NatWest Group plc Increases Stake in UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS)

In a recent filing with the SEC, NatWest Group plc announced an impressive increase in its stake in UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS - Free Report). During the fourth quarter, NatWest boosted its holdings by 87.2%, acquiring an additional 92,203 shares. As a result, the firm now owns a total of 197,901 shares of UBS Group. This investment represents 1.8% of NatWest Group's overall portfolio, making UBS its 24th largest position.

According to the latest filings, NatWest Group's investment in UBS Group is valued at approximately $6 million. This significant commitment reflects the firm's confidence in UBS as a key player in the banking sector.

Other Institutional Investors' Activities

NatWest is not alone in its investment strategy. Several other institutional investors have also been active in the UBS Group shares market. For instance, Commerce Bank raised its stake in UBS Group by 3.9% in the third quarter, now holding 9,278 shares valued at $287,000 after acquiring an additional 346 shares. Similarly, Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton increased its holdings by 15.6%, bringing their total to 2,624 shares valued at $81,000 after purchasing another 355 shares.

Additionally, TD Private Client Wealth LLC lifted its stake by 3.2%, now owning 12,813 shares worth $396,000, while Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC increased its holdings by 0.7%, totaling 60,705 shares valued at $1,876,000. Continuum Advisory LLC also made significant moves, boosting its holdings in UBS Group by 41.6% during the same period, increasing its total to 1,532 shares valued at around $49,000.

UBS Group Stock Overview

On the stock exchange, UBS Group shares opened at $33.43. The company has a market capitalization of $107.17 billion and boasts a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.99, with a beta of 1.16 reflecting moderate volatility. Its current ratio stands at 1.06 and its quick ratio at 1.05, indicating a solid liquidity position. The debt-to-equity ratio is 3.76, signaling a high level of debt relative to equity.

UBS Group AG has shown good performance over the past year, with its stock reaching a low of $26.00 and a high of $35.84.

Recent Financial Performance

In terms of financial performance, UBS Group last reported its quarterly earnings on February 4th. The bank achieved earnings per share (EPS) of $0.23, falling short of the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.08. The return on equity was measured at 5.93%, with a net margin of 6.93%. Revenue for the quarter was reported at $11.06 billion, outperforming analyst expectations of $10.90 billion and marking a 1.9% increase compared to the same period last year.

Dividend Announcement

Moreover, UBS Group announced a new annual dividend of $0.90 per share, representing a yield of 2.1%. This dividend will be paid on April 17th, with shareholders of record on April 16th receiving the payout. This represents a significant increase from the prior annual dividend of $0.23, reflecting UBS's commitment to returning value to its shareholders.

Analyst Ratings Update

Recent updates from analysts on UBS Group reflect a mix of opinions. Kepler Capital Markets upgraded the stock from "hold" to "buy" on January 10th, while StockNews.com downgraded it from "buy" to "hold" later in January. BNP Paribas also upgraded UBS Group, moving from a "neutral" to an "outperform" rating. Overall, the consensus rating among analysts currently stands at "Moderate Buy," with a balanced view on the stock's prospects.

Company Background

UBS Group AG is a globally recognized financial services company, offering a wide range of financial advice and solutions to private, institutional, and corporate clients. The company operates through five main divisions: Global Wealth Management, Personal & Corporate Banking, Asset Management, Investment Banking, and Non-core and Legacy. Its services include investment advice, wealth planning, corporate banking, and various lending solutions.

NatWest, UBS, Stocks