SouthState Corporation (SSB) AI Stock Analysis
SSB AI stock analysis summary
AI ResearchSouthState Corporation (SSB) is a regional bank holding company operating SouthState Bank across the Southeastern United States. In FY2025, the company grew revenue by 57.0% to $3.76B, with net income reaching $798.7M. It maintains a 2.59% dividend yield backed by a low payout ratio of 25.4%.
- Market cap
- $9.90B
- Revenue (TTM)
- $2.68B
- P/E
- 10.7x fwd 10.3x
- 1Y return
- 14.5% S&P 500 16.8%
- Avg. target
- $118.64 16.2% vs last close
Bull case
- SouthState generated $798.7M in FY2025 net income and trades at an attractive forward P/E of 10.3x relative to peers.
- The company has paid dividends for 30 consecutive years with a conservative payout ratio of 25.4%.
- Consensus price target of $118.64 implies a 16.2% upside from the October 16, 2026 close of $102.06.
Bear case
- Free cash flow fell to -$542.0M in FY2025 alongside an operating cash flow of -$471.8M.
- Net margin contracted steadily from 33.6% in FY2021 down to 21.3% in FY2025.
- Share count expanded by 39.8% over the past 5 years, diluting existing equity.
What SouthState does
SouthState Corporation functions as a bank holding company overseeing SouthState Bank, National Association, providing banking services and products to individual and corporate clients. Its offerings include checking accounts, savings deposits, certificates of deposit, and commercial, residential, and consumer loans. The company provides treasury management solutions such as merchant services, automated clearing house transactions, lock-box services, and remote deposit capture. It also provides brokerage services, trust and asset management, annuities, mutual funds, credit cards, and home equity lines of credit across 281 branches in Florida, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Growth and profitability
Between FY2021 and FY2025, SouthState delivered a 5-year revenue CAGR of 25.4%, expanding annual revenue from $1.42B to $3.76B. Net income expanded from $475.5M in FY2021 to $798.7M in FY2025, while EPS increased from $7.57 to $9.50 over the same period. However, net margin compressed from 33.6% in FY2021 to 21.3% in FY2025. Over the trailing twelve months, revenue reached $2.68B with an operating margin of 50.5% and a profit margin of 35.5%. For the latest quarter ended June 30, 2026, quarterly revenue growth fell 0.1% year-over-year, while quarterly earnings grew 11.4%.
Balance sheet and cash flow
As of June 30, 2026, SouthState held $7.25B in cash and short-term investments against $1.57B in total debt, resulting in a net cash position of $5.68B. Total assets stood at $68.91B and shareholders' equity was $9.13B, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17 and a current ratio of 0.13. In FY2025, operating cash flow was -$471.8M and free cash flow was -$542.0M after $70.3M in capital expenditures. During that year, the company returned capital through $235.8M in share buybacks and $231.3M in dividends paid.
Valuation and performance
SouthState trades at a trailing P/E of 10.7x and a forward P/E of 10.3x, both lower than the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers at 12.1x and 10.8x, respectively. Its price-to-sales multiple is 3.7x, compared to the peer median of 3.2x, while its price-to-book ratio is 1.1x. Over the past year, the stock returned 14.5%, trailing the S&P 500 (SPY) return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year period, its return of 49.3% also lagged the S&P 500 return of 83.0%.
SSB dividend
SouthState pays an annualized forward dividend of $2.64 per share, translating to a dividend yield of 2.59%. The company has paid dividends for 30 consecutive years, achieving an annualized 5-year dividend growth rate of 3.9%. With a payout ratio of 25.4%, distributions are backed by earnings, with the last ex-dividend date on August 7, 2026.
What analysts expect
Wall Street analysts hold 8 Strong Buy, 4 Buy, and 2 Hold ratings on SouthState Corporation, with zero Sell or Strong Sell ratings. The mean price target is $118.64, representing a 16.2% upside from the last close of $102.06. For FY2026, analysts expect EPS of $9.48 on revenue of $2.73B, followed by EPS of $10.38 and revenue of $2.91B in FY2027. SouthState has beaten EPS estimates in each of the last 4 quarters, with next earnings scheduled for October 21, 2026.
Key risks and what to watch
- The company posted negative operating cash flow of -$471.8M in FY2025, which warrants ongoing monitoring.
- Quarterly revenue growth slipped by 0.1% year-over-year in the quarter ended June 30, 2026.
- Stock returns of 14.5% over 1 year and 49.3% over 5 years have trailed the S&P 500 returns of 16.8% and 83.0%.
AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer
About this SSB AI stock analysis
This page is an AI-written research summary of SouthState Corporation (SSB). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.
Related: SSB income statement, SSB balance sheet, SSB key metrics, SSB analyst forecast, SSB chart. See the SSB stock overview for the latest quote and news.
SSB AI stock analysis FAQ
What is SouthState Corporation's dividend yield and payout schedule?
SouthState pays a quarterly dividend totaling $2.64 annually, which represents a 2.59% dividend yield. The bank has paid dividends for 30 consecutive years with a payout ratio of 25.4%.
How does SouthState Corporation's valuation compare to its peers?
SouthState trades at a trailing P/E of 10.7x and a forward P/E of 10.3x, below the median of its US-listed Financial Services peers of 12.1x and 10.8x. It also trades at a price-to-book ratio of 1.1x.
What are analysts forecasting for SouthState's earnings and revenue?
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts estimate EPS of $9.48 on revenue of $2.73B. In FY2027, expectations rise to EPS of $10.38 on revenue of $2.91B.
When is SouthState Corporation's next earnings report?
SouthState Corporation is scheduled to report earnings on October 21, 2026, having beaten EPS estimates in each of the prior 4 quarters.