunately, with our new style score system we have identified the key statistics to pay close attention to and thus which stocks might be the best for momentum investors in the near term.
This method discovered several great candidates for momentum-oriented investors, but today let’s focus in on Southern First Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFST) as this stock is looking especially impressive right now. And while there are numerous ways in which this company could be a great choice, we have highlighted three of the most vital reasons for SFST’s status as a solid momentum stock below:
Short Term Price Change for Southern First Bancshares
A great place to look for finding momentum stocks is by inspecting short term price activity. This can help to reflect the current interest in a stock and if buyers or sellers have the upper hand right now. It is especially useful to compare it to the industry as this can help investors pinpoint the top companies in a particular area.
With a one week price change of 6.04% compared to an industry average of 0.3%, SFST is certainly well-positioned in this regard. The stock is also looking quite well from a longer time frame too, as the four week price change compares favorably with the industry at large as well.
Longer Term Price Change for Southern First Bancshares
While any stock can see a spike in price, it takes a real winner to consistently outperform the market. That is why looking at longer term price metrics—such as performance over the past three months or year-- and comparing these to an industry at large can be very useful.
And in the case of SFST, the results are quite impressive. The company has beaten out the industry at large over the past 12 weeks by a margin of 7.6% to 1% while it has also outperformed when looking at the past year, putting up a gain of 47.5%. Clearly, SFST is riding a bit of a hot streak and is worth a closer look by investors.
SFST Earnings Estimate Revisions Moving in the Right Direction
While the great momentum factors outlined in the preceding paragraphs might be enough for some investors, we should also take into account broad earnings estimate revision trends. A nice path here can really help to show us a promising stock, and we have actually been seeing that with SFST as of late too.
Over the past two months, 1 earnings estimate have gone higher compared to none lower for the full year, while we are also seeing that 1 estimates have moved upwards with no downward revisions for the next year time frame too. These revisions have helped to boost the consensus estimate as two months ago SFST was expected to post earnings of $1.75/share for the full year, though today it looks to have a EPS of $1.82 for the full year now, representing a solid increase which is something that should definitely be welcomed news to would-be investors.
Bottom Line
Given these factors, investors shouldn’t be surprised to note that we have SFST as a security with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and a Momentum Score of ‘A’. So if you are looking for a fresh pick that has potential to move in the right direction, definitely keep SFST on your short list as this looks be a stock that is very well-positioned to soar in the near term.
SOUTHN FIRST BC (SFST): Free Stock Analysis Report
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