UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) Given Average Recommendation of "Hold" by Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts remain divided on UBS Group: Eleven firms give the stock a consensus “Hold” rating, with five holds, four buys and two sells. The average 12-month price target is $60.30, above the reported $55.70 share price.
• Recent financial results fell slightly short of expectations: UBS reported quarterly EPS of $0.87 versus the $0.90 consensus and revenue of $13.35 billion versus $13.40 billion expected. Revenue nevertheless increased 13.2% year over year.
• Institutional ownership and strategic initiatives remain notable: Major investors including Norges Bank, Fisher Asset Management and Deutsche Bank increased or established positions, while UBS is expanding U.S. wealth management and pursuing up to $6 billion in legacy Credit Suisse debt repurchases. The bank also faces regulatory and reputational scrutiny tied to Credit Suisse.

UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS - Get Free Report) has received a consensus recommendation of "Hold" from the eleven research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have assigned a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $60.30.

Several research firms have recently weighed in on UBS. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of UBS Group in a report on Wednesday, August 5th. Zacks Research lowered shares of UBS Group from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday. Citigroup reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of UBS Group in a research note on Monday, July 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of UBS Group in a report on Monday, June 29th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded UBS Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Sunday, July 26th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UBS Group

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of UBS Group during the fourth quarter worth $4,889,413,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of UBS Group by 4.8% in the fourth quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 64,107,264 shares of the bank's stock valued at $2,968,807,000 after buying an additional 2,938,827 shares during the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG lifted its position in UBS Group by 19.1% during the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 29,605,781 shares of the bank's stock worth $1,371,044,000 after buying an additional 4,744,982 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its position in UBS Group by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 23,611,119 shares of the bank's stock worth $1,101,502,000 after buying an additional 207,752 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Amundi grew its holdings in UBS Group by 16.9% during the 1st quarter. Amundi now owns 23,294,847 shares of the bank's stock worth $910,130,000 after acquiring an additional 3,374,516 shares during the last quarter.

UBS Group Stock Performance

NYSE UBS opened at $55.70 on Friday. UBS Group has a twelve month low of $36.29 and a twelve month high of $55.99. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.84. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $52.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is $46.66. The stock has a market cap of $174.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.95, a PEG ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.19.

UBS Group (NYSE:UBS - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The bank reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.90 by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $13.35 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.40 billion. UBS Group had a return on equity of 10.50% and a net margin of 13.10%.UBS Group's quarterly revenue was up 13.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.72 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that UBS Group will post 3.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

UBS Group News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting UBS Group this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Wealth-management expansion: UBS is strengthening its presence in Southern California, including a new Irvine office and additional Los Angeles hires. The move supports its strategy of expanding its U.S. wealth-management franchise and growing recurring fee revenue. UBS expands in Southern California
• Positive Sentiment: Legacy-debt cleanup: UBS launched nine cash tender offers to repurchase up to roughly $6 billion of legacy Credit Suisse notes. Although the program requires substantial cash, retiring inherited liabilities may simplify the capital structure, reduce refinancing costs and lessen Credit Suisse integration concerns over time. UBS launches tender offer for legacy Credit Suisse debt
• Neutral Sentiment: Debt redemptions and investment activity: UBS announced redemptions of certain U.S.-dollar and sterling senior unsecured notes and ceased to be a substantial shareholder in Sonic Healthcare, Cygnus Metals and EQT Holdings. These actions appear portfolio- or funding-related, with limited direct earnings implications. Redemption of UBS senior unsecured notes
• Neutral Sentiment: UBS research highlighted “physical AI” investment opportunities and upgraded InterContinental Hotels Group, while also issuing a Hold rating on Liberty LiLAC. These recommendations may benefit UBS’s advisory profile but should not materially affect its own near-term earnings. UBS upgrades InterContinental Hotels Group
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and reputational overhang: UBS reportedly faces a new investigation into Credit Suisse’s handling of accounts linked to Nazi-era assets. Separately, UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher is involved in a prolonged dispute with a Swiss minister. Further scrutiny could increase legal costs and complicate the bank’s Swiss operating environment. UBS faces fresh probe over Credit Suisse accounts
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst downgrade: Zacks Research cut UBS from “Strong Buy” to “Hold,” potentially weakening near-term investor sentiment after the stock’s strong run.

About UBS Group

UBS Group AG is a Swiss multinational financial services firm that provides a broad range of banking and capital markets services to private, institutional and corporate clients. Headquartered in Zurich, UBS operates as a universal bank with a primary focus on wealth management, asset management, investment banking and retail and commercial banking in Switzerland. The firm serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, pension funds, corporations and institutional investors through a global network of offices.

Key business activities include global wealth management—offering financial planning, investment advisory, discretionary portfolio management and custody services—alongside asset management products for institutional and retail investors.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.

Continue following MarketBeat

Add MarketBeat as your preferred source on Google to see our latest stories in your feed.

Add As Preferred Source