WallStSmart

Royal Bank of Canada (RY)vsSouthern First Bancshares Inc (SFST)

VS

Smart Verdict

WallStSmart Research — data-driven comparison

Royal Bank of Canada generates 51933% more annual revenue ($63.42B vs $121.89M). RY leads profitability with a 33.1% profit margin vs 28.7%. RY appears more attractively valued with a PEG of 2.30. SFST earns a higher WallStSmart Score of 71/100 (B).

RY

Strong Buy

68

out of 100

Grade: B-

Growth: 7.3Profit: 8.0Value: 5.7Quality: 5.0

SFST

Strong Buy

71

out of 100

Grade: B

Growth: 9.3Profit: 7.5Value: 5.7Quality: 5.0

Key Strengths & Concerns

Side-by-side fundamental analysis

Key Strengths

RY6 strengths · Avg: 9.3/10
Market CapQuality
$250.25B10/10

Mega-cap, among the largest globally

Profit MarginProfitability
33.1%10/10

Keeps 33 of every $100 in revenue as profit

Operating MarginProfitability
46.2%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 46.2%

Free Cash FlowQuality
$37.30B10/10

Generating 37.3B in free cash flow

P/E RatioValuation
16.9x8/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

Price/BookValuation
2.7x8/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

SFST6 strengths · Avg: 9.2/10
Price/BookValuation
1.2x10/10

Reasonable price relative to book value

Operating MarginProfitability
41.2%10/10

Strong operational efficiency at 41.2%

EPS GrowthGrowth
83.1%10/10

Earnings expanding 83.1% YoY

Profit MarginProfitability
28.7%9/10

Keeps 29 of every $100 in revenue as profit

P/E RatioValuation
13.2x8/10

Attractively priced relative to earnings

Revenue GrowthGrowth
26.2%8/10

Revenue surging 26.2% year-over-year

Areas to Watch

RY1 concerns · Avg: 4.0/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.304/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

SFST3 concerns · Avg: 3.0/10
PEG RatioValuation
2.314/10

Expensive relative to growth rate

Market CapQuality
$532.51M3/10

Smaller company, higher risk/reward

Free Cash FlowQuality
$-2.36M2/10

Negative free cash flow — burning cash

Comparative Analysis Report

WallStSmart Research

Bull Case : RY

The strongest argument for RY centers on Market Cap, Profit Margin, Operating Margin. Profitability is solid with margins at 33.1% and operating margin at 46.2%.

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 : RY

The primary concerns for RY are PEG Ratio.

Bear Case : SFST

The primary concerns for SFST are PEG Ratio, Market Cap, Free Cash Flow.

Key Dynamics to Monitor

RY profiles as a mature stock while SFST is a growth play — different risk/reward profiles.

RY carries more volatility with a beta of 0.92 — expect wider price swings.

SFST is growing revenue faster at 26.2% — sustainability is the question.

RY generates stronger free cash flow (37.3B), providing more financial flexibility.

Bottom Line

SFST scores higher overall (71/100 vs 68/100), backed by strong 28.7% margins and 26.2% revenue growth. 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.

Royal Bank of Canada

FINANCIAL SERVICES · BANKS - DIVERSIFIED · USA

Royal Bank of Canada is a globally diversified financial services company. The company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

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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