southern state (NASDAQ:SSB – received rating) and Primis Financial (NASDAQ:FRST – received rating) are both financials, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on their earnings power, valuation, profitability, risks, analyst recommendations, dividends, and institutional ownership.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

86.2% of SouthState’s stock is owned by institutional investors. In comparison, 67.9% of Primis Financial’s shares are owned by institutional investors. Insiders own 1.9% of SouthState’s stock. By comparison, 10.6% of Primis Financial’s stock is owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds, and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

profitability

This table compares the net margins, return on equity, and return on assets of SouthState and Primis Financial.

evaluation and result

This table compares the revenue, earnings per share (EPS), and valuation of SouthState and Primis Financial.

SouthState has higher revenues and profits than Primis Financial. Primis Financial is trading at a lower price-to-earnings multiple than SouthState, suggesting it’s the cheaper of the two stocks at the moment.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of the current recommendations for SouthState and Primis Financial as reported by MarketBeat.

SouthState currently has a consensus price target of $87.94, indicating a potential upside of 12.32%. Given SouthState’s higher potential upside, research analysts clearly believe SouthState is cheaper than Primis Financial.

volatility and risk

SouthState has a beta of 0.81, indicating its stock price is 19% less volatile than the S&P 500. In comparison, Primis Financial has a beta of 0.93, indicating its stock price is 7% less volatile is than the S&P 500.

dividends

SouthState pays an annual dividend of $1.96 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.5%. Primis Financial pays an annual dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.0%. SouthState pays out 32.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Primis Financial pays out 37.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for years to come. SouthState has increased its dividend for ten straight years.

summary

SouthState beats Primis Financial on 13 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

SouthState Company Profile (received rating)

SouthState Corporation functions as the bank holding company of SouthState Bank, National Association, which provides a range of banking services and products to individuals and businesses. Checking accounts, savings deposits, interest-bearing transaction accounts, certificates of deposit, money market accounts and other time deposits are accepted. The Company also offers commercial real estate loans, residential real estate loans, commercial and industrial loans, and consumer loans, including auto, boat, and personal installment loans. It also offers debit card, mobile and money transfer products and treasury management services including merchant, automated clearing house, safe deposit box, remote deposit capture and other treasury services. In addition, the Company offers safe deposit boxes, money orders, remittances, brokerage services and alternative investment products including annuities, mutual funds, and trustee and wealth management services; and credit cards, letters of credit, and home equity lines of credit. As of December 31, 2021, it served customers through 281 stores in Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. SouthState Corporation also serves its customers through online, mobile and telephone banking platforms. The company was formerly known as First Financial Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to SouthState Corporation in July 2013. SouthState Corporation was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Winter Haven, Florida.

Company profile of Primis Financial (received rating)

Primis Financial Corp. serves as the bank holding company of Primis Bank, which provides a range of financial services to individuals and small and medium-sized businesses throughout the United States. Deposit products include checking, NOW, savings and money market accounts and certificates of deposit. The Company also offers commercial and real estate, construction, secured assets, small business administration, mortgage lending products, and financing for medical, dental and veterinary businesses; Residential mortgages, escrow mortgages, home equity lines of credit, secured and unsecured personal and consumer loans, and premium life insurance financing and accounts receivable loans. It also offers cash management services that include investment/sweep, zero balance, and controlled payout accounts; and bank transfer, employer/payroll, overnight deposit, deposit transfer, merchant, ACH origination, and remote deposit collection services. The company also offers debit cards, ATM services, notary services, and mobile and online banking. As of December 31, 2021, the Company operated forty full-service stores in Virginia and Maryland. The company was formerly known as Southern National Bancorp of Virginia, Inc. and changed its name to Primis Financial Corp. Primis Financial Corp. was founded in 2004 and is based in McLean, Virginia.

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