DA Davidson's Estimate for UBSI Q1 Earnings

On February 4, 2025, investment analysts from DA Davidson released their earnings per share (EPS) estimates for United Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:UBSI). Analyst M. Navas predicts that for the first quarter of 2025, United Bankshares will achieve earnings of $0.63 per share. In comparison, analysts have set a consensus expectation for the full-year earnings at $2.82 per share.

Recently, United Bankshares reported its Q4 earnings results on January 24, where it exceeded expectations by posting earnings of $0.69 per share. This result was slightly above the consensus estimate of $0.68 per share. The company demonstrated a solid net margin of 22.94% and a return on equity of 7.60%. When examining the previous year's performance, it is notable that the company earned $0.59 per share during the same quarter.

In addition to DA Davidson's report, United Bankshares has been analyzed by several other firms. Stephens has maintained an 'equal weight' rating, with a target price set at $43.00 for the stock on January 27. On the same date, StockNews.com downgraded United Bankshares from a 'hold' rating to a 'sell' rating. Furthermore, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods adjusted their target price for the stock downward from $46.00 to $45.00 while issuing a 'market perform' rating.

Price Performance of United Bankshares

As of Wednesday, shares of UBSI opened at $38.75. The market capitalization of the company stands at $5.24 billion, with a P/E ratio of 14.14 and a beta value of 1.02. The current ratio and quick ratio are both at 0.98, with a low debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11. Over the past year, United Bankshares has experienced a low of $30.68 and a high of $44.43, with recent movements reflecting a 50-day moving average of $38.88 and a 200-day moving average at $38.34.

Dividend Information

On January 2, United Bankshares paid out a quarterly dividend of $0.37 per share to shareholders who were on record as of December 13. This translates into an annualized dividend of $1.48, which gives a dividend yield of 3.82%. The company's payout ratio currently sits at 54.01%, indicating a sustainable dividend strategy.

Insider Trading Activity

Recent insider activity has shown some movement within the company. Director J. Paul Mcnamara sold 2,500 shares at an average price of $42.86, amounting to a total of $107,150. This sale reduced Mcnamara's ownership stake to approximately 63,409 shares valued at around $2.72 million. Additionally, Director Mark R. Nesselroad sold 6,000 shares at an average price of $39.16, totaling $234,960. Following this transaction, Nesselroad holds 35,424 shares worth about $1.39 million. Altogether, corporate insiders control about 3.66% of United Bankshares stock.

Institutional Investors' Interests in United Bankshares

Recent shifts in institutional investor positions have also been noteworthy for United Bankshares. UMB Bank n.a. increased its ownership by 237.6% during the third quarter, acquiring an additional 594 shares to reach a total of 844 shares valued at $31,000. Meanwhile, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB raised its position by 1,921.1% in the fourth quarter, now owning 1,435 shares worth $54,000 after purchasing an extra 1,364 shares. GAMMA Investing LLC and Principal Securities Inc. also expanded their holdings during the recent quarters. Institutional investors collectively own 70.80% of United Bankshares stock.

Company Overview

United Bankshares, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various commercial and retail banking services in the United States. The company's operations are divided into two segments: Community Banking and Mortgage Banking. It offers a range of products including checking and savings accounts, time deposits, and retirement accounts.

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