Systematic Financial Management LP Has $25.06 Million Stake in United Community Banks, Inc. $UCB

Key Points

• Systematic Financial Management LP reduced its stake in United Community Banks by 1.0%, selling 8,704 shares, and now holds a total of 890,980 shares worth approximately $25 million.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25, up from $0.24 previously, representing a 3.0% dividend yield with a payout ratio of 45.45%.
• United Community Banks reported a record EPS of $0.66 for the last quarter, exceeding analyst expectations, while projecting a consensus EPS of 2.52 for the current year.

Systematic Financial Management LP lowered its position in United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ:UCB - Free Report) by 1.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 890,980 shares of the company's stock after selling 8,704 shares during the quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP owned 0.75% of United Community Banks worth $25,063,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Versant Capital Management Inc purchased a new stake in shares of United Community Banks during the first quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new stake in United Community Banks in the fourth quarter valued at about $42,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB bought a new stake in United Community Banks in the first quarter valued at about $45,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC bought a new stake in United Community Banks in the fourth quarter valued at about $59,000. Finally, CWM LLC bought a new stake in United Community Banks in the first quarter valued at about $62,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.29% of the company's stock.

United Community Banks Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:UCB traded down $0.34 on Thursday, reaching $33.35. 148,658 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 708,304. United Community Banks, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $22.93 and a fifty-two week high of $35.38. The company's 50 day moving average is $30.89 and its 200-day moving average is $29.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.05 billion, a PE ratio of 16.36 and a beta of 0.83. 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 announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 23rd. The company reported $0.66 EPS for the quarter, beating 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%.The business's revenue for the quarter was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that United Community Banks, Inc. will post 2.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

United Community Banks Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This is an increase from United Community Banks's previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. United Community Banks's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.45%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

Insider Transactions at United Community Banks

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

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.