Systematic Financial Management LP Has $25.06 Million Stock Holdings 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 trimmed its position in shares of United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ:UCB - Free Report) by 1.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 890,980 shares of the company's stock after selling 8,704 shares during the quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP owned approximately 0.75% of United Community Banks worth $25,063,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of UCB. Versant Capital Management Inc acquired a new stake in United Community Banks in the 1st quarter valued at $37,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new stake in shares of United Community Banks during the fourth quarter worth $42,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB bought a new stake in shares of United Community Banks during the first quarter worth $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.

Insider Buying and Selling at United Community Banks

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

United Community Banks Stock Down 0.3%

Shares of UCB stock traded down $0.1050 on Monday, hitting $32.6450. 521,947 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 713,733. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.00 and a beta of 0.83. The business has a 50-day moving average of $30.66 and a 200 day moving average of $29.34. United Community Banks, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $22.93 and a fifty-two week high of $35.38.

United Community Banks (NASDAQ:UCB - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 23rd. The company reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 company's revenue for the quarter was up 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that United Community Banks, Inc. will post 2.52 EPS for the current year.

United Community Banks Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This is an increase from United Community Banks's previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. United Community Banks's payout ratio is currently 45.45%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

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

About United Community Banks

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.