United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE:UCB) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE:UCB) has received an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the eight analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, four have issued a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $39.60.

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on United Community Banks from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 16th. Wall Street Zen upgraded United Community Banks from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, September 12th. TD Cowen raised United Community Banks to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 16th. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on United Community Banks from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 9th. Finally, DA Davidson lifted their target price on United Community Banks from $40.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 9th.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Community Banks

In related news, EVP Richard Bradshaw sold 1,424 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.09, for a total value of $49,968.16. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 83,228 shares in the company, valued at $2,920,470.52. This trade represents a 1.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Jefferson Harralson sold 25,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.41, for a total value of $885,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 37,433 shares in the company, valued at $1,325,502.53. This represents a 40.04% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Corporate insiders own 0.45% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Great Lakes Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of United Community Banks during the 2nd quarter valued at about $3,698,000. California Public Employees Retirement System increased its position in shares of United Community Banks by 13.6% during the first quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 244,690 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,705,000 after acquiring an additional 29,332 shares during the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC grew its position in shares of United Community Banks by 365.9% during the 1st quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 114,896 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,615,000 after acquiring an additional 90,234 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in United Community Banks by 27.6% during the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 747,576 shares of the company’s stock valued at $23,541,000 after purchasing an additional 161,848 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its position in shares of United Community Banks by 8.6% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,316,251 shares of the company’s stock valued at $41,449,000 after purchasing an additional 103,891 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.29% of the company’s stock.

United Community Banks Trading Up 0.0%

UCB opened at $34.12 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. The firm has a market cap of $4.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.22 and a beta of 0.88. The business’s 50 day moving average is $35.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $34.08. United Community Banks has a 52 week low of $28.65 and a 52 week high of $37.18.

United Community Banks (NYSE:UCB) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The company reported $0.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.80 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $279.28 million for the quarter. United Community Banks had a net margin of 24.43% and a return on equity of 9.61%. On average, research analysts predict that United Community Banks will post 2.99 EPS for the current year.

United Community Banks Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 5th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be given a $0.26 dividend. This represents a $1.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 15th. This is a boost from United Community Banks’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. United Community Banks’s dividend payout ratio is 34.21%.

About United Community Banks

United Community Banks, Inc is a bank holding company headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. Through its subsidiary, United Community Bank, the company provides banking and financial services to individuals, families, businesses and municipalities across the southeastern United States.

United Community Bank offers consumer and commercial deposit accounts, residential and commercial real estate loans, consumer lending, business lending and treasury-management services. Its services also include wealth management, investment advisory and trust solutions, as well as online and mobile banking.

The company traces its history to 1950, when its banking operations were established in Blairsville, Georgia.