Squarepoint Ops LLC Buys Shares of 19,058 United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ:UCB)

Squarepoint Ops LLC acquired a new stake in shares of United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ:UCB - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 19,058 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $616,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. bought a new position in shares of United Community Banks in the 4th quarter valued at about $450,141,000. FMR LLC purchased a new stake in United Community Banks in the 4th quarter worth about $310,166,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP purchased a new stake in United Community Banks in the 4th quarter worth about $195,766,000. Capital Research Global Investors purchased a new stake in United Community Banks in the 4th quarter worth about $148,763,000. Finally, Earnest Partners LLC purchased a new stake in United Community Banks in the 4th quarter worth about $113,536,000. Institutional investors own 82.29% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on UCB shares. DA Davidson reduced their price objective on shares of United Community Banks from $38.00 to $33.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Stephens reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $36.00 price objective on shares of United Community Banks in a research report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Hovde Group raised shares of United Community Banks from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from $32.00 to $31.00 in a research report on Monday, April 7th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on shares of United Community Banks from $35.00 to $32.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $33.14.

Insider Activity

In other United Community Banks news, Director Sally Pope Davis acquired 1,800 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $28.19 per share, for a total transaction of $50,742.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 3,264 shares in the company, valued at approximately $92,012.16. This trade represents a 122.95% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.54% of the company's stock.

United Community Banks Trading Up 2.0%

Shares of NASDAQ:UCB traded up $0.56 during trading on Friday, reaching $29.24. 658,187 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 659,437. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.55 billion, a PE ratio of 14.33 and a beta of 0.78. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $27.26 and its 200-day simple moving average is $30.27. United Community Banks, Inc. has a 12-month low of $22.93 and a 12-month 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 Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 3rd. Stockholders of record on Sunday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 13th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.28%. United Community Banks's dividend payout ratio is presently 45.50%.

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.