United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE:UCB) Stock Has Consensus Price Target of $40.00 According to Brokerages

Shares of United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE:UCB) have earned an average rating of “Buy” from the eight ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, four have assigned a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $40.00.

Several research firms have recently weighed in on UCB. TD Cowen raised shares of United Community Banks to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, July 16th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of United Community Banks in a report on Friday, September 25th. Stephens boosted their price target on shares of United Community Banks from $41.00 to $42.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 21st. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on shares of United Community Banks from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 9th. Finally, Zacks Research raised United Community Banks from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 21st.

United Community Banks Stock Up 1.7%

NYSE UCB opened at $37.18 on Friday. United Community Banks has a 1-year low of $28.65 and a 1-year high of $37.45. The company has a market capitalization of $4.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.65 and a beta of 0.88. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $34.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is $34.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01.

United Community Banks (NYSE:UCB) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 20th. The company reported $0.77 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.77. United Community Banks had a return on equity of 9.66% and a net margin of 9.06%. The business had revenue of $291.90 million for the quarter. Equities analysts forecast that United Community Banks will post 3.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Community Banks Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, October 5th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th were issued a $0.26 dividend. This is a positive change from United Community Banks’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 15th. United Community Banks’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 88.14%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Richard Bradshaw sold 1,345 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, October 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.17, for a total transaction of $49,993.65. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 82,054 shares in the company, valued at $3,049,947.18. This represents a 1.61% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.45% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of United Community Banks

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in shares of United Community Banks during the fourth quarter worth $29,000. Root Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in United Community Banks during the 3rd quarter valued at about $31,000. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC acquired a new position in United Community Banks during the 2nd quarter valued at about $37,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new position in shares of United Community Banks in the 2nd quarter valued at about $54,000. Finally, Evergreen Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of United Community Banks in the 1st quarter valued at about $93,000. 82.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

United Community Banks Company Profile

United Community Banks, Inc is a bank holding company headquartered in Blairsville, Georgia. Through its principal subsidiary, United Community Bank, the company provides banking and financial services to consumers, businesses and communities primarily across the Southeastern United States.

United Community Bank offers deposit accounts, consumer and commercial lending, residential mortgages, credit cards, online and mobile banking, treasury management and other financial services. Its lending activities include commercial real estate, business, construction, residential and consumer loans.