Inspire Investing LLC Makes New $345,000 Investment in United Community Banks, Inc. $UCB

Key Points

• Inspire Investing LLC made a new investment of $345,000 in United Community Banks, acquiring 12,247 shares in the first quarter.
• United Community Banks has recently increased its quarterly dividend to $0.25, marking a boost from the previous $0.24 and resulting in a 3.2% dividend yield.
• Analysts have raised their price targets for United Community Banks, with a consensus average price target of $34.57, reflecting a generally positive outlook on the stock.

Inspire Investing LLC bought a new position in United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ:UCB - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 12,247 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $345,000.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of United Community Banks in the first quarter worth about $26,000. Versant Capital Management Inc bought a new position in shares of United Community Banks in the first quarter worth about $37,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new position in United Community Banks in the 4th quarter worth approximately $42,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB bought a new position in United Community Banks in the 1st quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, CWM LLC bought a new position in United Community Banks in the 1st quarter worth approximately $62,000. Institutional investors own 82.29% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at United Community Banks

In other United Community Banks news, EVP Richard Bradshaw sold 1,616 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.94, for a total value of $49,999.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 78,395 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,425,541.30. This trade represents a 2.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.43% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

UCB has been the subject of a number of research reports. DA Davidson upped their target price on shares of United Community Banks from $34.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 24th. Hovde Group increased their price objective on shares of United Community Banks from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, July 24th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on United Community Banks from $32.00 to $34.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Finally, Raymond James Financial restated a "market perform" rating on shares of United Community Banks in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, United Community Banks has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $34.57.

United Community Banks Price Performance

NASDAQ:UCB opened at $31.67 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.53 and a beta of 0.86. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $31.67 and a 200-day simple moving average of $29.36. United Community Banks, Inc. has a 1 year low of $22.93 and a 1 year high of $35.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.78 and a quick ratio of 0.78.

United Community Banks (NASDAQ:UCB - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 23rd. The company reported $0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.61 by $0.05. United Community Banks had a return on equity of 8.64% and a net margin of 16.48%.United Community Banks's quarterly revenue was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that United Community Banks, Inc. will post 2.52 EPS for the current year.

United Community Banks Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. This is a boost from United Community Banks's previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.2%. United Community Banks's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 45.45%.

United Community Banks Profile

United Community Banks, Inc operates as the financial holding company for United Community Bank that provides financial products and services to commercial, retail, government, education, energy, health care, and real estate sectors. It accepts various deposit products, including checking, savings, money market, and other deposit accounts.

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