Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG)vsSouthern First Bancshares Inc (SFST)
HIG
Hartford Financial Services Group
$136.81
+0.12%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $37.46B
SFST
Southern First Bancshares Inc
$55.85
-3.26%
FINANCIAL SERVICES · Cap: $532.51M
Smart Verdict
WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison
Hartford Financial Services Group generates 23520% more annual revenue ($28.79B vs $121.89M). SFST leads profitability with a 28.7% profit margin vs 14.1%. HIG appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 0.12. HIG earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 77/100 (B+).
HIG
Strong Buy77
out of 100
Grade: B+
SFST
Strong Buy71
out of 100
Grade: B
Key Strengths & Concerns
Side-by-side fundamental analysis
Key Strengths
Growing faster than its price suggests
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Every $100 of equity generates 23 in profit
Conservative balance sheet, low leverage
Reasonable price relative to book value
Earnings expanding 41.4% YoY
Reasonable price relative to book value
Strong operational efficiency at 41.2%
Earnings expanding 83.1% YoY
Keeps 29 of every $100 in revenue as profit
Attractively priced relative to earnings
Revenue surging 26.2% year-over-year
Areas to Watch
No major concerns identified
Expensive relative to growth rate
Smaller company, higher risk/reward
Negative free cash flow — burning cash
Comparative Analysis Report
WallStSmart ResearchBull Case : HIG
The strongest argument for HIG centers on PEG Ratio, P/E Ratio, Return on Equity. PEG of 0.12 suggests the stock is reasonably priced for its growth.
Bull Case : SFST
The strongest argument for SFST centers on Price/Book, Operating Margin, EPS Growth. Profitability is solid with margins at 28.7% and operating margin at 41.2%. Revenue growth of 26.2% demonstrates continued momentum.
Bear Case : HIG
No major red flags identified for HIG, but monitor valuation.
Bear Case : SFST
The primary concerns for SFST are PEG Ratio, Market Cap, Free Cash Flow.
Key Dynamics to Monitor
HIG profiles as a value stock while SFST is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.
SFST carries more volatility with a beta of 0.74 — expect wider price swings.
SFST is growing revenue faster at 26.2% — sustainability is the question.
HIG generates stronger free cash flow (1.0B), providing more financial flexibility.
Bottom Line
HIG scores higher overall (77/100 vs 71/100). Both earn "Strong Buy" and "Strong Buy" ratings respectively — the choice depends on your investment horizon and risk tolerance.
This analysis is generated from publicly available financial data. Not financial advice.
Hartford Financial Services Group
FINANCIAL SERVICES · INSURANCE - DIVERSIFIED · USA
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., usually known as The Hartford, is a United States-based investment and insurance company.
Visit Website →Southern First Bancshares Inc
FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - REGIONAL · USA
Southern First Bancshares, Inc. is the banking holding company for Southern First Bank offering various banking products and services to the general public in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. The company is headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina.
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